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Hilary Knight traded to Detroit, signs $100k deal.

6/9/2026

48 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Knight Traded

Hilary Knight will be traded to the PWHL Detroit team on June 16, 2026.
She will first sign a foundational contract with the Las Vegas expansion franchise.
Detroit will give its first-round pick in the June 17, 2026 draft to Las Vegas.
Knight posted five goals, nine assists for 14 points in 22 Seattle games before a lower-body injury.
She earned $106,090 last season, with the Detroit contract guaranteeing at least $100,000 annually.

Summary

Carpenter Named Captain

The 2026 PWHL expansion will forgo a traditional draft, using special claim mechanisms.
A trade freeze on draft picks runs until June 16, delaying Detroit’s finalization of the Knight move.
Seattle Torrent reached its three-player protection cap after losing Cayla Barnes, Hannah Bilka and Corinne Schroeder.
GM Meghan Turner said automatically protected Alex Carpenter is likely to be named the Torrent’s captain.

History

Historical Context

Founded in 2015 by Dani Rylan, the NWHL used a $2.5 million budget and a $10,000 salary floor to launch four paid teams in Boston, New York, Buffalo and Connecticut. The Professional Women’s Hockey League, created in 2023 by the Mark Walter Group, adopts that paid-player model to add new markets and raise salaries to a $35,000 minimum, echoing the NWHL’s pioneering structure.

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Knight Traded

Hilary Knight will be traded to the PWHL Detroit team on June 16, 2026.
She will first sign a foundational contract with the Las Vegas expansion franchise.
Detroit will give its first-round pick in the June 17, 2026 draft to Las Vegas.
Knight posted five goals, nine assists for 14 points in 22 Seattle games before a lower-body injury.
She earned $106,090 last season, with the Detroit contract guaranteeing at least $100,000 annually.

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