Sirens Lose Several Players to PWHL’s Expansion Process

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) Expansion Player Distribution Process is almost over, which is good news for New York Sirens fans. This process was done in six phases; the last phase will conclude the day after the 2026 PWHL Entry Draft, on Wednesday, June 17. 

In Phase 1, the Sirens protected their first-round picks in the last two entry drafts: forwards Sarah Fillier, Kristyna Kaltounkova, and Casey O’Brien. It was their priority to secure these scorers, and it was a big win of the Expansion Player Distribution Process. Unfortunately, the other phases of the process did not end in their favor.

Sirens Lost in Phase 2

With four new teams joining the PWHL for the 2026-27 season, it was clear that each established team would lose players. However, the extent of the Sirens’ losses was severe, including three forwards, Anne Cherkowski, Kristin O’Neill, and Maddi Wheeler, to the new San Jose franchise. They also lost their starting goaltender, Kayle Osborne, to PWHL Hamilton. 

O’Neill was only with the Sirens for one season. She was traded during the 2025 PWHL Entry Draft along with the 28th overall pick from the Montreal Victoire for Abby Roque. O’Neill played in all 30 games this season and recorded five points via one goal and four assists. During Phase 2, she received an Expansion Foundational Offer (EFO) from San Jose and signed a two-year agreement, making her a player that general manager and head coach Troy Ryan will build his team around.

Cherkowski and Wheeler will also join O’Neill in San Jose. Cherkowski played 28 games and recorded nine points, while Wheeler recorded 10 points in 29 games in their rookie campaigns with the Sirens last season. Losing these three forwards is a big hit to New York’s offense.  

Osborne joined the Sirens in the 2024-25 season, when Corinne Schroeder was still the starting goaltender. She played 10 games in her rookie season, posting a 2-4-3 record and one shutout. This season, however, Osborne was forced into the starting role after the Sirens lost Schroeder to the Seattle Torrent in last season’s expansion draft, and Abbey Levy signed with the Boston Fleet as a free agent. Osborne played 27 of 30 regular-season games last season with an 11-14-2 record, including four shutouts.

With the loss of Osborne in addition to the other players, the Sirens took a major hit during Phase 2. Now they must decide whether to re-sign rookie Callie Shanahan and Kaley Doyle or find another goaltender through the draft, trade or free agency. 

Sirens Protected Again in Phase 3, Yet Still Lost 

Ahead of Phase 3, expansion teams had the chance to sign up to three more players on expiring contracts. PWHL Detroit used that opportunity to sign Michigan native Taylor Girard. Girard had a strong start to the 2025-26 season, scoring her first career hat trick against the Ottawa Charge in the Sirens’ opening game on Nov. 22. Unfortunately, her season was cut short on March 15, when she was taken off the ice on a stretcher on March 15. She played 17 games, scoring eight points via seven goals and one assist.

Despite losing five players, New York could protect three more in Phase 3, and they chose defenders this time. The Sirens protected Jaime Bourbonnais, Maja Nylen Persson, and their captain, Micah Zandee-Hart, who are all critical to their blue line. Both Bourbonnais and Zandee-Hart have been with the team for the past three seasons, while Nylen Persson joined the team in 2024-25, when the Sirens drafted her in the second round.

Sirens Lost More in Phase 4

As each expansion team added to their rosters to reach 10 signed players, the Sirens lost another one. Allyson Simpson will join Osborne in Hamilton after signing a two-year contract. Simpson has been with the Sirens since they drafted her in 2024. She played all 30 games in the last two seasons. This past season, she recorded five points via three goals and two assists. 

Simpson was a huge part of the Sirens’ blue line, often playing on the second pairing alongside Bourbonnais. With Bourbonnais protected, the Sirens will have to find a solid replacement for her right side.

Expansion Has Not Been Kind to New York 

For the second season in a row, the Sirens had their team decimated by the expansion process. Last season, they lost Jessie Eldridge, Schroeder, and Alex Carpenter to the Torrent, while Gabby Rosenthal went to the Vancouver Goldeneyes. That doesn’t include the players they lost in free agency.

While it’s great to see the PWHL expanding, it’s hard to watch a team forced to regroup after another expansion draft. The Sirens will need to be aggressive at the draft and during free agency if they want to be competitive next season.

The 2026 PWHL Entry Draft will take place on Wednesday, June 17, at the Fox Theatre in Detroit at 5 PM ET.