PWHL Expansion Heats Up
Brianne Jenner Joins Hamilton, Detroit Secures Watts as PWHL Expansion Roster Building Intensifies
PWHL expansion activity accelerated as Hamilton made its first signing in the league’s second phase of roster building by agreeing to a three-year contract with former Ottawa captain Brianne Jenner, Oakville’s hometown star who had been exposed after Ottawa protected other players. Jenner’s move follows Ottawa’s decision to “move in a different direction,” despite her stated intention to finish her career in Ottawa, and positions Hamilton to round out its inaugural 2026-27 roster during a short window to add players. In Detroit, general manager Manon Rhéaume signed forward Daryl Watts to the league’s first four-year expansion foundational offer, guaranteeing at least $100,000 annually, while adding defender Cayla Barnes and forward Hannah Bilka. Hamilton also later signed goalie Kayle Osborne to a three-year standard agreement, making her the second addition for the franchise as it continues to build through the phase that lasts through Monday. The signings underscore how the expansion process differs between standard player deals and the league’s special expansion contract structures, while the other expansion teams (Las Vegas and San Jose) continue filling out their squads.
Key Points
Jenner said she wanted to finish her career in Ottawa, writing: “While it was my intention to continue and finish my career in Ottawa, the organization has decided to move in a different direction, and my time here has come to a close.”
Ottawa exposed Jenner by protecting goalie Gwyneth Philips, defender Ronja Savolainen and forward Rebecca Leslie—while Ottawa GM Mike Hirshfeld said there were conversations with Jenner, but “she and her family were ‘looking at different options.’”
Daryl Watts’ $100,000+ expansion offer came with a meaningful raise: she was making $59,000 in Toronto last season, and Detroit’s signing adds a player who led the Sceptres with 10 goals and 19 points in 2025-26; she also ranks second in league history with 32 career goals and won a Canada silver medal at the Milan Cortina Games in February (her Olympic debut).
Detroit’s other two additions, Cayla Barnes and Hannah Bilka, had been teammates in Seattle and both won U.S. Olympic gold in February; Bilka “tied the tournament lead with four goals.”
Kayle Osborne’s signing adds Detroit’s former/next-class talent profile: she was selected by the New York Sirens in the 2024 PWHL Draft (fifth round, 28th overall) and, as New York’s primary starter in 2025-26, went 27 games with a .906 save percentage and 2.47 goals-against average (11 wins, four shutouts).
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