Right before the PWHL’s first trade deadline, Montreal general manager Danièle Sauvageau made the team’s first trade. They have acquired defender Amanda Boulier from Ottawa in return for forward Tereza Vanišová.
Boulier, 30, was drafted in the 13th round by Ottawa, 77th overall. She is signed to a one-year contract. The Watertown, Connecticut native has one goal and five assists in 17 games this season for Ottawa.
She adds much-needed depth to the team’s defence. Montreal has been missing depth on the right side of the defence since Dominika Lásková went down with an injury and Boulier is a right-shot. She has a long professional career, playing 94 games in the NWHL/PHF with 16 goals and 51 assists for 67 points over her career.
Vanišová, 28, had two goals and eight assists in 17 games this season for Montreal. She has been a mainstay in the team’s top-six throughout the season. She will be reunited in Ottawa with her Czechia national team coach Carla MacLeod. Vanišová was drafted by Montreal in the seventh round, 42nd overall. She is on a two-year contract.
Montreal is currently in the middle of a three-game regulation losing streak, their longest of the season, and sit in third place in the PWHL. They are three points behind both Minnesota and Toronto and eight points ahead of fourth-placed Boston. Ottawa is one point behind Boston in the race for the final playoff spot.
The trade deadline was at 4:00 p.m. Eastern. Teams have until 12:00 p.m. to finalize their rosters with any signing before a roster freeze is in effect.
