PWHL makes changes to trade deadline, roster freeze date

A couple of timeline adjustments for the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s final days of player transactions.

On Wednesday, the league announced that it is moving the trade deadline to Monday, Feb. 18, at 4 p.m. ET.

Senior vice president of hockey operations Jayna Hefford originally announced the deadline as Sunday, March 17, at 11:59 p.m. ET.

The PWHL also revealed that the roster freeze will be on Tuesday, March 19, at 12 p.m. ET.

The league said in a statement that it moved the dates to accommodate its adjusted schedule for this weekend’s games and the subsequent travel.

The new roster freeze date allows players who may have been released at or before the trade deadline the opportunity to sign with a new team.

Following the freeze, the six teams will be allowed to have 23 players signed to standard player contracts, along with a maximum of three reserve players, which has been the case all season.

This weekend is a crucial set of games, both for teams and the league. The PWHL Takeover Series will see Boston and Montreal go at it on Saturday at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, while Toronto will meet up with rival Boston on Sunday afternoon at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. Both games could prove whether or not the league moves into those markets in future expansion.

Montreal, a team that was shut out by Toronto last Friday, wants to reclaim first place in the league. Toronto has had Montreal’s number thus far, winning each of the first three meetings.

For Ottawa and Boston, Saturday’s game could prove pivotal in the direction the teams go heading into the extended deadline. The two teams and New York are fighting for the last playoff spot in the league. If there are teams that are expected to make roster changes, it is these three squads.