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2026 PWHL Mock Draft

April 2026 · Draft Chalkboard

This is the first pick-by-pick PWHL mock draft on the internet. Rankings exist — The Hockey News, Draft Futures Online, EP Rinkside all publish prospect boards — but nobody has matched prospects to teams based on draft order, roster needs, and signal scores. That's what this is.

48 picks across 6 rounds, drawing from our 854-player NCAA board plus 7 international professionals. We cross-referenced THN, DFO, and EP Rinkside rankings for consensus validation.

Before you read

  • The 2025–26 season ends April 25. Standings are projected from current pace — the final draft order may shift.
  • We assume 8 teams and 6 rounds (48 picks), matching the 2025 draft format. If the league alters the structure, picks 25–48 are most affected.
  • No trades are modeled. In reality, expansion teams often trade down for volume.
  • International prospects (Nieminen, Brändli, Vainikka, Bouveng) don't appear in NCAA databases — they're placed by cross-referencing public rankings and scouting reports.

Projected Draft Order

Inverse of current standings. Non-playoff teams pick first. Seattle and Vancouver, both in their inaugural PWHL season, hold the top two selections.

PickTeamRecordPtsKey Needs
1Seattle Torrent7-14-323Everything (expansion yr 1)
2Vancouver Goldeneyes8-13-327Everything, especially goalie (expansion yr 1)
3New York Sirens10-12-131Forward depth (injuries)
4Ottawa Charge13-11-133General upgrade
5Toronto Sceptres10-10-434Youth — lost 2025 class to expansion
6Minnesota Frost15-6-446Defense (lost ~45% of points to expansion/FA)
7Boston Fleet18-4-351Forward scoring (lost Hilary Knight), D depth
8Montréal Victoire18-5-252BPA, shore up for expansion losses

Round 1 (Picks 1-8)

Full scouting reports. Signal scores reference our prospect model's confidence in pro translation (1–10 scale). International prospects use a separate tier system.

1
Caroline HarveyWisconsin · D
Signal 10

to SEA Torrent

The consensus number-one pick. Harvey is a generational defenseman — the type of franchise cornerstone you build an expansion roster around. She led all NCAA defensemen in points per game in 2025-26, quarterbacks the power play, and skates like a forward. Wisconsin's four-peat dynasty was built on her blue line.

Seattle gets the best player in the draft and their first-ever building block. Harvey is to this expansion franchise what Marie-Philip Poulin was to Montréal in the PWHL's inaugural season — the face of the team on day one.

2
Abbey MurphyMinnesota · F
Signal 9

to VAN Goldeneyes

Murphy led the NCAA in both goals per game and points per game this season. She's a pure finisher with an elite release — the kind of player who puts fans in seats from day one. Vancouver's expansion roster needs an immediate first-line presence, and Murphy is the most pro-ready scorer in this class.

The Goldeneyes need everything, but a franchise forward is the highest-leverage pick. Murphy's goal-scoring ability is rare — she doesn't need a perfect setup to finish. That translates immediately to the pro game.

3
Laila EdwardsWisconsin · F/D
Signal 8

to NY Sirens

At 6'1" with arguably the heaviest shot in women's hockey, Edwards is a matchup nightmare. She played both forward and defense at Wisconsin, giving New York positional flexibility. With Kaltounková and Girard battling injuries, the Sirens need someone who can step in and produce right away.

Edwards' size and shot are PWHL-ready. She can slot in at forward to fill the scoring void or move back to defense in a pinch. That versatility is gold for a team dealing with injury uncertainty heading into next season.

4
Tessa JaneckePenn State · C
Signal 7

to OTT Charge

Janecke is the most complete two-way center in this draft — Penn State's all-time leading scorer who excels in both ends. Ottawa finished in the middle of the pack and needs a franchise pivot. Janecke's 200-foot game, faceoff ability, and leadership translate directly to the PWHL.

Ottawa doesn't have glaring holes but lacks a true number-one center. Janecke fills that gap immediately. She's the kind of player who elevates everyone on her line and takes the tough defensive assignments.

5
Kirsten SimmsWisconsin · F
Signal 9

to TOR Sceptres

Simms might be the most skilled forward in the entire draft. Two consecutive 70+ point seasons at Wisconsin put her in historic company. Toronto lost much of their 2025 draft class to the expansion draft and desperately need youth and talent — Simms delivers both.

The Sceptres were gutted by expansion. Simms is the kind of dynamic forward you rebuild around — elite playmaking, dangerous shot, and only getting better. She pairs beautifully with Toronto's remaining veteran core.

6
Nelli LaitinenMinnesota · D
Signal 7

to MIN Frost

The hometown pick that also happens to be the right pick. Minnesota lost roughly 45% of their defensive point production to expansion and free agency. Laitinen is a Finnish Olympian who played her college hockey at Minnesota — she knows the market, the fans, and the system. She's a smooth-skating defenseman who can run a power play.

Minnesota's need on defense is acute. Laitinen fills it with a player who has both international pedigree and local roots. The Frost fanbase will love the homecoming narrative, and the front office will love the underlying numbers.

7
Lacey EdenWisconsin · F
Signal 4

to BOS Fleet

Losing Hilary Knight left a gaping hole in Boston's forward corps. Eden posted 77 points and won four NCAA titles at Wisconsin — she knows how to produce in high-leverage moments. The Signal 4 flag is about pro projection uncertainty, not talent. She's a proven winner stepping into a contender.

Boston is built to compete right now. They don't need a project — they need someone who can replace Knight's scoring on the top six. Eden's championship pedigree and production make her the safest pick to contribute immediately.

8
Petra NieminenLuleå HF (SDHL) · F
Spec T1

to MTL Victoire

Montréal takes the best available international prospect. Nieminen was the SDHL scoring champion — a proven professional who doesn't need development time. While every other team in this round took a college player, the Victoire can afford a different approach: they're already loaded and drafting for marginal upgrades.

Montréal's strength lets them take a swing on the most pro-ready international player available. Nieminen has played against women's hockey's best in European competition and the Olympics. No adjustment period — she's ready for top-nine minutes on day one.

Round 2 (Picks 9-16)

The second round is where expansion teams double down and contenders address specific gaps. This is also where the first goaltender comes off the board.

9
Issy WunderSignal 8

Ohio State · F · to SEA

10
Emma PeschelSignal 7

Minnesota · D · to VAN

11
Sydney MorrowSignal 6

Northeastern · F · to NY

12
Andrea BrändliSpec T1

Ohio State / Swiss Nat'l · G · to OTT

13
Jade IginlaSignal 6

Stanford · F · to TOR

14
Josefin BouvengSignal 5

Ohio State · F · to MIN

15
Jamie NelsonSignal 6

Wisconsin · D · to BOS

16
Viivi VainikkaSpec T2

SDHL · F · to MTL

Round 3 (Picks 17-24)

Depth picks. The talent is real but projection confidence drops. Teams are betting on development curves and system-specific skills.

17
Brooke Disher

Colgate · F · to SEA

18
Emerson Jarvis

Cornell · D · to VAN

19
Sara Swiderski

Minnesota Duluth · F · to NY

20
Sloane Matthews

Boston College · F · to OTT

21
Tia Chan

Northeastern · D · to TOR

22
Grace Dwyer

Quinnipiac · F · to MIN

23
Elyssa Biederman

Clarkson · F · to BOS

24
Vivian Jungels

Minnesota · D · to MTL

Rounds 4-6 (Picks 25-48)

Late-round selections — organizational depth, development bets, and specific skill fills (penalty kill, goaltending depth, physicality).

#TeamPlayerSchoolPos
25SEAHannah BilkaBoston CollegeF
26VANClaire ThompsonPrincetonD
27NYEllie MarcovskyOhio StateD
28OTTMaddi WheelerWisconsinF
29TORRaygan KirkPenn StateD
30MINKeira NealonColgateF
31BOSHanna HogbergMinnesota DuluthG
32MTLEmma SeitzMinnesotaF
33SEATaylor WenczkowskiRITF
34VANGabby TremblayClarksonD
35NYAllie MunroeSt. LawrenceD
36OTTSammy DavisBoston UniversityF
37TORBritta CurlOhio StateF
38MINJoy DunneQuinnipiacF
39BOSJulia GoslingCornellD
40MTLMalia ThakerNortheasternF
41SEAStephanie MarkowskiMichiganG
42VANMaureen MurphyNortheasternF
43NYGabby AmatoPenn StateF
44OTTIzzy DanielBoston CollegeD
45TORJosie BothunMinnesota DuluthG
46MINPeyton MulhernClarksonF
47BOSNicole KellyColgateD
48MTLKate ShafferHarvardF

Key Storylines

Wisconsin owns this draft

Four of the top eight picks are Badgers: Harvey (1), Edwards (3), Simms (5), and Eden (7). Wisconsin's four-peat dynasty is about to flood the PWHL with talent. No program has ever had this kind of draft representation at the professional level in women's hockey.

Expansion teams land franchise cornerstones

Seattle gets Harvey (consensus #1 overall) and Wunder (top-10 talent) in the first two rounds. Vancouver gets Murphy (NCAA scoring leader) and Peschel. Both teams walk away with legitimate building blocks, not just warm bodies.

International intrigue: Nieminen at 8

Montreal using a first-round pick on an SDHL player is a luxury only the league's best team can afford. Nieminen is a proven professional — if she hits, it validates the PWHL as a global destination for elite talent.

Biggest steal: Simms at 5

Simms has the strongest signal score (9) of any forward and two 70+ point seasons. She falls to 5 only because teams ahead of her have more acute needs elsewhere. Toronto gets a franchise forward who in many mocks would go second or third overall.

Biggest reach risk: Eden at 7

Eden's Signal 4 is the lowest of any first-round pick. The production is undeniable (77 points, four titles), but our model flags uncertainty in pro translation — her NCAA numbers were boosted by the most loaded roster in the country. Boston is betting on pedigree over projection.

Draft order projected from 2025–26 PWHL standings as of April 2026. Prospect evaluations combine our 854-player NCAA signal board with cross-references from The Hockey News, Draft Futures Online, and EP Rinkside. International prospects evaluated from SDHL, Liiga, and Olympic competition data.

This is a projection, not a prediction. Real draft boards are influenced by private workouts, medical evaluations, and organizational philosophy that no public model can capture.