There was no shortage of amateur general managers looking at the Frost’s options for the upcoming PWHL expansion draft and assumed there was no way the team would use two of its three available protected slots on thirty-something stars Kendall Coyne Schofield and Lee Stecklein.

Turns out, Frost general manager Melissa Caruso and coach Ken Klee couldn’t envision going after a third straight Walter Cup next season without either one.

The Frost will chase that third championship with the ultra-talented Taylor Heise, Stecklein, 31, and Coyne Schofield, 33, and a supporting cast that is yet to be determined. Those three players are among the 18 protected by the original six PWHL franchises, it was announced Tuesday.

The veteran leadership provided by Coyne Schofield and Stecklein was something the Frost simply did not want to give up.

“Over the last two seasons, a foundation and culture has been established within our organization that we feel these three players, in addition to their skill and ability on the ice, embody, and will continue to uphold as leaders on and off the ice as we move forward into season three,” Caruso said in a statement.

“Additionally, they are all proven winners whose experience will be invaluable as we evolve toward the next phase of the Minnesota Frost.”

The Frost’s decision to protect two of their leaders was made easier by the fact that both are coming off excellent seasons.

“There’s no perfect yes and there’s no perfect no,” Klee said of the selection process. “We’re trying to look at just next year. So, next year, are Kendall and Lee at the top of their game? Obviously, yes. Lee just led the playoffs in scoring, and Kendall was our MVP and our leading scorer this year.”

With the protected lists submitted, Caruso and Klee now must sit on the sidelines as the two expansion teams go to work on creating their rosters. Starting Wednesday, the two teams have a five-day window to sign up to five free agents or unprotected players.

“It’s the wild, wild West a little bit,” Klee said.

The expansion draft will be held on Monday.

The two new teams will make their selections knowing that they have to build rosters that fit under the salary cap, which will be increased to $1.34 million.

“They can’t take 12 $80,000 players because they won’t fit under the salary cap,” Klee said. “So, it’s going to be really interesting to see the kind of teams they are going to build; how they are going to stretch their money to get good players.

“But they’re going to have competitive teams, regardless. But when it comes down to it, if the coach can’t get them to buy in, that’s a problem.”

There were a couple of big surprises around the league among unprotected players. Boston elected not to protect its captain, Hilary Knight, and New York did not protect Alex Carpenter. Both are among the biggest names in women’s hockey.

Their availability could work in the Frost’s favor, with the two stars filling “premier” slots. Once the Frost lose two players — through any combination of the expansion draft and free agency — they will be able to protect a fourth.

Klee mentioned Sophie Jaques, Claire Thompson, Britta Curl-Salemme, Grace Zumwinkle and Kelly Pannek as players “in the mix” for being the fourth player to be protected.

The six-round PWHL draft will be held on June 24, the Frost’s first step in rebuilding their roster. They also will be looking to add talent via agency.

“We definitely have a short list of free agents that we hope to target,” Caruso said.

There have been few trades in the league to date, but that could change as teams look for ways to fill needs.

“I think there could be a little more player movement next year,” Caruso said. “Maybe some players selected (in the expansion draft) are not a great fit. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Caruso said it is still to be determined if teams will be allowed to trade draft picks.

Protected

PWHL teams were allowed to protect up to three players for the June 9 expansion draft.

Boston Fleet >> Aerin Frankel (G), Megan Keller (D), Alina Müller (F).

Minnesota Frost >> Kendall Coyne Schofield (F), Taylor Heise (F), Lee Stecklein (D).

Montréal Victoire >> Ann-Renée Desbiens (G), Marie-Philip Poulin (F), Laura Stacey (F).

New York Sirens >> Sarah Fillier (F), Ella Shelton (D), Micah Zandee-Hart (D).

Ottawa Charge >> Emily Clark (F), Gwyneth Philips (G), Ronja Savolainen (D).

Toronto Sceptres >> Renata Fast (D), Blayre Turnbull (F), Daryl Watts (F).