The Ice Garden’s 2026 PWHL Draft Round One Mock Draft

The 2026 PWHL Draft kicks off on Wednesday afternoon at 5 p.m. ET from Detroit, Michigan. With a wealth of talent available, including a number of Olympians, it’s sure to be an exciting day for fans across the league.

Now that we finally know the draft order, The Ice Garden‘s expert team of writers is here to play general manager in our annual mock draft. We’ve waited long enough for this, so let’s get right into it.

1. Vancouver Goldeneyes – D Caroline Harvey (Wisconsin)

Vancouver Goldeneyes reporter Maya Smith: Pretty much a no-brainer here with this choice. She’s the most complete player coming into this draft, and she complements the offensive-defensive style that Vancouver had last season with Jaques and Thompson. When an Olympic MVP and gold medalist, Patty Kazmaier winner, and three-time National champion is on the board, you have to take her.

2. Seattle Torrent – D Laila Edwards (Wisconsin)

Seattle Torrent reporter Silvia Leija Rosas: Another no-brainer choice here. The Seattle Torrent were hit hard during expansion, they lost the most players from existing teams during the first three phases of expansion, including their captain Hilary Knight to Detroit in what was officially confirmed as a sign-and-trade from Vegas. Needless to say, expansion was traumatic for the team and fanbase, and a Laila Edwards pick would really settle some of the smoke coming from the PNW. 

Edwards fits the fast, relentless identity the Torrent want to build. She finished third in scoring during the 2026 Olympics in Milano Cortina with eight points (2G, 6A) and established herself as one of the NCAA’s premier players during her time at the University of Wisconsin. And with Edwards declaring as a defender, a post-Cayla Barnes team who famously came in last in scoring and points during their inaugural season, needs a blueliner who has the capacity to produce and defend. 

And of course, the fanbase has made their feelings very clear about what they’ll do if GM Meghan Turner doesn’t take the defender second, and at this point, it would be a cruel and unusual punishment to make them suffer any more.

3. PWHL Las Vegas (via PWHL Detroit) – F Kirsten Simms (Wisconsin)

Note: PWHL Las Vegas traded forward Hilary Knight to PWHL Detroit in exchange for the team’s first-round pick.

TIG contributor LJ Bachenheimer: Las Vegas could use the addition of a proven player with a scoring touch, and Kirsten Simms fits right in. She’s an incredible playmaker, but also a goalscorer in her own right, and she has experience playing with top talent at Wisconsin and on the U.S. Olympic team. Not to mention, she’s the definition of clutch––we all remember the 2025 “who wants it?” penalty shot moment.

4. PWHL San Jose – F Tessa Janecke (Penn State)

Maya Smith: I wasn’t expecting Abbey Murphy to still be available, but I think that San Jose doesn’t take her either. Troy Ryan’s Toronto Sceptres didn’t have a lot of players like Murphy in his time there, and Ryan knows how Murphy plays from coaching against her. Speaking of which, Ryan has experience coaching against Tessa Janecke, including her scoring against Canada at the 2025 World Championships to take the win. Janecke is also in a unique situation of being not just a top player, but a top centre. There aren’t that many highly ranked centres coming into this draft class, so that gets her the edge for me.

5. PWHL Las Vegas – F Abbey Murphy (Minnesota)

LJ Bachenheimer: On Wednesday in Detroit, I could see this pick going elsewhere in exchange for an established player, but our mock draft has a “no trades” rule. Instead, since I was between Simms and Murphy for my first pick, it’s Abbey Murphy at number five! She is a consistent player with an edge to her game that will fit right into the PWHL. Murphy had a fantastic season at Minnesota, earning accolades like conference Forward of the Year and a top-three nomination for the Patty Kaz, not to mention an Olympic gold with Team USA. She’s the kind of player I could see other teams hating and Vegas fans loving.

6. PWHL Hamilton – F Lacey Eden (Wisconsin)

PWHL Hamilton/former New York Sirens reporter Natalia Rachman: Murphy falling to fifth was a tease I didn’t exactly appreciate, but I ended up leaving with the player I was expecting to have coming in. Eden led the NCAA in points this year, and while she didn’t miss time for the Olympics like her peers she absolutely stepped up while they were abroad, allowing Wisconsin to sail through a stretch that realistically could have produced a number of upsets. She has a strong two-way game in addition to her scoring ability, which fits in seamlessly with Hamilton’s core of Brianne Jenner, Alina Müller, and Emily Clark.

7. New York Sirens – D Nelli Laitinen (Minnesota)

Natalia Rachman: I know, I know, that doesn’t say “G Andrea Brändli,” but I don’t think that’s the best use of draft capital given how stacked the top of this class is. Making Callie Shanahan’s life easier with a stronger team in front of her will narrow the gap between her and Brändli and give this pick more potential value than it otherwise would have. The strength at forward tapers off after Eden (if only whoever the hell drafted ahead of me let her drop one more spot), so I’m going with the Finnish national team mainstay Laitinen, who would give the Sirens one of, if not the strongest, group of top-four defenders in the PWHL.

8. Toronto Sceptres – G Andrea Brändli (Frölunda HC)

PWHL lead Melissa Burgess: Thank you, Natalia! Andrea Brändli is by far the strongest goaltender in this draft class, and if I’m Toronto, I’m snatching her up. Imagine a tandem of Brändli with Raygan Kirk? I like it a lot. They’ll compete alongside each other but also keep one another on their toes for the starter’s spot. Brändli has experience across levels, from NCAA to the Olympics and the SDHL, and she’ll bring a nice spark to the crease in Toronto. Sceptres GM Gina Kingsbury is surely plenty familiar with Brändli from her international play with Switzerland, and Toronto would be a fun landing spot for her.

9. Minnesota Frost – D Emma Peschel (Ohio State)

Minnesota Frost reporter Reid Lemker: I was thrilled to see Emma Peschel fall to me here at ninth overall. Minnesota lost Kendall Cooper and Mae Batherson in expansion. They desperately need a dynamic defender to make up for those losses, which makes Peschel a perfect fit. I think she could jump into the lineup and immediately be a top-four defender for the Frost. Peschel also has plenty of offensive upside; she scored 39 points in 34 games last season for Ohio State. Peschel is a great player and a great fit for the Frost.

10. Boston Fleet – D Vivian Jungels (Wisconsin)

Montréal Victoire reporter Dylan Nazareth: Our lovely Boston Fleet reporter Lydia Murray is currently in the woods, so I’ll pinch hit for her here. While the Fleet were able to hold on to Haley Winn and Megan Keller, Boston’s blue line was otherwise gutted through Phases 1-4 of expansion. In Vivian Jungels, the Fleet recoup a solid, two-way defender. The 22-year-old Minnesota native had four goals and 21 points in 39 games this past season with Wisconsin. She’s an excellent puck-mover and an even better shot blocker. Not to mention, she held down the fort for the Badgers when a number of her teammates went to the Winter Olympics in February.

11. Ottawa Charge – F Elisa Holopainen (Frölunda HC)

Melissa Burgess: The Charge have lost a few of their top scorers in Brianne Jenner, Emily Clark, and Peyton Hemp. I’ve really liked Holopainen for a while now and she’d be a great fit to help boost Ottawa’s offensive side. She’s also only 24 and has years of pro experience under her belt, plus international experience including Olympics and Worlds. This past season, she had 27 goals and 42 total points in 36 games with Frölunda. Her production’s dropped a little since she made the jump to the SDHL, but the offense is definitely still there.

12. Montréal Victoire – D Sydney Morrow (Minnesota)

Dylan Nazareth: After losing Nicole Gosling and Erin Ambrose, it’s clear Montréal needs to target a defender at the end of the first round. Their remaining blue line boasts decent shutdown ability, but could use a top-four puck-moving defender. Sydney Morrow fits that bill. Last season in Minnesota, Morrow had eight goals and 30 assists in 39 games. Her 38 total points led all Gopher defenders. The Victoire are in need of a QB for their top power play unit, and Morrow would be a prime candidate to take on that role once she finds her footing in the pros. The 22-year-old’s defensive game sometimes leaves something to be desired, and she may take some time to adjust to facing the top forwards in the PWHL. But with a wealth of veteran talent around her in Montréal, it will be a great spot to learn.