Five Thoughts For Friday: Charged Up

With nothing exciting happening in the world of the Ottawa Senators, we are fully in Go Charge Go mode here at Silver Seven. Here are Five Thoughts on the only playoff hockey that matters to us right now.

Is this actually our year?

A few months ago, the idea of the Charge making a run for it was laughable. They hadn’t improved as much over the offseason as other teams had, and goaltender Emerance Maschmeyer was the only reason they were even in the conversation for a playoff spot. They did not look good in the regular season, and when they snuck into a playoff spot on the last day, it felt like a bit of a fluke. They’d have a good time, but ultimately it would be a quick exit.

But man, after seeing them completely dismantle the #1 seed in the first round and now stifle the defending champs’ notably high-flying offence, it’s hard not to feel like something has clicked for this team. Philips has been lights-out, but it’s not just that; the defence has gotten so much better at limiting high-danger chances, and the team seems to have gotten better at actually putting pucks on net.

Carla McLeod deserves a lot of credit for how well this team identified Montreal’s weaknesses and shut them down. Minnesota has been a tougher opponent, but at least they’re playing Ottawa’s game - low-scoring, one-goal games.

The one thing that makes me worry is the Charge’s continued inability to score goals. They play Carolina Hurricanes-esque hockey, holding on to the puck for most of the game but rarely a threat to score. I'm worried that won't work against Minnesota, a team that is always a threat to score a few goals.

Player safety

The PWHL is a young league, and it’s still figuring out exactly where the line is when it comes to hitting. Because women’s hockey has historically been technically non-contact (there was always contact, just not big hits), these players have had to learn how to absorb hits, and how to hit each other safely, now that the PWHL has decided to be a bit more lenient than past leagues. Unfortunately, that’s led to a lot of injuries. If this league wants to protect its players, it needs better, more clear rules about which hits merit supplemental discipline. Right now, it seems to be following in the NHL’s footsteps.

Case in point: Britta Curl, who scored both of Minnesota’s goals in game 2, should not have even been playing in that game after the dangerous knee-on-knee hit that might have knocked Mrazova out of the series. She’s a repeat offender who has already been suspended in these playoffs. In fact, when you watch the replay of the hit, you can see that she’s aiming for Mrazova’s head. It’s just frustrating that the league is letting players do this. I don't want NHL-style playoff hockey where everyone is trying to kill each other on the ice.

Mrázová looking to be in discomfort after this collision. pic.twitter.com/PmA0IujWQP

— Jocks In Jills (@JocksInJills) May 21, 2025

The Ottawa crowd is incredible

I finally made it out to a playoff game last night, and it was every bit as loud as it looked on TV. It was also so surreal to overhear so many conversations about the team on the bus and at dinner before the game. People are so genuinely excited about this team, and it's amazing. One thing I noticed is that a lot of the signs I saw in the arena referenced specific players, or the team name, instead of just being girl power slogans like they were last year. It really feels like people have gotten over the novelty of the league being all women and are just enjoying the absolutely incredible hockey, which is all I've wanted for women's hockey for so long.

I still remember how mad people got when the PWHL announced their original 6 teams and Ottawa was one of them. Ottawa has never gotten enough credit as a hockey market, and it feels good to prove people wrong.

There might not be another home game this season, but make sure you get out to a few games in the fall.

The expansion rules are fair, but brutal

On Monday, the PWHL announced its expansion rules, and oh boy was it a shock to a lot of fans.

Each team can only protect 3 players to start(!), then, after losing two either to free agency or the draft, they can protect a fourth player.

Free agency will open before the expansion draft. The expansion teams will be able to negotiate with free agents and with unprotected players who are under contract for the upcoming season (I’m a bit confused about that part, but whatever). They can sign up to five players before the draft.

Each existing team will lose 4 of their players who are eligible to be protected, between signings and the expansion draft.

The free agency part is fascinating to me, because I wonder if teams and players will be able to manipulate it. Say, for example, that Montreal protects Poulin, Stacey and Desbiens but Ambrose really wants to stay. Does she hold out on signing a contract, hoping two of her teammates will sign first so she can be protected? Or does she sign with her preferred team so she can choose her fate and avoid the expansion draft? Do Seattle and Vancouver avoid all Montreal players during the signing period because they want Ambrose in the draft?

Generally, I’m of two minds about these rules. On the one hand, this is an excellent way to make sure your new teams are competitive right from the start. Two years ago, the original six teams started out able to negotiate with every women’s hockey player interested in playing in the league, then had their pick of all the players that hadn’t signed with other teams. The expansion teams get to do essentially that, but with slightly fewer players available, and with the advantage of knowing which players have done well in the PWHL. They’re going to miss out on the biggest stars, but they’ll be able to build very solid, competitive teams with players that fans recognize from the Olympic rosters. For a league with only six existing teams, that’s only been around for two seasons, it makes sense.

On the other hand, this league is new and fans have just started to get attached to the players on their favourite teams. I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to completely blow up the teams just two seasons in. 

I actually think Ottawa gets screwed over the most with this format, because they’re a team that relies on depth rather than on a handful of superstars. Maybe the salary cap structure helps us out here - the expansion teams can’t just take all the best players available when they have to think about how to pay them - but wow this has the potential to be painful.

Who should the Charge protect?

What’s interesting about the Charge when it comes to the expansion draft is that I don’t think anyone on the roster is a lock to be protected, except maybe Emily Clark. Here’s the list of eligible players:

Ashton Bell (D) 
Emily Clark (F) 
Gabbie Hughes (F) 
Brianne Jenner (F) 
Jocelyne Larocque (D) 
Stephanie Markowski (D)
Emerance Maschmeyer (G) 
Mannon McMahon (F)
Anna Meixner (F)
Kateřina Mrázová (F) 
Gwyneth Philips (G) 
Ronja Savolainen (D) 
Danielle Serdachny (F) 
Aneta Tejralová (D) 
Madeline Wethington (D)

Note that Vanisova and Roese are not on the list, as they’re both free agents.

Let’s start easy. We’ve known all along that Ottawa would have to choose between Maschmeyer and Philips. They’re two of the best goaltenders in the league, so whoever Ottawa leaves unprotected is gone for sure. Maschmeyer was one of their first signings and she just had a baby. She wasn’t great in her first season, but she was easily the team’s MVP before she got injured this year, so there’s certainly a good chance the team keeps her. Meanwhile, Philips has been incredible in the playoffs, and she’s younger, but Ottawa hockey fans know perfectly well that committing to a young goalie based on one hot streak is not always the best move. I think the team protects Philips because she’s younger, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it went the other way.

Then, we move on to the other two original signings. Jenner and Clark are both crucial members of the leadership group. Jenner is the captain and one of the team’s best players, but at the same time she’s one of the older players on the team so she might be seen as more expendable. Clark is younger and also very good, so I think she’s the closest thing we have to a lock especially with how she’s been playing in the playoffs. There’s definitely a chance the team uses two of their protection spots on them and then the third on a goaltender.

That would leave Mrazova unprotected, which stings. She’s one of the older players on the team, and the injury problems are potentially cause for concern, but she’s also one of their best and most consistent players. I think there’s a case to protect her, but I can’t see the team going with her over Jenner, Clark or whichever goaltender they decide to keep.

Hughes is also a solid option. She’s been one of their best forwards for the last two seasons, and was their most clutch player last year. It feels like they’ll definitely lose her if they leave her unprotected, but I just can’t see her being protected over other players.

You could also make a case for protecting Serdachny based on her age and the fact she was just drafted 2nd overall, but I don’t think she’s played well enough this year.

Then there’s the defence. I don’t think they’re going to protect Larocque. She’s been very good, and she has name recognition as a team Canada player, but she’s too old. That leaves Savolainen, Tejralova and Bell as the three most important names. Anyone who’s been reading my coverage of the team this year can probably guess that my preference would be to keep Savolainen, but I don’t know if the team sees things that way. Maybe they leave them all available for now and count on one of their goaltenders and another forward being taken before anyone looks at the defence, then use their fourth protection slot.

I’ve gone back and forth about who I’d protect. I think my list is very tentatively Clark, Savolainen and Philips. Mashmeyer will get snatched up immediately, and I think Jenner will go too, unless her contract scares teams away. If Jenner somehow isn’t the second player to leave, then I’d protect her. Otherwise, I’d go with either Hughes or Bell.

Whatever happens, they're going to lose four very good players.