# @thegistca on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DKciTqohXZI
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/31306704-thegistca-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/c1fab598d3.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-06-03T16:47:11.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** The GIST Canada (@thegistca) — https://gondola.cc/thegistca

## Caption

What do you think of the protected players, GISTers? Any surprises? 👀⁣
•⁣
Expansion season is officially ON. The PWHL just dropped the list of 18 players protected from poaching as Seattle and Vancouver prepare to join the league for the 2025–26 season. 📈⁣
•⁣
Each of the six OG squads—Boston, Minnesota, Montréal, New York, Ottawa, and Toronto—locked in three core players to kick things off. Let the chess match begin. ♟️⁣
•⁣
Some of the league’s biggest names are staying put: Marie-Philip Poulin and Ann-Renée Desbiens are riding with Montréal, Kendall Coyne Schofield and Taylor Heise are safe in Minnesota, and Toronto’s keeping Renata Fast on lockdown. Basically, these squads are hanging onto their heart and soul—and their future.⁣
•⁣
Some surprising non-protections? Boston's Hilary Knight and Toronto's Natalie Spooner. Thoughts on where they should go? 👇⁣
•⁣
Next up? The Exclusive Signing Window, where Seattle and Vancouver will make their first moves before diving into the Expansion Draft. Each inaugural team can protect one more player after losing two, but that still means a major shakeup is coming. Yep, fan favorites could be on the move. 🏒🤯⁣
•⁣
With a total of 24 players heading to the new franchises, get ready for a whole new era in women’s pro hockey. Seattle and Vancouver are building from scratch—and it’s going to be wild to see who they scoop.⁣
•⁣
Who else is PUMPED?! 🙋‍♀️ #thegist⁣
•⁣
#womenssports #womenshockey #hockey #pwhl #pwhlexpansion #draft #protectedplayers

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 381
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 13

## Credits

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The GIST Canada | @thegistca | https://gondola.cc/thegistca | Sports Media Outlet |

## Tags

womenshockey, draft, pwhlexpansion, hockey, womenssports, pwhl, thegist, protectedplayers

---
Copyright (c) Gondola