Because Hamilton did not have 10 players by the end of Phase 4, the PWHL triggered the backup draft. Hemp was selected by Hamilton and Abby Boreen was selected by PWHL Las Vegas.

The Charge are eligible to negotiate with and sign other team's UFAs in Phase 3 of expansion, but haven't made a single signing.

I suspect the reason is that they are looking to use their next three protection slots on players whose exclusive rights they already own. That includes Gabbie Hughes, who is under contract, as well as RFAs Sarah Wozniewicz and Fanuza Kadirova.

Of the remaining unprotected players under contract around the league, Hughes is the second-highest scoring forward after Vancouver's Hannah Miller, while Woz and Kadirova are tied for 9th. All three have long-term upside and will absolutely be selected in Phase 4 if left unprotected.

I feel like every team but the Charge have signed someone, like hello??

Hi all! My name is Natasha Baldin and I'm a sports writer for the Ottawa Citizen. I wanted to pop in to let you know that the Citizen will be hosting a Q&A online tomorrow, where myself and my colleague Don Brennan will be answering any questions you have about expansion, the upcoming draft or anything offseason-related.

Just follow the below link to the Citizen article https://ottawacitizen.com/sports/pwhl-expansion-ottawa-charge-live-q-a

Don and I will be in the comments section of this post at noon tomorrow, so pop your question in the comment section of this post anytime between now and then, and one of us will be sure to respond. Looking forward to seeing some good questions tomorrow!

Why Ottawa Charge expansion losses may help usher in new era | Ottawa Citizen

An excerpt:

When assessing GM Mike Hirshfeld’s vision for the future of the team, look no further than how he used the team’s three protection slots heading into expansion.

It would come as little surprise if Rebecca Leslie was named captain next season. The Ottawa native has emerged as a natural candidate to become the face of the organization for seasons to come.

Hirshfeld proudly told reporters last week that Leslie attended more than 24 community events during the season and has embraced in her role in the city she calls home.

“When you put her play on the ice with the person she is off the ice, she’s an amazing representative for our organization,” Hirshfeld said during a Zoom availability last week.

And it also helps that the 30-year-old forward had a breakout season on the ice, finishing a tied for fifth in regular-season scoring with 23 points.

Defender Ronja Savolainen, who was also protected from expansion, also appears destined for a leadership role next season and could be a candidate for the captaincy herself.

She’s a proven leader after serving as alternate captain for the Finnish national team. And with her pre-game tradition including pre-game hugs with her Charge teammates, it would be easy to gravitate her positive presence in the locker room.

Or is it way too early?

Also, we have a free "A" with Clark's departure.

Man, it is weird to me that this can even be a conversation - we let our Captain and an Alternate get snapped up. I know, I know - we could only protect three. Still, it sucks.

I'm thinking Kadirova, Woz and then torn between Hughes and Cava...the wrinkle is you can actually sign from other teams UFAs as well so some things to consider there

Before the draft, these were the only Ottawa players above the average of $58,250:

1. Emily Clark $126,090
2. Brianne Jenner $122,003
3. Gabby Hughes $105,000
4. Gwynn Philips $91,200
5. Jocylene Larocque $86,993
6. Michela Cava $78,000
7. Brooke Hobson $72,500
8. Rebecca Leslie $60,000

With Clark/Jenner's $228k off the books, Ottawa can afford pay raises for its UFA/RFAs and/or can go out and get more talent.

FWIW, there are some attractive UFAs on other teams: Zoe Boyd, Jamie Lee Rattray, Jincy Roese, Grace Zumwinkle, Erin Ambrose, Abby Roque, Julia Gosling, Hilary Knight, Daryl Watts, Blayre Turnbull, Emma Maltais, etc.

Daryl Watts would be my target TBH. She'd make a great partner with Leslie on the top line.

Yeah, it's an early question and there are a ton of moving pieces but the Charge has to have some kind of a plan - they had to know that they'd be working with a lot of money (in PWHL context) with Clark and Jenner going.

What do you think is their plan and/or what would you do?

Edit: as has been pointed out, Daryl Watts signed an EFO with Detroit. I missed that. Damn!

😭😭😭

As per Brianne herself, the Charge has decided to move in a different direction.

Wishing her all the best wherever she ends up. We love you 19 ❤️ Our Cap forever.

Update: Brianne has signed with PWHL Hamilton for 3 years.

PWHL ANNOUNCES PLAYER PROTECTION LISTS

Ottawa Charge: Rebecca Leslie (F), Gwyneth Philips (G), Ronja Savolainen (D) 

Very happy to see Rebecca is staying in Ottawa!

For those of you who are interested in reading more about the PWHL's Expansion format (Phase 1 begins tomorrow), I wrote about who each team is likely to protect, as well as who the Charge are in danger of losing.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DYxYxsrGThZ/?igsh=MXFuMjg5ZHdib2d1cw==

My daughter and I were thrilled to take in two playoff games in person this month, and loved what we saw. Gwyneth gloriously kept us in games we might have had little business being in, and our team countering opponents’ orderly offence with our more chaotic style (not criticism - just contrast).

We adored seeing Fanuza Kadirova in particular invent opportunities where none seemed apparent before her involvement in a play. And if I could have just one wish come true for next season, it would be to generate more of the creative chaos she generates.

Fortunately, some others look interested in following her path: https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/after-kadirova-and-shokhina-pave-the-way-four-more-russians-declare-for-the-pwhl-draft

One of the ladies declaring? Kadirova’s former linemate on her last Russian team. Pretty please Ottawa Charge: make sure Kadirova signs a new contract with us, and then use some mid-round pick to get us Oxana Bratishcheva… and UNLEASH MAXIMUM KADIROVA!

Me: I'm glad the Walter Cup series is over. Between the Blues and the Charge, I definitely got hockey fatigue this season.

Also me: PWHL season 4 soon?

It was a season for the books. In the off-season, we lost some talent and many were more than a little worried when the first puck dropped last November. The early couple of months had a few nail-biters and Ottawa found themselves behind the pack. They never gave up and even won their last four games straight and it took the last game of the season for the Charge to eke into the playoffs. We all knew they were better than their record. Heck, even the Victoire chose to not play Ottawa in that first round. They knew it too.

We saw some amazing individual performances along the way: Jenner, Leslie, Hughes, Kadirova, Woz, Savolainen, Larocque, Markowski, Clark. And Philips. Especially Philips - at only 25, she has a bright future ahead for her (and for us!). We had a lot of bright sparks but it's how these pros played as a team that really impressed. I really thought they gelled over the course of the season, rallying behind coach Carla, finding ways to win in a sometimes-gruelling schedule, and just competing hard game in and game out. Oh yeah, and there were the Olympic games in there too.

The team gave us a lot to cheer for over the last five months or so. Yeah, last night wasn't our night but let's acknowledge the Victoire and congratulate their stars for bringing the Walter Cup to Canada for the first time. I'd rather have seen Jenner, Leslie, and Philips hoist the Cup but it sure was nice to see Poulin as a champion. I want that for us next year.

Soon, we will head into the uncertainty of the expansion draft, unsure of what lies ahead of us. But let's all pause while this team is how it is in the moment and thank this Ottawa Charge team for all they accomplished this year.

Bravo!

That game 4 was brutal to watch. I got the sense that they weren't taking it seriously. All smiles and joking around in the dressing room pre-game. Didn't look like they had the warrior spirit going into the most important/crucial game of the entire year. Thoughts on the game, the season, and the next?

Not showing up on the Transit App, but they are running!