The Minnesota Frost announced this week that forwards Kelly Pannek and Taylor Heise have each agreed to new three‑year Standard Player Agreements that run through the 2028‑29 season. Both contracts are structured to keep the stars protected ahead of the 2026‑27 expansion draft, a move that underscores the league’s intent to retain core talent.
A strategic lock‑in for the league
Kelly Pannek enters the agreement after a breakout season in which she led the PWHL with 33 points and earned both the Points Leader Award and the Top Goal Scorer Award. The three‑time Olympian and two‑time gold‑medalist also boasts seven IIHF Women’s World Championship appearances, four of which resulted in gold, and she remains a finalist for the Forward of the Year and the Billie Jean King MVP Award.
Taylor Heise, meanwhile, posted a career‑best 30 points during the same campaign, ranking second in league scoring and posting a point‑per‑game average of exactly 1.00. A 2022 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award winner, Heise also captured the 2024 Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP honor and helped the United States to Olympic gold in Milano Cortina.
The re‑signings come at a pivotal moment as the PWHL evaluates its next expansion cycle. By locking in two of its most prolific scorers, the league not only secures on‑ice competitiveness but also signals a broader commitment to stability and growth that could attract further investment and media attention.