Detroit Expansion Team Secures Key Draft Position for 2026 PWHL Draft

The Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) is making significant strides as the Detroit expansion franchise has finalized its roster to ten players as of June 15. This development comes as part of the league's phased expansion and free agency process. On Monday evening, the league unveiled the draft order for the upcoming 2026 Draft, scheduled to take place at the historic Fox Theater in Detroit on Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET, broadcast live on WMYD-TV 20.

With the addition of four new franchises—Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas, and San Jose—to the existing eight-team league, the draft order was particularly complex. The Vancouver Goldeneyes secured the first overall pick through the Gold Plan, which prioritized playoff performance over overall standings, a decision that placed the Seattle Torrent in the second slot despite finishing lower in the standings.

As for the Detroit franchise, currently, they hold the No. 3 overall pick. However, reports indicate that General Manager Manon Rheaume has traded this first-round selection to the Las Vegas team in exchange for U.S. hockey star Hilary Knight. Knight, a seasoned forward, was signed to a two-year deal estimated at $106,000 annually. The trade will be officially recognized following the lifting of a league roster freeze on June 16.

If the trade proceeds as anticipated, Detroit will forfeit their No. 3 pick, which will go to Las Vegas, who also holds the No. 5 selection in what is expected to be a highly competitive draft. The top prospects include Caroline Harvey from Team USA and Wisconsin, seen as a likely No. 1 pick, alongside notable players like Abbey Murphy, Laila Edwards, and Kirsten Simms, each of whom has made impactful contributions at the collegiate level and beyond.

Detroit’s draft positions for the subsequent rounds are as follows: No. 15 in Round 2, No. 27 in Round 3, No. 39 in Round 4, No. 51 in Round 5, and No. 63 in Round 6. Fans can look forward to the draft event, where a Draft Fan Zone will also be available on Columbia Street from 2-5 p.m. before the main event.