Lou Orlando
The New York Sirens are trying to clinch their first postseason berth in franchise history — but they’ll have to do so without one of their key offensive contributors. Third-year forward Taylor Girard will go on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) and miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season, the Sirens announced Wednesday morning.
Midway through the second period of New York’s Takeover Tour matchup in Denver on Sunday, Girard attempted to deliver a hit on Minnesota Frost forward Britta Curl-Salemme. Instead, her right toe awkwardly caught the ice, causing her knee to buckle. Girard collapsed in pain and immediately clutched her right knee. She was taken off the ice on a stretcher.
The Sirens fell 4-3 to Minnesota despite an inspired third-period effort. New York has dropped six of its last seven games (1-0-2-4) and sits sixth overall with 27 points (8-0-3-9) — four back of the PWHL’s final playoff spot.
The more significant loss, though, is Girard. The 27-year-old was in the midst of a career-best season, tallying seven goals in 17 games. Kristyna Kaltounkova, New York’s No. 1 overall pick in 2025, is the only Siren with more (11). Girard is tied for 10th in League scoring after recording just five goals in 46 games across her first two PWHL seasons.
It marks Girard’s second season-ending knee injury since 2024. As a member of the Boston Fleet, she suffered a significant left knee injury April 27, 2024, during the penultimate game of the regular season; she missed Boston’s run to Game 5 of the Walter Cup Final as a result. Girard has yet to appear in a postseason game during her three-year PWHL career.
An upper-body injury for star rookie center Casey O’Brien only adds to New York’s troubles. The Sirens listed O’Brien day-to-day, but she did not travel with the team to Denver for Sunday’s matchup against the Frost.
What’s next for Sirens following Girard season-ending injury
Sirens add former Sceptres forward Clair DeGeorge
New York signed 26-year-old forward Clair DeGeorge to a standard player agreement Wednesday after she was released by the Toronto Sceptres. The Sceptres and Sirens reportedly discussed a trade Tuesday, but no deal materialized.
With Girard sidelined and O’Brien’s status uncertain, DeGeorge adds much-needed depth to New York’s forward group. The Sirens have no forwards on their reserve roster, leaving them with just 12 active forwards. That includes O’Brien, who remains day-to-day after taking a heavy hit from Ottawa Charge forward Kateřina Mrázová on March 8.
DeGeorge was not added to the active roster. Instead, the Sirens signed reserve defender Nicole Vallario to a 10-day standard player agreement to fill the open spot. Barring another move, New York will only dress 11 forwards Wednesday against the Vancouver Goldeneyes if O’Brien is unavailable.
DeGeorge played a limited role with the Sceptres this season, appearing in 17 games as a fourth-line winger or extra skater. Her 2:23 average time on ice (ATOI) trails any PWHL skater with at least five games played in 2025-26. She logged a season-high 9:57 in Toronto’s 2-0 win over the Seattle Torrent on Sunday.
She saw a larger fourth-line role with the Montreal Victoire last season, averaging 8:32 in 26 games. With the Walter Cup champion Frost in 2024, DeGeorge averaged more than 10 minutes per game across 23 regular-season contests and appeared in all 10 playoff games, logging a 10:40 ATOI with a plus-one rating. The only other Siren with comparable PWHL postseason experience is Kristin O’Neill, who played seven playoff games with Montreal from 2024 to 2025.
DeGeorge won’t replace Girard’s scoring touch. The Alaska native has yet to record a point this season; she has no goals and three assists in 66 career PWHL games. But despite her low offensive ceiling, DeGeorge is a capable pro-level fourth-liner with a solid 5-foot-11 frame and the ability to play center.
It gives the Sirens some insurance in their forward group and shouldn’t prevent general manager Pascal Daoust from making another addition before the PWHL roster freeze on March 31.
Sirens could explore SDHL player pool
DeGeorge helps the Sirens’ bottom six, but the move does little to fill the offensive void left by Girard’s injury. If Daoust wants to add a more impactful scoring threat, he may have to look overseas.
The Swedish Women’s Hockey League (SDHL) — widely considered the top professional women’s league in Europe — features several former PWHL skaters who would be eligible to sign immediately. As the SDHL playoffs continue, PWHL free agents from eliminated teams become potential targets.
Lulea HF fell in the semifinals Monday. Its roster includes a handful of PWHL talent — most notably former Charge forward Akane Shiga. Shiga scored two goals in 23 games with Ottawa in 2024 and finished seventh in the SDHL this season with 38 points (12 goals, 26 points).
A few other intriguing names could become available if SDE HF is eliminated before the roster freeze. SDE trails Frolunda 2-1 in a best-of-five semifinal series, with Game 4 set for Wednesday.
SDE’s roster includes former Victoire forward Gabrielle David and former Sceptres forward Samantha Cogan. David is tied for second in the SDHL with 42 points (19 goals, 23 assists); she tallied two goals and six points in 26 PWHL games, most recently appearing in 2024-25. Cogan is tied for fifth in the SDHL with 39 points (16 goals, 23 assists) after scoring two goals with Toronto in 2024.
It’s unlikely any of the above will match Girard’s scoring pace, but true needle-moving forwards are hard to find on the open market this late in the season. If Daoust wants to take a flyer on a forward, the SDHL may be his best bet.
Adding a player would require the Sirens to remove someone from their active roster. New York is currently using two of its three reserve roster spots.
Do Sirens have enough offense for playoff push?
In all likelihood, the Sirens will need to replace Girard’s scoring from within. Whether they have the scoring depth to do so is another question.
New York’s rookies have largely powered an offense that ranks fifth League-wide in goals per game. Kaltounkova owns a share of the PWHL lead in goals; in total, first-year skaters account for 23 of New York’s 47 goals.
Star forward Sarah Fillier hasn’t enjoyed the same puck luck in 2025-26 after tallying 13 goals and 29 points in a stellar rookie campaign last season. With 10 games left in the regular season, Fillier has three goals and a 4.7 shooting percentage.
Girard helped mask the departure of impact forwards from 2024-25, including Alex Carpenter, Abby Roque, and Jessie Eldridge — all of whom landed on different teams in the 2025 offseason. But with Girard’s season-ending injury and a banged-up O’Brien, New York lacks some offensive punch, especially further down the lineup.
Without increased production from the likes of Paetyn Levis, Kristin O’Neill, and Fillier, New York may find it hard to keep pace with Ottawa’s dangerous offense and a surging Sceptres squad.
