Vancouver Goldeneyes get top pick in PWHL Draft

The Vancouver Goldeneyes are picking first overall in the 2026 PWHL Draft.

Vancouver is picking ahead of the Seattle Torrent and the newly minted but not-yet-named PWHL franchise in Detroit.

The Goldeneyes have been active in the last month, moving on from their head coach and re-signing star forward Sarah Nurse.

Among the top players available in the PWHL Draft are Caroline Harvey, Abbey Murphy, and Laila Edwards, all of whom were standouts for the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan.

The Goldeneyes land the top pick in the draft after finishing third-to-last in the regular season standings, but first in the PWHL’s Gold Plan standings.

The league’s Gold Plan factors in a team’s record after they’re eliminated from playoff contention, rewarding teams for being competitive down the stretch even though they won’t be competing for the Walter Cup.

This comes shortly after the Vancouver Canucks fell to third in the NHL’s draft lottery while having the best odds at first overall.

The PWHL draft takes place in Detroit on June 17 at 2 p.m. PT.