The Montreal Victoire secured their three top players, each with two year contract extensions: MVP forward Marie-Philip Poulin, forward Laura Stacey, and goaltender Ann-Renée Desbiens. All three players played with the PWHL in Montreal since the beginning of the league as Foundational signings, with this upcoming season remaining on those initial deals. They are all now locked in through 2027-28.
Poulin restructured her deal with Victoire
PWHL contracts can be signed for up to three years, and while they do have to disclose salaries to each other per a vote this offseason by the PWHL Players Association, players are not required to release the value of those contracts to the public.
The current salary cap for the PWHL is $1.34 million USD. We do know from reporting in September that team Captain Marie-Philip Poulin was asked to restructure her current deal to allow for salary cap space to replenish the Montreal Victoire roster after this offseason’s expansion process. Poulin was named PWHL Billie Jean King MVP and Forward of the Year for her 2024-25 season league leading 19 goals, and total of 26 points in 30 games.
Ann-Renée Desbiens was named PWHL Goaltender of the Year for her league leading 15 wins in the 2024-25 season. She finished the season with a 1.86 goals against average and a .932 save percentage. Laura Stacey scored 11 goals in 27 games last season, second only to Poulin.
Victoire General Manager Danièle Sauvageau noted, “These three players have been the heart and soul of our team since day one, and we wanted to make it absolutely clear that they will remain integral members of the Victoire for a long time to come.” Stacey, speaking at the post-announcement press conference emphasized that point saying, “I think for the three of us returning, knowing that we’ve had some success but not quite the one we want, let’s learn from it. Let’s push a little further and see where we can go.”
Protected from expansion draft
These three were not only the foundational signings for then PWHL Montreal, but were also the three players chosen by the Montreal Victoire to be protected in the league expansion process that saw the addition of PWHL teams in Vancouver and Seattle. The Montreal Victoire lost key forwards Jennifer Gardiner and Abby Boreen and defender in expansion. It was crucial that the team maintain its core and top goaltender to attempt to repeat as the PWHL team with the best record in the regular season and push for a playoff series win in the upcoming campaign.
The Montreal Victoire begin their season on November 23rd when they face the Boston Fleet.
