PWHL Seattle Assembles Balanced, Star-Studded Roster in First-Ever Expansion Draft
By Silvia Leija-Rosas, edited by Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA - Seattle’s newest pro sports team just got real. The PWHL’s expansion franchise in the Emerald City made a definitive statement in its first-ever expansion draft on Monday, selecting a well-balanced mix of veteran scorers, rising stars, and mobile defenders to fill out its inaugural roster. After building around an elite foundation during the league’s exclusive signing window, Seattle emerged from the draft with a 12-player core that blends firepower, structure, and upside.
The Pre-Draft Power Moves
Seattle didn’t wait for the expansion draft to start making noise. Last week, the team signed five players during the league’s exclusive signing window for expansion clubs:
Hilary Knight, arguably the U.S. face of women’s hockey and the league’s top scorer in 2024-25
Alex Carpenter, a dynamic forward and power-play specialist
Corinne Schroeder, the PWHL’s all-time shutout leader in goal
Cayla Barnes, an elite puck-moving defender and U.S. Olympian
Danielle Serdachny, a promising young forward with playmaking vision
Altogether, those signings gave Seattle a legitimate spine, elite scorers, a rock-solid netminder, and leadership with Olympic and international pedigree.
Expansion Draft Picks: Building Depth and Chemistry
With their core in place, Seattle added seven more players in Monday’s expansion draft. Let’s take a look at them here.
Forwards
Hannah Bilka (from Boston): A lightning-fast winger and former Boston College standout, Bilka was Boston’s top 2024 draft pick and could slot into Seattle’s top six right away. She reunites with Hilary Knight, a mentor figure for many young Team USA hopefuls.
Jessie Eldridge (from New York): A high-IQ scorer with a knack for positioning, Eldridge tied for fifth in league scoring last season with 24 points. Her ability to generate net-front chances will pair well with Seattle’s high-skill forwards.
Julia Gosling (from Toronto): A 2023 first-round pick, Gosling is a power-forward-in-the-making with strong skating and a deceptive shot. She brings youth and raw potential to a team with space to grow.
Defense
Aneta Tejralová (from Ottawa): One of the more seasoned international defenders available, Tejralová brings smooth skating and strong defensive instincts. She played a key shutdown role for Ottawa and offers stability in Seattle’s top-four.
Anna Wilgren (from Montréal): Drafted in the top ten just last year, Wilgren notched nine points in limited minutes for Montréal and is poised to step into a bigger role. She and Barnes could become a formidable pairing.
Megan Carter (from Toronto): A two-way right-shot defender who quietly excelled as a puck-mover, Carter provides balance and flexibility in Seattle’s D-corps.
Emily Brown (from Boston): Known for her physical edge and defensive toughness, Brown adds grit and confidence. She also captured fan attention last year after being dubbed the “bad girl” of Boston,a cult favorite in the making.
Turner’s Projected Top Six: Fast, Fierce, and Forward-Thinking
After the dust settled on the expansion draft, general manager Meghan Turner gave fans a glimpse at what the team might look like up front. She floated the idea of a top-six forward group that looks like this:
Bilka - Carpenter - Knight
Gosling - Serdachny - Eldridge
That lineup? It’s electric. The top line combines elite veteran scoring and experience (Knight), elite playmaking vision (Carpenter), and next-gen speed and forechecking (Bilka). Bilka’s ability to retrieve pucks and push pace makes her a perfect complement to the veteran duo.
The second line is a bet on potential, Serdachny as the cerebral center feeding Gosling’s shot and Eldridge’s ability to finish in tight spaces. That trio has the size, skill, and hockey sense to match up against top competition.
Turner’s confidence in this group shows just how quickly Seattle expects to compete. Rather than easing young players in slowly, she’s signaling a clear expectation: these players are ready to produce now.
It also sets the tone for a fast, modern, offense-oriented brand of hockey in Seattle. A team that can roll two strong scoring lines, and potentially a third built through the upcoming draft, will be difficult to shut down, even for established franchises.
Roster Breakdown: Depth with Direction
Seattle now has a 12-player roster with:
1 goalies: Schroeder leads the way, with two slots open after they didn’t sign or select a goaltender in the expansion draft.
5 defenders: A mix of experience, physicality, and puck movement.
6 forwards: Headlined by Knight, Carpenter, Eldridge, and Serdachny.
The team has plenty of room to add youth or role players during free-agency, which opens Monday, June 16th at 6AM PT as well as later in the 2025 PWHL Entry Draft. Expect forward depth, another goalie, and potential local signings to follow.
Until then, the message from Turner and the front office is loud and clear:
This isn’t just about competing. This is about contending.
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Instagram: @CirclingSeattleSports Twitter: @CirclingSports Threads: @CirclingSeattleSports Tiktok: @CirclingSeattleSports Facebook: Circling Seattle Sports BlueSky: @circlingseasports.bsky.social 〰️
Check out our previous PWHL Seattle articles here.
Check out our previous articles written by Silvia Leija Rosas here, and follow her on Twitter here.
Cover photo of this article via the PWHL.
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