The Toronto Sceptres entered the PWHL draft desperately seeking offensive firepower. They found it at the eighth overall pick, selecting three-time NCAA champion and Wisconsin forward Kirsten Simms. Simms, with 100 career goals, was initially thought to be out of reach for the Sceptres, but the hockey gods smiled on Toronto.
However, the draft night was not without controversy. The league's decision to bump the original six teams down the draft board to allow newcomers in Las Vegas, San Jose, Detroit, and Hamilton to select in higher slots has been criticized. The Sceptres, missing the playoffs for the first time, had to wait until No. 8, which many see as an overstep by the league.
Expansion's Impact on Competitive Balance
The league has consistently prioritized competitive balance as it expanded from six to eight teams last season, and then to 12 teams recently. While stocking new franchises with talent from existing clubs was understandable, the decision to also give expansion teams top draft picks has been questioned. The league justified this by citing the struggles of Vancouver and Seattle in the 2025-26 season, believing a talent gap remained.
But critics argue that the travel schedule, not talent, was the main issue for Vancouver and Seattle. The Seattle Torrent, for example, had only two trips within their time zone all season, while Montreal's champions made only two trips west. The new expansion teams in Las Vegas and San Jose will benefit from more balanced travel as western teams.
Draft Order Hurts Original Teams
New York and Toronto, two teams that missed the playoffs, were bumped from the first four picks to seventh and eighth. This denied them the chance to equalize talent levels with playoff teams. The PWHL, as a single-entity owner, can set the draft order arbitrarily, but the decision has hurt two inaugural franchises.
Despite the setback, the Sceptres were pleased to land Simms at No. 8. The Sirens also got a solid defender in Emma Peschel at No. 7. However, with a six-round draft, both teams will struggle to regain lost depth as they consistently pick four spots lower than expected.
Read more: Pascal Rheaume's new role as Sceptres head coach and GM's reaction to Troy Ryan's departure.
