Analysis: Way-Too-Early Torrent Lineup Prediction

The Seattle Torrent, who finished last in the PWHL in their inaugural season, have made nine new additions to their roster during an offseason with extensive turnover. After losing captain Hilary Knight and top pairing defender Cayla Barnes, the lineup had some major holes that had to be filled by the organization.

But after drafting an elite goal scorer in Abbey Murphy second overall in the 2026 PWHL Draft, addressing defensive depth in the later rounds, and adding high upside European free agents, the Torrent lineup looks substantially different. Even without a superstar in Knight in town anymore, many of these moves have created positive vibes and plenty of optimism heading into the Torrent’s second season.

Considering all of these changes, here’s how I see the Torrent lineup shaping up for the 2026-27 season:

*Indicates a rookie who has not yet signed a contract.

Forwards

Julia Gosling - Alex Carpenter - Abbey Murphy

Theresa Schafzahl - Danielle Serdachny - Emma Nuutinen

Emerson Jarvis* - Mikayla Grant-Mentis - Gabrielle David

Grace Elliott* - Lily Delianedis - Lexie Adzija

Neena Brick*

Line 1:

On the top line, Murphy joins USA teammates Alex Carpenter and Julia Gosling. Carpenter finished last season as the team leader in goals, and Gosling led the team in assists, leaving plenty of firepower to pair with the high-upside rookie.

Murphy was a world class goal scorer in college and internationally. After 40 goals and 66 points in 31 games with the University of Minnesota last season, the 24-year-old is a no-brainer for the Torrent top line right out of the gate.

Line 2:

Theresa Schafzahl, who put up two goals and nine points in 11 games after a midseason trade to Seattle, could very well end up on the top line. The 26-year-old’s offensive production has increased every year since turning pro in 2023-24.

But in this projection, on the second line, Shafzahl adds playmaking to complement center Danielle Serdachny, whose seven goals were second on the Torrent last season. Emma Nuutinen put up four goals and 10 assists in 24 games for the Buffalo Beauts of the defunct PHF, and has spent the last three seasons playing professional hockey in Finland. There, she scored over two points per game, but went scoreless in five games with Finland at the Olympics.

Line 3:

While Mikayla Grant-Mentis did get looks in the top-six last season, her limited offensive output in the last two seasons likely leads to a third-line role.

Gabrielle David was recently re-signed on a two-year deal, but only had a goal and an assist in her stint with Seattle. She joined the team late in the season, after tallying 19 goals and 42 points in 35 games in the Swedish Women’s Hockey League. While a two-year deal and extended look in  the top-six last season means the staff has a lot of faith in the 27-year-old, she could provide a stability - and ideally a scoring touch - to the third line.

Lexia Adzija had four goals last season, bouncing around the lineup, and probably stays in the bottom-six next season.

Line 4:

Emerson Jarvis, the Torrent’s recent third-round pick, is a responsible forward who could continue growing offensively. She could be a young, possible upgrade to Sydney Langseth, who anchored the fourth line last season. Lily Delianedis was a mainstay in the bottom-six last season, and should keep her spot.

Rookies Neena Brick and Grace Elliot, as it stands now, will be battling for the 12th forward spot. Elliot will be the tallest player in PWHL history when she debuts for the Torrent, and has had amazing success in Canadian collegiate hockey. She has a simple, net front-focused offensive game that likens itself to a fourth-line role.

Extra:

While Brick was acquired in a trade after the draft, her limited scoring in Sweden last season doesn’t bode well for her PWHL rookie season.

Defense

Aneta Tejralova - Anna Wilgren

Gracie Gilkyson* - Noemi Neubauerova

Emily Brown - Lyndie Lobdell

Sydney Morrow*

Pairing 1:

Anna Wilgren has big shoes to fill, replacing Cayla Barnes’ on the top pair with Aneta Tejralova. Wilgren finished last season as the highest-scoring defenseman on the team, and at 26 years old, she should still be growing.

Tejralova is a steady blueliner whose been a top-pair defender the last three seasons between Seattle and the Ottawa Charge.

Pairing 2:

While Emily Brown was a mainstay on the team’s second pair last season, fifth-round pick Gracie Gilkyson was one of the best blueliners in terms of possession in college hockey last season. Pairing her with Noemi Neubauerova, a Czech Olympian whose shown offensive flashes previously, could make for a solid pairing.

Pairing 3:

The 27-year-old Brown can provide solid depth further in the lineup, much needed for the worst defensive team in the PWHL last season. Sophomore Lyndie Lobdell should keep her spot on the third pair. Lobdell’s -1 rating last season ranks best among Seattle blueliners still with the team.

7th D:

Sydney Morrow, who would still be in the lineup as the team’s seventh defender, has solid offensive abilities. The recent second-rounder will still earn ice time on one of the team’s power play units, and could earn more minutes as her defensive game matures.

Goalies

Hannah Murphy

CJ Jackson

Gabriella Durante*

Starter

22-year-old Hannah Murphy put up a mind-boggling .937 save-percentage across her four years at Colgate University. Last season as a rookie, Murphy held a .908 in 12 games as the 1b goalie behind Corinne Schroeder. With Schroeder gone, Murphy is the shoe-in for the starter’s crease moving forward.

Murphy has shown lots of promise already up to this point and should develop into a one of the top young goalies in the league in her second season.

Backups

CJ Jackson is a veteran goalie who has bounced around professional women’s hockey as a backup the last four years. She’s only played nine games in that span, and looked shaky in two games with Seattle last season.

Jackson will battle with sixth-rounder Gabriella Durante for the backup spot. The 5-11 goaltender impressed with Italy at the recent Olympics, with a .908 save-percentage in four games. But, the 25-year-old also hasn’t played much in her professional career in Italy, so it will be an interesting training camp battle this fall.