The Professional Women’s Hockey League’s newest franchise in San Jose is charting a deliberate path to assemble its first roster, a process that unfolds over the next month and is designed to give prospective players a clear voice in where they will play.
A six‑step roadmap
The journey begins with existing clubs submitting a three‑player protection list, after which expansion teams negotiate with free agents but cannot finalize contracts until later stages. Each prospective club must present a 20‑player Exclusive Negotiation Target List, and then decide whether to extend an Expansion Franchise Offer or a Foundational Player Offer to targeted athletes.
Draft day and top prospects
The centerpiece of the exercise arrives on June 17, when the league holds its inaugural draft. Prospects such as Team USA gold‑medalists Caroline Harvey, Abbey Murphy and Laila Edwards are expected to be among the first names called, drawing attention to the talent pool that the San Jose franchise hopes to tap.
Contract structures and financial terms
An Expansion Franchise Offer can be signed with flexibility on length and salary, while Foundational Player Offers guarantee a minimum two‑year term and a salary above $80,000, though acceptance is not mandatory. Existing teams are limited to losing no more than four contracted players throughout the entire sequence, preserving stability for the league’s original clubs.
Final selections and open signing
After the draft, any remaining unrestricted players whose contracts have expired may sign with any franchise during an open period, allowing the San Jose roster to be completed with roughly sixteen new faces by the time the process concludes.