Change is coming in Year 2 of the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

The regular-season schedule is being expanded to 30 games, with play beginning in late November. It is expected that the six teams will take the ice with new nicknames and logos in place.

Locally, Minnesota’s homer opener, expected to be at Xcel Energy Center, likely will feature a ring ceremony and the raising of the 2024 PWHL championship banner. An official introduction of the new members of the 26-player roster will take place as well.

Taylor Heise, Grace Zumwinkle, Kendall Coyne Schofield and Lee Stecklein aren’t going anywhere, but there is expected to be a fair amount of turnover due to the seven-round draft that will be held in St. Paul on June 10.

“The human element to this is that this team will never be the same, unfortunately, because of the talent coming in,” general manager Natalie Darwitz said. “There may be some players who may not have a spot here next year, because better players are coming in.

“But we feel really good about where we are as a foundation and as an organization, and what we have to build off today.”

LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 29: Taylor Heise #27, Grace Zumwinkle #13 and Kelly Pannek #12 of Minnesota share a moment after defeating Boston to win the Walter Cup during Game Five of the PWHL Finals at Tsongas Center on May 29, 2024 in Lowell, Massachusetts. (Photo by Troy Parla/Getty Images)

Minnesota has 11 players on the roster who signed multi-year contracts. Darwitz has until June 21 to re-sign players who played on one-year contracts. Those who are not re-signed become free agents. Darwitz will have the ability to match any offer any of those players receive in free agency.

“Michela Cava is on a one-year contract, but she probably earned an extension,” Darwitz said with a smile. “A couple players know we’d love them back, and other players are in wait-and-see mode as we get through the draft.”

With seven picks in the draft, Minnesota can expect to add at least two or three players to its roster to go along with any players added via free agency and trades.

“The first two to three rounds are obviously significant,” Darwitz said of the draft. “Those are players who have a high-level background, whether that be as members of national team — U.S., Canada or overseas.

“It is really going to be hard to make our roster until we have expansion in this league.”

Goaltenders Nicole Hensley and Maddie Rooney are under contract for another year. Darwitz said she also anticipates having discussions with goaltender Amanda Leveille about returning.

Leveille, who played for the Gophers, did not see any action this season, but Darwitz holds her in high regard.

Meanwhile, there’s a level of uncertainty regarding coach Ken Klee. Asked on Friday if she expected Klee to be back, Darwitz said, “We haven’t thought about next year at all.”

For his part, Klee said he is interested in returning. “Yeah, it was great,” he said. “I really enjoyed coaching. The winning’s great, but coaching great people is more important to me. Coaching people who want to get better, coaching people who want to be here.”

The 53-year-old Klee, a former coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team, took over as coach a week before the start of the regular season after Charlie Burggraf resigned for personal reasons.

“It’s not a spot anyone wanted to be in,” Darwitz said. “I respect what happened with Charlie and wish him the best. The players were resilient. I don’t think any other level of play this could have been possible.

“They’re professionals; they’re just playing hockey at the end of the day. They’re just hearing it from a different voice. With him coming in on short notice, it shared a lot about him, and he was able to get it done here.”

LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 29: Michela Cava #86 of Minnesota celebrates after scoring in the third period against Boston to put Minnesota up 2-0 during Game Five of the PWHL Finals at Tsongas Center on May 29, 2024 in Lowell, Massachusetts. (Photo by Troy Parla/Getty Images)

The players took to Klee’s style, which they view as demanding but fair.

“We love coach Klee,” Stecklein said.  “He’s an incredible coach, a lot of great experience. I think it showed the way our group continued to grow throughout the season and improve.

“I think that’s a great credit to our entire coaching staff, but especially coach Klee. Especially in the playoffs, I feel his experience was incredibly helpful.”

Coyne Schofield said he thought Klee did “a phenomenal job.”

“After that season I can’t imagine him not being back if that’s the decision that he wants,” she said. “You look at the league awards — the MVP, the best forward, the best defender, the best coach — we don’t have any of those. We have the best team. It starts at the top.

“The way he brought this team together, the way he makes every player feel valued — like your role matters. You saw the way he matched lines. He didn’t roll six forwards, four ‘D’ and one goalie like a lot of teams did around the league. He rolled everyone strategically.

“I’d been lucky to play with him before coming here on the U.S. team, and I will say that everywhere I’ve played for him we’ve won. We were lucky to have him this year. Some of the most fun years I have had playing hockey have been under his leadership.”

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