3 storylines to watch in a big PWHL off-season

Montreal Victoire fans stayed to watch their team celebrate the franchise's first Walter Cup long after the final buzzer sounded and the confetti had fallen at Ottawa's Canadian Tire Centre.

It was a celebration of what the Victoire had accomplished, three seasons into the PWHL's creation.

It was also the last chance to see this team together on the ice, before a massive roster shake-up changes the landscape of the PWHL this off-season.

Victoire forward Abby Roque, who was traded to Montreal from New York on draft day last year, described it as "a gift" to play on a line with Marie-Philip Poulin and Laura Stacey — a trio that fans dubbed "the Wife Line."

In her first PWHL playoff run, Roque became a champion and tied Poulin for the scoring lead among all skaters, scoring eight points in nine games.

"Everybody is truly an incredible person," Roque said about the Victoire. "They leave their heart on the line every game, and I love everybody so much."

The three-year contract Roque signed three seasons ago is due to expire, and like so many players across the league, it's not clear where she will be playing next year.

In the next two weeks, the league will begin a player distribution process that will help stock the rosters of four new expansion teams in Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas and San Jose.

According to a memo sent to players earlier this month from the PWHL Players Association, the league doesn't plan to have an expansion draft. Instead, the league has been planning a multi-phase process that begins with teams each protecting three players.

Here's a preview of what's ahead in a busy PWHL off-season.

With so many players on expiring contracts and more players set to depart to expansion teams, the GMs of the existing