The Walter Cup champion Montreal Victoire added Canadian Olympian Emma Maltais on Tuesday, signing the 26-year-old forward to a two-year contract through free agency. Maltais spent her first three PWHL seasons in Toronto before making the move to Montreal, where she joins a roster stacked with national team talent.

Last season, Maltais centered Toronto's second line, posting three goals and 10 points in 84 career games (38 total points). She captured gold at the 2022 Beijing Games and silver at the Milan Cortina Games in February. Despite being born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Maltais grew up in Burlington, Ontario and played collegiately at Ohio State.

Montreal's signing comes as Toronto faces significant roster turnover. The Sceptres lost leading scorer Daryl Watts and forward Jesse Compher in the expansion process, while captain Blayre Turnbull announced her pregnancy with a December due date. These departures leave Toronto scrambling for depth heading into next season.

The Victoire also re-signed defender Tamara Giaquinto and third-string goalie Megan Warrener to one-year contracts. Meanwhile, Seattle Torrent signed Czechia's two-time Olympian Noemi Neubauerova to a one-year deal after she split last season between the PWHL Fleet and EV Zug. Montreal strengthens while Toronto rebuilds.