Detroit’s PWHL team roster gained the most famous player in U.S. women’s hockey a day ahead of the draft.
Reports had circulated that Hilary Knight would join Detroit in its inaugural season, and that became official on Tuesday, June 16. Knight, who captained the U.S. women to the gold medal at the 2026 Milan Olympics, was acquired in a trade with PWHL Las Vegas in exchange for Detroit’s first round pick (third overall) in the 2026 draft.
“Hilary Knight is one of the best and most accomplished players in women’s hockey history and is a significant addition to our roster ahead of our inaugural season, which makes this a very exciting day for PWHL Detroit,” Manon Rhéaume, PWHL Detroit’s general manager, said in a statement. “In addition to the tremendous skill she will bring to the ice, her leadership and presence in the locker room and in the community and her desire to compete and to win a Walter Cup will be instrumental in shaping our culture and building our foundation.”
Knight, who turns 37 on July 12, has been a dominant force in both international and professional hockey for nearly two decades. Among her accolades are Olympic gold medals (she also won at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics) and 10 IIHF World Championship gold medals. She has played in the PWHL since it came into existence in 2023, suiting up for the Boston Fleet from 2023-25 and the Seattle Torrent in 2025-26. She signed a a one-year contract with PWHL Las Vegas earlier this month.
Knight is the eighth forward and 11th player to join Detroit. The first players were forward Hannah Bilka, defenseman Cayla Barnes, forward Jesse Compher, forward Britta Curl-Salemme and forward Daryl Watts (on a four deal on a “Expansion Foundational Offer”). Since then the team added forwards Taylor Girard, Shiann Darkangelo and Ella Huber, and defenders Sydney Bard and Nina Jobst-Smith. Also on Tuesday, however, Detroit traded Huber and Detroit’s third-round pick (27th overall) to Boston for the Fleet’s second-round pick (22nd overall) and third-round pick (34th overall).
The draft is Wednesday at the Fox Theatre (5 p.m., WMYD-TV 20). A total of 72 players will be selected in the six-round process, with Detroit now slated to make the first pick in team history at No. 15.
Contact Helene St. James at Hstjames@freepress.com.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Hilary Knight adds star power to PWHL Detroit a day ahead of draft
Reporting by Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Helene St. James, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
