Sceptres trade Kaitlin Willoughby to Victoire for Anna Kjellbin
There was only one notable move made on PWHL Trade Deadline Day.
On Thursday, the Toronto Sceptres acquired defender Anna Kjellbin from the Montreal Victore. In exchange, the Victoire received forward Kaitlin Willoughby.
Ian Kennedy of The Hockey News was the first to report the trade.
Kjellbin was initially taken by the Victoire in the sixth round, 35th overall, of the 2024 PWHL Draft. The Swedish blueliner has been used sparingly this season, appearing in just 18 of the team’s 23 games thus far. She’s only posted one point so far this season, that coming as an assist, coincidentally, against the Sceptres on Dec. 21.
The former Linköping defender has appeared in five IIHF Women’s World Championships, playing for Sweden at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. She’s also expected to play for Damkronorna at the Winter Games in Milano-Cortina next February.
Willoughby also has missed a couple of games this year, having yet to register a point in 20 appearances with the Sceptres. In the league’s first season, the 29-year-old posted just one assist in 23 assists, playing in all five of the Sceptres’ playoff games.
Prior to the PWHL, the Prince Albert, Saskatchewan native played in the PWHPA for four seasons. Willoughby also played one season for the Calgary Inferno in the defunct Canadian Women’s Hockey League.
It is peculiar that the teams that are sitting first and second in the PWHL would swap players with each other at this point of the season. Granted the transaction is for depth pieces compared to star players like Laura Stacey and Hannah Miller.
According to Kennedy, the Victoire were also looking to see if there were any suitors for forward Dominka Laskova, but no move ever materialized.
Per Kennedy, the Ottawa Charge was reportedly shopping forward Anna Meixner, but no trade was ever finalized.
Charge general manager, Mike Hirshfeld, posted a statement on social media saying that they “believe strongly in this group and is excited to battle for a playoff spot.”
The Sceptres already made notable trade this season, that coming in late December when they sent Jocelyne Larocque and Victoria Bach to the Charge. In exchange, Toronto got Savannah Harmon and Haley Scamurra. Both sides have seen mixed results from that deal.
The Victoire (10-6-2-5) remain first in the league standings, eight points ahead of the Sceptres (9-2-5-7).