Torrent to Protect Murphy and Wilgren Alongside Carpenter, per Source

Seattle Torrent
Written By Charles Hamaker

By Charles Hamaker

Seattle, WA - With the first phase of PWHL expansion player distribution process knocking on the door of every existing team in the league, both league and team sources have confirmed the team’s three protected players. In addition to veteran forward Alex Carpenter signing a deal to protect her yesterday, the Torrent will be protecting goaltender Hannah Murphy and defender Anna Wilgren.


The moves come as a bit of a surprise, with many expecting to see names such as Hilary Knight, Hannah Bilka, and or Cayla Barnes on Seattle’s three-player protected list. It’s understandable, given the star power, pedigree, and name value that trio brings in addition to others like Danielle Serdachny and Julia Gosling.


There’s a lot to wonder about in that regard, and Torrent general manager Meghan Turner will hold a media availability tomorrow to discuss the team’s player protections.

Seattle Torrent goaltender Hannah Murphy during the team’s December 3rd, 2025, victory over the New York Sirens at Climate Pledge Arena. (Photos by Liz Wolter for Circling Seattle Sports)

There had been some wonder if the Torrent were going to look to protect a goaltender during whatever expansion draft process the PWHL decided on, and it appears they’ll go with their young star netminder, Hannah Murphy. Other teams around the league are ensuring they protect their top goaltender, and the Torrent opt to secure a player they hope will be their netminder of the present and future. A second round selection by Seattle out of Colgate, and the first goaltender chosen in the last entry draft, “Murph” had a decorated collegiate career, and that sort of form carried into her early season with the Torrent.

Murphy made her debut on December 3rd against the Sirens, allowing just one goal on 24 shots, helping Seattle come back against New York for their first win in franchise history.

There were some tough games along the way for Murphy, but those weren’t all necessarily on Murphy, considering how out of sorts the defending was in front of her at times, coupled with the time it takes for an expansion team to properly find its chemistry. This move is a vote of confidence in her and her potential going forward.

Seattle Torrent defender Anna Wilgren throughout the team’s inaugural season, seen at Climate Pledge Arena. (Photos by Liz Wolter for Circling Seattle Sports)

Anna Wilgren is an interesting pick, a young left-shot defender who didn’t have the year she wanted production-wise, but was still able to flash the scoring potential as Seattle’s inaugural season came to a close. The 26-year-old was selected tenth overall by the Torrent in last year’s expansion draft, originally signing a one-year standard player agreement before adding a year when the finalized roster was announced.

The Hudson, Wisconsin, native was on Team USA’s Rivalry Series roster but did not make the Olympic team, a frustrating outcome for Wilgren. Anna did see her point production ramp up during the second half of the season, tallying just four points before the Olympic break and seven after it. The bulk of those points came in two of the last three games of the season, when the Torrent really seemed to hit their stride offensively, and Wilgren posted back-to-back multi-point games against Vancouver and Minnesota.

Former head coach Steve O’Rourke and general manager Meghan Turner both believed that the poor point totals and the struggles Wilgren at times faced didn’t accurately represent the player she is, and were pleased with her play down the stretch. O’Rourke remarked that Wilgren seemed to have shifted her playing style to match what Team USA wanted, moving away from what had made her successful. At one point in the season, Wilgren was compared to Colorado Avalanche star defender Cale Makar for her puck-moving ability and point-production potential.

Both Wilgren and Murphy were already under contract heading into the 2026-27 season and will now receive extensions to their deals with the Torrent for at least a few more years.

Many fans and media members will wonder why Torrent and Team USA captain Hilary Knight have been left unprotected for a second time in as many expansion processes. Per a league source, in the last expansion draft, Knight was not pleased with being left unprotected by the Boston Fleet. Once that happened and Seattle became an option, with former Fleet assistant general manager Meghan Turner now at the helm as general manager, it seemed like a clear destination for Knight.

While it wasn’t her best statistical season, Knight’s impact on and off the ice was undeniable. Factor in how much Hilary has stated she loves Seattle and wants to remain in the Pacific Northwest, and it would be very difficult to see her join another roster.

It’s unclear whether Knight is upset about being left unprotected this time around. What is interesting to wonder about is Knight's potential to join another West Coast team. The legendary forward was born in Palo Alto, California, which isn’t too far from San Jose, a city getting a PWHL expansion team. There isn’t currently any reported direct interest or deal being discussed between the sides, but a league source tells Circling Seattle Sports that it’s West Coast or bust for Knight, with little belief she’d go anywhere else.

A reminder that these protected player lists are the first of a six-phase process for the PWHL’s expansion player distribution process, after the league ditched the standard expansion draft process from last year when Seattle and Vancouver joined. Existing teams can lose a maximum of four players under contract for the 2026-27 season from their roster during Phases one through four.

The second phase is the expansion team's foundational signing period, lasting from June 5th through 8th. Expansion teams must submit a 20-player Exclusive Negotiation Target List identifying players they intend to pursue. Eligible players include all unprotected players from 2025-26 rosters.

Expansion teams cannot sign any player in Phase 2 that is not on their Exclusive Negotiation Target List. Each expansion team will receive one binding Expansion Foundational Offer (EFO), enabling them to pursue a cornerstone player through a premium multi-year contract. Players who receive an EFO may choose a contract length ranging from one to four years. 

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Charles Hamaker
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