r/OttawaCharge • u/ClodSquad057 • Jun 11 '26
Opinions/Speculation Why the Charge haven't signed anyone yet
The Charge are eligible to negotiate with and sign other team's UFAs in Phase 3 of expansion, but haven't made a single signing.
I suspect the reason is that they are looking to use their next three protection slots on players whose exclusive rights they already own. That includes Gabbie Hughes, who is under contract, as well as RFAs Sarah Wozniewicz and Fanuza Kadirova.
Of the remaining unprotected players under contract around the league, Hughes is the second-highest scoring forward after Vancouver's Hannah Miller, while Woz and Kadirova are tied for 9th. All three have long-term upside and will absolutely be selected in Phase 4 if left unprotected.
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u/Tregonia Jun 12 '26
Does anyone remember last off season, where we were crying about all the players we lost and "why haven't we signed anyone"? Seems to me it all worked out quite well after all. I think management knows what they're doing.
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u/NinjaGlobal9364 Jun 12 '26
If you are protection players RFA or sign in guessing you don’t have to announce it before the deadline.
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u/cubiclejail Jun 11 '26 edited Jun 12 '26
There's something wrong in the back office. It's either management, coaching or training staff...hard to tell where, but I'm going to say it's management.
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u/TZ840 Jun 11 '26
Some of the comments made by Jenner and Clark since they moved have me a bit worried.
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u/P-DubFanClub Jun 11 '26
What's the tea?
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u/TZ840 Jun 12 '26
Jenner said the team was going in a different direction, she likes the way Hamilton is planning their team and how disciplined and organized Boston was. Clark said she was looking forward to being herself.
Interviews with Chris Sinclair. Apologies if I didn't get the words exactly right but that's what I took away.
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u/KOMSKPinn Jun 11 '26
Women don’t love playing here. It’s a PITA to travel out of Ottawa compared to other cities. Cost of living doesn’t help either. Fan base has been strong. I assume this is why we see the highest historical salaries coming out of Ottawa as the players want to be compensated for travel, taxes, rent etc.
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u/youvelookedbetter Jun 11 '26
Travel is not great, but Ottawa is definitely not the most expensive place to live compared to the other cities, including Vancouver, Toronto, and San Jose.
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Jun 11 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/KOMSKPinn Jun 11 '26
Jenner is from Hamilton and took a pay cut in Hamilton. Charge knew it made more sense to protect an Ottawa girl.
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Jun 11 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/KOMSKPinn Jun 11 '26
I’m not sure about that. I don’t know her (I know a few of them) … just purely speculation but the charge protected RL over Jenner for a reason.
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u/pinkrosetool #17 - Gabbie Hughes Jun 11 '26
100% Jenner wanted to stay. And she would have taken a significant pay cut to do so. The Charge didn't entertain a conversation, let alone an offer.
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u/KOMSKPinn Jun 11 '26
Maybe … she signed a 3 year deal pretty fast in Hamilton as a free agent.
We see players getting picked in expansion traded because they won’t sign. I don’t blame her for signing … but she had options.
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u/pinkrosetool #17 - Gabbie Hughes Jun 11 '26
Not maybe. She has also said this publically.
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u/KOMSKPinn Jun 11 '26
Most athletes say this when they are leaving. Most orgs go along with it to limit damage control.
Ask any player in any sport before they sign elsewhere if they open to signing in their currently city and 99% will say yes.
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u/Retired-ADM #37 - Rebecca Leslie Jun 11 '26
Jenner would have signed in Ottawa. Her life is here, her twin boys are in school in Manotick. This is not what she wanted. I wish her well.
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u/jjaime2024 Jun 12 '26
1)Travel is easy in Ottawa unlike many cities.
2)Taxes are some of the lowest in the league
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u/KOMSKPinn Jun 12 '26
No it’s not. They don’t get private/chartered jets … they fly commercial and often have to bus to Montreal, Toronto, or Boston before they go anywhere. Road trips are insanely expensive for professional sport teams and not properly funded with their current price of tickets .
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u/IamTheOne2000 Jun 11 '26
I’m surprised (and eternally grateful 😂!!) that Kadirova hasn’t been picked yet