PWHL GMs not expecting a hectic trade deadline

The Professional Women’s Hockey League trade deadline is imminent, but the mood around the league is relatively calm.

The NHL is usually rife with suspense, urgency and rumours of last-minute deals flying around as its annual deadline approaches.

Things can always change, but for now PWHL general managers say their phones aren’t exactly ringing off the hook.

Many GMs are using words like “quiet” and “manageable” to describe the trade chatter ahead of Monday’s 4 p.m. ET embargo and rate their chances of making a move at 50-50.

"To put your bobber in the water right now, it's going to take the right trade,” Minnesota GM Natalie Darwitz said. “I don't think teams are going to trade just to trade."

Managers say several obstacles stand in the way of making a deal in this new league.

The NHL’s trade deadline typically features playoff-bound buyers aiming to bolster their squads for a Stanley Cup run and non-playoff teams trying to cash in on their assets.

To facilitate trades without depleting their teams, buyers offer packages centred around draft picks and prospects. PWHL GMs don’t have those resources at their disposal.

They can’t trade picks during the first season and don't have a pool of up-and-coming players. Teams can hold up to three reserve players but don’t have minor league rosters to draw from.

"To add to your team, you have to subtract something at the same time,” Ottawa GM Mike Hirshfeld said. “That's the challenge that all of us are facing."

The salary cap also limits flexibility and the fact all six teams are still competing for a playoff spot makes it tougher to strike a deal.

And that’s just the hockey side.

Unlike the NHL where minimum salaries approach a million dollars, PWHL players can earn as little