PWHL Expansion Signings
Swiss Olympian Alina Muller signs with PWHL Hamilton; Nicole Gosling joins San Jose expansion team.
Swiss superstar Alina Müller is leaving Boston for Hamilton, signing a three-year deal with the PWHL's new expansion franchise in Ontario, PWHL Official confirmed. The 28-year-old four-time Olympian — Boston's all-time leading scorer with 56 career points — was left unprotected by the Fleet front office, opening the door for Hamilton to swoop in.
Joining her is Montreal defender Nicole Gosling, who also signed a three-year contract with Hamilton, according to Winnipeg Free Press. The 24-year-old was a 2026 Rookie of the Year finalist and a key piece of Montreal's Walter Cup championship run. The two signings give Hamilton four of its five allotted expansion roster spots filled.
Boston Left Müller Exposed in a Stunning Front-Office Call
The PWHL's expansion process gives existing teams the right to protect exactly three players. Boston GM Danielle Marmer chose goaltender Aerin Frankel, defender Megan Keller, and forward Haley Winn — leaving Müller, the team's franchise player, unprotected, Daily Faceoff reported. Marmer called it the "hardest decision" of her career. She later said of Müller: "I told her I love her."
Müller spent eight years in Boston — first at college, then as a pro. She led the Fleet in scoring for three straight seasons and has 40 career assists, tied for the most in league history, according to The Hockey News. Boston fans quickly took to social media, with many calling the front office decision a catastrophic mistake.
Hamilton GM Meghan Duggan Builds a Super-Team in 48 Hours
Former U.S. captain Meghan Duggan wasted no time as Hamilton's GM. Within the first 24 hours of Phase 2 — the window where expansion teams can sign unprotected players — she locked up Brianne Jenner and goaltender Kayle Osborne, TSN reported. Then came Müller and Gosling, completing one of the most aggressive 48-hour roster builds in women's hockey history.
Analyst Hailey Salvian of The Athletic wrote that Hamilton has built the "scariest core in the league" by pairing Jenner's leadership with Müller's elite playmaking and Gosling's defensive reliability. A personal connection also played a role: former Boston head coach Kris Sparre moved to Hamilton to be closer to family, and Black N' Gold Hockey reported that his presence was a key reason Müller chose to sign there.
Gosling Comes Home to Ontario After Montreal's Championship Run
For Gosling, the move is personal. The 24-year-old is originally from London, Ontario — just an hour from Hamilton — and the signing brings her back to her home province, Sportsnet reported. In her rookie season with Montreal, she posted 19 points (3 goals, 16 assists) and a plus-16 rating while helping the Victoire win the Walter Cup.
Hamilton officials celebrated the news loudly. City leaders and the owners of TD Coliseum called the signings proof that Hamilton is a "premier hockey destination," according to Leader Telegram. Season ticket deposits surged 40% within two hours of the Müller announcement alone, as the "Müller Effect" took hold across the Greater Toronto Hamilton Area.
PWHL Grows to 12 Teams as Expansion Clock Ticks Down
The 2026–27 season will see the PWHL expand from 8 to 12 teams, adding Hamilton, Detroit, Las Vegas, and San Jose. It is the largest single-year growth in women's professional sports history, according to Yahoo Sports. Each expansion team can sign up to five players in Phase 2, with the signing window closing June 8.
Hamilton now has four of its five spots filled. San Jose has claimed three players — Schroeder, Guilday, and Cherkowski — and still has two spots open. Las Vegas, meanwhile, has yet to sign anyone in Phase 2. The 2026 PWHL Entry Draft for all 12 teams is scheduled for June 17, Winnipeg Free Press reported.
Sentiment
NeutralPublishers
16
Articles
15
Reach
16
