PWHL Las Vegas is sending five-time Olympian Hilary Knight to expansion Detroit in a sign-and-trade that brings back a first-round draft pick, a source confirmed Monday. The deal marks the first major transaction for the new franchise.
The trade cannot become official until the league’s trade freeze lifts June 16, one day before the draft on June 17. Knight, 36, was left unprotected by the Seattle Torrent during the league’s six-part expansion process and was on Las Vegas’ Expansion Foundational Offer list. However, Knight wanted to play in Detroit next season, according to reports, and the interest was not mutual.
Las Vegas will now hold two first-round picks in a draft class expected to feature top talent including Abbey Murphy, Laila Edwards, and Tessa Janecke. Detroit used its own EFO on forward Daryl Watts.
Knight, captain of Team USA, won her second Olympic gold medal this year at the Milan Winter Games, scoring the tying goal in the gold medal game against Canada before the U.S. won 2-1 in overtime. She also tied for the league lead with 29 points in 30 games for Seattle last season and had 14 points in 22 games this past season.
This will be Knight’s third team in four PWHL seasons, having previously played for Boston and Seattle. Detroit has also signed Knight’s Seattle teammates Cayla Barnes and Hannah Bilka, plus Olympic teammates Britta Curl-Salemme and Jesse Compher.
