PWHL Ottawa acquires forwards Vanišová, Darkangelo to bolster playoff push

PWHL Ottawa added a pair of forwards in separate trades on Monday, as the team makes a push for the fourth and final playoff spot.

Ottawa acquired forward Tereza Vanišová from Montreal in exchange for defender Amanda Boulier in a bid to add more offence. Then, the team swapped forward Lexie Adzija and the rights to forward Caitrin Lonergan for Boston's Shiann Darkangelo, who will give the team another option down the middle.

Both trades were announced on Monday after the 4 p.m. ET trade deadline passed. Rosters will be frozen after 12 p.m. Tuesday, giving teams a few more hours to sign players who've been released from other teams.

Vanišová leaves Montreal tied for fourth on the team in points (10 in 17 games played) and has spent stretches this season playing on Montreal captain Marie-Philip Poulin's wing on the top line. Vanišová signed a two-year contract with Montreal after she was drafted in the seventh round in September.

The trade reunites the Czech winger with Carla MacLeod, who coaches the Czech women's national team in addition to serving as Ottawa's head coach, and with Czech teammates Aneta Tejralová and Kateřina Mrázová. All three will play for MacLeod on Czechia's team at the women's world championship in April.

"Obviously, our coach knows exactly what [Vanišová] brings to the table," Ottawa general manager Mike Hirshfeld said in a statement.

"She is an incredibly exciting top-six forward who is under contract for next season as well. She is one of the best skaters in the world and we are thrilled to add that dimension to our roster."

The Ottawa-Boston swap may seem unusual, since both teams are in the hunt for the final playoff spot. But it could be mutually beneficial and fill a hole on both rosters.

Otta