New York Sirens sign Sarah Fillier to one-year contract

After an extended negotiation, the New York Sirens have finally signed their top prospect.

On Friday, the team announced it has signed forward Sarah Fillier to a one-year standard player agreement. The deal will expire at the end of the 2024-25 season.

Fillier was taken first overall by the Sirens in the 2024 PWHL Draft. She makes the jump to the pro ranks after already establishing herself as one of the best players in the world.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome Sarah Fillier to the New York Sirens family,” general manager Pascal Daoust said in a release. “When Sarah steps on the ice, she brings an energy that ignites both her teammates and fans alike. Her game combines passion, excitement, growth, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.” 

It took a long time for this deal to get done, with many believing tenure was the deciding factor. With PWHL teams having a player’s rights for at least two seasons, Fillier will not become an unrestricted free agent after this season. Which is why a couple of this year’s draft picks, including No. 3 selection Claire Thompson, have signed on for two years.

With a one-year deal, Fillier has the ability to ask for a big pay bump after her rookie season. According to The Athletic, many first-rounders from this year’s draft are expected to make around $50,000, a little below what the top free agents signed prior to the league’s inaugural season, with some having cap hits over $100,000.

The salary cap was projected to rise for the 2025-26 campaign. However, with the PWHL announcing plans to expand, that might change.

Nevertheless, Fillier is excited to start her professional career.

“Playing in the PWHL will be a dream come true, and I cannot wait to make New York my home,” Fillier said. “I am excited to get on the ice with my teammates in front of the best fans in the league. I want to help elevate women’s sport to new heights and make girls across the world realize their dreams of playing professional hockey are within reach.” 

The Georgetown, Ontario native has been playing with the Canadian National Team in the 2018-19 season, and is leading the charge of the next wave of talent wearing the maple leaf. During her time, she has represented her country; Fillier has won gold at the IIHF Women’s World Championship three times, been named to the tournament all-star team twice and earned the title of Best Forward in the 2023 Women’s Worlds.

She was also a big part of Canada reclaiming gold at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Collegiately, Fillier became one of the best players to lace her skates at Princeton University. As a Tiger, she was a three-time Patty Kazmaier Award finalist, scoring 194 points in five seasons, the most registered by a player in almost two decades.

The Sirens have signed four of their eight selections from this year’s draft. Maja Nylén Persson, Noora Tulus, and Kayle Osborne have also put pen to paper this season. With the signing of Fillier, New York has 17 players under contract for the 2024-25 season.

With a revamped roster, a new coach and the addition of Fillier, the Sirens have the tools to improve on their last-place finish last season.

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