Marie-Philip Poulin’s Reported Pay Cut Speaks to Winning Culture Building in Montreal

Editor's Note: This is a guest post from Dylan Nazareth. You can follow Dylan on Twitter (X) at @dylnaz.

After losing top talent in expansion, the Montreal Victoire and all Original Six teams were left trying to retool their rosters. As free agency approached in mid-June, they had to address their needs and attract big names, all while staying under the "salary cap".

In the end, Montreal managed pretty well, adding the likes of Abby Roque, Jade Downie-Landry, and Shiann Darkangelo. And it looks like it took some player leadership to get that done. Last week, The Hockey News’ Pat Laprade reported that Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin restructured her contract this summer to take a pay cut heading into the 2025-26 season, giving Montreal more cap space to work with. Moreover, Laprade writes that following Poulin’s lead, other Victoire players, both returning and new, have reportedly been offered similar salary reductions in order to fit everyone in on the payroll.

Unfortunately, the PWHL continues to keep salary information hidden from the public, leaving us to piece together the facts here from different reports. That being said, with multiple partnerships outside the league and an open desire to win the Walter Cup, it would make sense for Poulin to have taken a pay cut to make that happen. And considering the veteran’s leadership and influence, it’s not surprising to hear others on the team may be doing the same. If it ends with a league championship, it would certainly be worth it to any player.

Take the counter example of a team like the Ottawa Charge. After making the Walter Cup Finals in May, they lost significant talent in the offseason and failed to attract any flashy replacements. Looking to remain competitive, the Charge extended forward Emily Clark in August with a record-breaking contract. According to AP’s John Wawrow, along with a restructuring of the final year of her current deal, she’s reportedly set to become the highest-paid player in the PWHL this season. You can hardly blame a star like Clark for cashing in on Ottawa’s extra cap space after a tough summer. Still, it leaves the Charge with less wiggle room moving forward, and sets the standard for what their top players will earn in the coming years.

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Eleni and Mike are back to talk PWHL expansion, the draft, the “salary cap”, and how putting it all together is like trying to build a puzzle in a dark room filled with smoke.

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On the other hand, Poulin’s reported pay cut sets a different tone for the Victoire. Leading by example, the team-focused mentality allowed GM Danièle Sauvageau to put together a strong roster for the upcoming season. It’s similar to what the Florida Panthers have done in the NHL, and reportedly what PWHL Vancouver did to steal big names in expansion. Of course, there’s the added attraction in Montreal of playing alongside Poulin in what may be some of the final years of the Canadian hockey legend’s career.

For added context on the significance of Poulin's move, let's take a look at the league's salary guidelines. Entering this season, all PWHL teams must post an average salary of $58,349.50, up three percent from last year. Poulin was reportedly earning upwards of $120,000 through the first two seasons, but will now see that figure reduced. Considering the average salary teams need to hit, with a required minimum of $37,131.50 per player, six-figure contracts like Poulin's are no easy feat to get on the books while still fielding a competitive team. With Clark setting the market for star forwards, Poulin could easily still be earning a league-leading figure, but is dedicated to winning in Montreal above all else. To have one of the best players in the world on a team-friendly contract is a huge leg up for the Victoire entering this season.

Earlier this year, the PWHLPA voted for internal salary transparency, and it seems to already be having an impact on contracts across the league. Team culture starts with salaries, ultimately determining who you can bring in and what it will cost. If you see that your captain is taking a pay cut for the good of the team, you might be inclined to do the same. And if you’re a free agent, you might take less money if it means going somewhere you can win. Ultimately, players taking team-friendly deals speaks to the focus on building a winning culture and the faith in management to do so.

Until the PWHL enacts full salary transparency, we’re forced to rely on rumors and reports to make sense of the league’s roster moves. But with everything Montreal has accomplished this summer, it’s clear Poulin’s leadership in some form has been a defining factor in their big offseason. Two months out from the regular season, we’ll soon see how that transfers onto the ice.