PWHL Vancouver adds trio of top free agents during signing window

PWHL Vancouver has made a splash in free agency, signing three of the top forwards available on the market.

North Vancouver native Hannah Miller (three years), two-time Walter Cup champion Michela Cava (two years) and the Ottawa Charge's Tereza Vanišová (two years) all signed deals with the expansion team in the first 24 hours of free agency.

After an expansion process that saw Vancouver GM Cara Gardner Morey focus on building the team from the net out, the three signings give Vancouver offense and more two-way ability up top. Vancouver looks like one of the best teams in the league next season, at least on paper.

Miller will be reunited with former Toronto Sceptres teammate Sarah Nurse in Vancouver. She racked up 24 points in 29 games with Toronto before a late-season injury seemed to slow her scoring pace a bit.

Miller is a defensively-responsible forward who can play anywhere in the lineup, from the power play to the penalty kill. Only Toronto teammate Renata Fast had more power play assists last season than Miller.

"Hannah is an elite forward who can put up points and wear down opponents," Gardner Morey said.

The contract brings Miller back home to British Columbia after stops in China, Europe and Toronto.

"It means so much to me to represent the city where I first fell in love with the game," Miller said. "It's a real full-circle moment, and I can't wait to meet all the fans and get started."

Cava spent the last two seasons on the Minnesota Frost's top line alongside Kendall Coyne Schofield and Taylor Heise.

Remarkably, Cava has won five straight titles in four different leagues. In addition to back-to-back Walter Cups with Minnesota, she won championships with the Premier Hockey Federation's Toronto Six in