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The Professional Women’s Hockey League franchise in Detroit is coming together, with the team reaching 10 players on Monday, June 15, as part of the PWHL’s multi-phase expansion/free agency expert.
And now, the next pieces of the puzzle have been released, as the league announced the order for the 2026 Draft – set for the Fox Theater in Detroit on Wednesday (5 p.m., WMYD-TV 20) – on Monday evening.
BUILDING A TEAM: PWHL Detroit roster updates: A pair of Michiganders
With four expansion franchises joining the previously eight-team league, the draft order was up in the air beyond the No. 1 pick. That’s owned by the Vancouver Goldeneyes, who earned the top spot via the Gold Plan, which called for the team with the most points earned after playoff elimination to pick first overall, rather than the worst overall team, the Seattle Torrent.
But it was unknown whether the four expansion squads – Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas and San Jose – would slot into the draft before or after the four teams that missed the playoffs. Instead, the league opted for a compromise, putting the Torrent – who finished five points back of the No. 7 New York Sirens in overall points over a 30-game schedule – at No. 2 and then the four expansion squads.
And Detroit? Hockeytown’s PWHL franchise has the No. 3 overall pick – for now.
PWHL Detroit GM Manon Rheaume reportedly traded her team’s first-round pick to PWHL Las Vegas for Team USA star Hilary Knight, the 37-year-old forward who was claimed by Vegas on a “Expansion Foundational Offer” and signed to a two-year deal with an approximate $106,000 yearly value. The sign-and-trade can’t become official until Tuesday, June 16, when a leaguewide roster freeze is lifted.
Assuming the trade is executed as previously reported, Detroit will send the No. 3 overall pick to Vegas, which has the No. 5 pick as well in a stacked draft.
Team USA and Wisconsin star Caroline Harvey is expected to be selected No. 1, but behind her are Abbey Murphy – a 24-year-old Illinois native who starred at forward for Minnesota and Team USA – and Laila Edwards – another Wisconsin star from Ohio who became the first Black women to play hockey for Team USA in the Olympics and finished with eight points in seven games. Also in the top-four mix is Michigander Kirsten Simms, a right wing formerly of Wisconsin and Team USA. The Plymouth native put up 25 goals and 47 assists in 41 games with the Badgers in 2024-25, then had a goal and six penalty minutes in Olympic competition in February.
The league also announced the draft order will remain the same in each round, meaning Rheaume and Detroit will pick third in Rounds 2-6 on Wednesday. The overall picks:
(2025-26 record – featuring wins, OT wins, OT losses and regulation losses – in parentheses)
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2026 PWHL Draft order: Where will Detroit expansion franchise pick?
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And now, the next pieces of the puzzle have been released, as the league announced the order for the 2026 Draft – set for the Fox Theater in Detroit on Wednesday (5 p.m., WMYD-TV 20) – on Monday evening.
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BUILDING A TEAM: PWHL Detroit roster updates: A pair of Michiganders
With four expansion franchises joining the previously eight-team league, the draft order was up in the air beyond the No. 1 pick. That’s owned by the Vancouver Goldeneyes, who earned the top spot via the Gold Plan, which called for the team with the most points earned after playoff elimination to pick first overall, rather than the worst overall team, the Seattle Torrent.
But it was unknown whether the four expansion squads – Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas and San Jose – would slot into the draft before or after the four teams that missed the playoffs. Instead, the league opted for a compromise, putting the Torrent – who finished five points back of the No. 7 New York Sirens in overall points over a 30-game schedule – at No. 2 and then the four expansion squads.
And Detroit? Hockeytown’s PWHL franchise has the No. 3 overall pick – for now.
Will PWHL Detroit pick No. 3?
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PWHL Detroit GM Manon Rheaume reportedly traded her team’s first-round pick to PWHL Las Vegas for Team USA star Hilary Knight, the 37-year-old forward who was claimed by Vegas on a “Expansion Foundational Offer” and signed to a two-year deal with an approximate $106,000 yearly value. The sign-and-trade can’t become official until Tuesday, June 16, when a leaguewide roster freeze is lifted.
Assuming the trade is executed as previously reported, Detroit will send the No. 3 overall pick to Vegas, which has the No. 5 pick as well in a stacked draft.
Who are the top PWHL Draft prospects?
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Team USA and Wisconsin star Caroline Harvey is expected to be selected No. 1, but behind her are Abbey Murphy – a 24-year-old Illinois native who starred at forward for Minnesota and Team USA – and Laila Edwards – another Wisconsin star from Ohio who became the first Black women to play hockey for Team USA in the Olympics and finished with eight points in seven games. Also in the top-four mix is Michigander Kirsten Simms, a right wing formerly of Wisconsin and Team USA. The Plymouth native put up 25 goals and 47 assists in 41 games with the Badgers in 2024-25, then had a goal and six penalty minutes in Olympic competition in February.
What picks does PWHL Detroit have?
The league also announced the draft order will remain the same in each round, meaning Rheaume and Detroit will pick third in Rounds 2-6 on Wednesday. The overall picks:
- Round 2: No. 15 overall.
- Round 3: No. 27.
- Round 4: No. 39.
- Round 5: No. 51.
- Round 6: No. 63.
Complete 2026 PWHL Draft order
(2025-26 record – featuring wins, OT wins, OT losses and regulation losses – in parentheses)
- 1: Vancouver Goldeneyes (9-3-4-14).
- 2: Seattle Torrent (8-1-5-16)
- 3: PWHL Detroit (expansion)
- 4: PWHL Hamilton (expansion)
- 5: PWHL Las Vegas (expansion)
- 6: PWHL San Jose (expansion)
- 7: New York Sirens (9-3-3-15)
- 8: Toronto Sceptres (10-1-6-13).
- 9: Minnesota Frost (13-3-5-9).
- 10: Boston Fleet (16-5-4-5).
- 11: Ottawa Charge (9-18-1-12; runner-up).
- 12: Montreal Victoire (16-6-2-6; PWHL champions).
When is the 2026 PWHL Draft?
- Time: 5 p.m. ET.
- Where: Fox Theater, Detroit.
- Tickets:Available via Ticketmaster.
- TV: The first two rounds will air on WMYD-TV (Ch. 20 in Detroit).
- Before the draft: The PWHL will host a Draft Fan Zone free for fans on Columbia Street from 2-5 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2026 PWHL Draft order: Where will Detroit expansion franchise pick?
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