The next batch of players protected from the PWHL’s multi-phase expansion roster-building process has been announced.During Phase 3, which ended on Friday, the league’s eight existing teams were permitted to protect three additional players from the rest of the six-phase process, bringing their total protected list to six players. Any free agents needed to be signed to be protected in this window.All four expansion teams — Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas and San Jose — were also permitted to sign up to three more players to their inaugural rosters over the three-day signing window.The next step comes Sunday (at noon ET), when the expansion teams can continue filling out their rosters to 10 players.Here’s who will be protected when Phase 4 begins.Montreal VictoireMaggie Flaherty (D)Kati Tabin (D)Lina Ljungblom (F)Already protected: Marie-Philip Poulin (F), Laura Stacey (F) and Ann-Renée Desbiens (G)Key players available: Abby Roque (F), Jessica DiGirolamo (D), Amanda Boulier (D), Natálie Mlýnková (F), Catherine Dubois (F)Toronto SceptresKali Flanagan (D)Natalie Spooner (F)Emma Gentry (F)Already protected: Renata Fast (D), Raygan Kirk (G) and Ella Shelton (D)Key players available: Blayre Turnbull (F), Emma Maltais (F), Allie Munroe (D), Clara Van Wieren (F), Elaine Chuli (G)Vancouver GoldeneyesJenn Gardiner (F)Izzy Daniel (F)Hannah MillerAlready protected: Sophie Jaques (D), Emerance Maschmeyer (G) and Sarah Nurse (F)Key players available: Ashton Bell (D), Tereza Vanišová (F), Abby Boreen (F), Nina Jobst-Smith (D), Gabby Rosenthal (F)Ottawa ChargeGabbie Hughes (F)Fanuza Kadirova (F)Sarah Wozniewicz (F)Already protected: Rebecca Leslie (F), Gwyneth Philips (G) and Ronja Savolainen (D)Key players available: Michela Cava (F), Emma Greco (D), Brooke McQuigge (F), Kateřina Mrázová (F), Peyton Hemp (F)Boston FleetSusanna Tapani (F)Abby Newhook (F)Shay Maloney (F)Already protected: Aerin Frankel (G), Megan Keller (D) and Haley Winn (D)Key players available: Jessie Eldridge (F), Jamie Lee Rattray (F), Ella Huber (F), Daniela Pejšová (D), Liz Schepers (F)Minnesota FrostGrace Zumwinkle (F)Lee Stecklein (D)Sidney Morin (D)Already protected: Taylor Heise (F), Kelly Pannek (F), Maddie Rooney (G)Key players available: Kendall Coyne Schofield (F), Natalie Buchbinder (D), Abby Hustler (F), Katy Knoll (F), Klára Hymlárová (F)New York SirensJaime Bourbonnais (D)Maja Nylén Persson (D)Micah Zandee-Hart (D)Already protected: Sarah Fillier (F), Kristýna Kaltounková (F) and Casey O’Brien (F)Key players available: Paetyn Levis (F), Elle Hartje (F), Allyson Simpson (D), Denisa Křížová (F), Emmy Fecteau (F)Seattle TorrentJulia Gosling (F)Danielle Serdachny (F)Mikyla Grant-Mentis (F)Already protected: Alex Carpenter (F), Hannah Murphy (G) and Anna Wilgren (D)Key players available: Aneta Tejralová (D), Lexie Adzija (F), Jenna Buglioni (F), Theresa Schafzahl (F), Emily Brown (D)