> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Analysis: Torrent Add Elite Scoring, Defensive Depth at 2026 PWHL Draft - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/seattle-torrent-abbey-murphy-defense-depth-2026-pwhl-draft/ - Published: 2026-07-11T22:26:26.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T06:14:12.000Z - Author: Josh Frojelin - Tags: Analysis, Torrent, Abbey Murphy, 2026 PWHL Draft, Sydney Morrow, Emerson Jarvis, Grace Elliot \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="6000"\] ![ Abbey Murphy (37) of the United States celebrates after winning the gold medal in women's ice hockey after defeating Canada during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/usatsi_28286273-format-original.jpg) Abbey Murphy (37) of the United States celebrates after winning the gold medal in women's ice hockey after defeating Canada during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images \[/caption\] Continuing to overhaul their roster going into their second season as a franchise, the Seattle Torrent added an elite goal scorer, solid defensive depth, fun swings on forwards, and a flier on an Italian goalie at the 2026 PWHL Draft. General manager Meghan Turner used all six of her picks in the draft, not moving around the board at all. Behind the clear second-overall pick in Abbey Murphy, Turner still made worthwhile additions. Hopefully the prospects can help the Torrent, who finished last in the PWHL and had the league’s worst goals-against, to a better 2026-27 season performance. Scouts generally liked the Torrent additions. [The Hockey News](https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/grading-each-of-the-pwhls-12-draft-classes?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) graded the draft an ‘A,’ because “their roster already looks far more solid than last season, which is saying a lot given the losses they suffered in expansion and the high expectations they had in year one.” Who did the Torrent land in their second-ever draft and how does each member of the six-player class fit into their plans? ### **Abbey Murphy, RW, 2nd Overall** With their first pick, the Torrent drafted Murphy, an elite goal-scorer at the college and international level. The 24-year-old put up 40 goals and 66 points in 31 games with the University of Minnesota last season. Her last four seasons with the Golden Gophers, Murphy averaged more than 33 goals per-year. In January, [she went viral](https://x.com/GinoHard%5F/status/2010445067895357797?s=20&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) for flipping the puck up, batting it through a defender’s legs, and setting up her teammate for an assist. Murphy has represented the United States National Team every year since the 2021 World Championships. At the Olympics, she had two goals and seven points in seven games en route to the gold medal. While Murphy is an elite offensive talent, who will already have chemistry with Team USA linemate Alex Carpenter, her on-ice antics can hold her back. “According to Elite Prospects’ NCAA database, Murphy is the all-time leader in penalty minutes with 357 in 170 games,” The Score reporter Kyle Cushman said in his [PWHL Draft rankings](https://kylecushman.substack.com/p/cushmans-2026-pwhl-draft-rankings). “She plays on the edge (and over it), antagonizes opponents, and she’ll embellish to get calls. It’s all on the table for Murphy. She’s mind-numbingly annoying to watch play against your favorite team.” While her play style can draw calls and intimidate opponents, like Team Canada in the gold medal game, it can also escalate to plain dirty. For example, this five-minute [major for elbowing](https://x.com/cjzero/status/1903247590113657203?s=20&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) last season. Murphy, if she can be a strong agitator and remain a world-class goal scorer, will be a fan-favorite for the Torrent for years to come. She was the consensus No. 2 prospect in the class, behind Caroline Harvey. Murphy is a shoe-in for the Torrent top-line this fall. ### **Sydney Morrow, RHD, 14th-Overall** With the 14th pick, Seattle added an offensive blueliner Morrow, who was a Golden Gophers teammate of Murphy. In 39 games last season, she tallied eight goals and 38 points for Minnesota. As an Ohio State freshman, the 5-7 defender had only three goals and eight assists in 33 games, leading to her transferring. She had a breakout point-per-game sophomore season at Colgate University, prompting her transfer again, this time returning to the Big Ten with Minnesota. [The Hockey News](https://thehockeynews.com/womens/pwhl/2026-pwhl-draft-rankings-final-top-125?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) ranked Morrow 10th in the class, saying that she “likes to jump into the play, and is strong along the blueline. She'll need to pick her moments to take risks in the pros, but she won't back down to any opponent, and should add an offensive spark to a blueline.” Morrow, currently unsigned, will compete with Anna Wilgren for top-pairing minutes. Morrow could also quarterback the team’s power play, an area where the team certainly could use some immediate help. ### **Emerson Jarvis, C/RW, 26th Overall** In the third round, Turner opted for Quinnipiac University senior standout Emerson Jarvis. Last season, she erupted for 17 goals and 38 points in 41 games. In her first three seasons, the 5-4 forward had a combined 15 goals and 27 points in a combined 87 games. According to The Hockey News, who ranked her 35th, Jarvis has “blazing speed. Jarvis has a motor that never quits, and she's shown flashes of offensive excellence this season. Her speed and work ethic will translate well to the PWHL. Could be a steal.” Expect Jarvis to start the season in the Torrent bottom-six. But at only 21 years old, Jarvis could continue developing into a more refined offensive talent. ### **Grace Elliot, LW, 38th Overall** At 6-2, Elliot will be the tallest player in PWHL history if she makes the Torrent roster. Last season in U Sports, Canadian college hockey, she totaled 24 goals and 37 points in 28 games. She dominated the U Sports level, winning Player of the Year the prior season. Cushman ranked Elliot 56th in the class. ”While her skating needs improvement, Elliott is a unique threat around the net,” Cushman wrote. “There just aren’t defenders who can handle a player that tall in Canada West. Her ability to screen goaltenders, particularly as the net-front player on a power play, made her incredibly effective. That’s an element of her game that will still be a factor at the next level.” Elliot will have to battle to earn a bottom-six forward spot next season. Her unique size and skillset could keep her on the Torrent roster this season though, with the hopes of developing her into an everyday player. ### **Gracie Gilkyson, LHD, 50th Overall** At 50, Turner selected Gilkyson, a defender from the Ivy League ranks who starred at Yale. In her final season with the Bulldogs, Gilkyson scored nine goals and 27 points in 37 games as a senior. Her scoring took a sizable jump last season, but offensive talent isn’t really her calling card. “Gilkyson's advanced stats are impressive,” The Hockey News’ Ian Kennedy noted. “She's a positive possession player in every metric, a good shot blocker, and her offense has grown every season at Yale. The impact she has on her team is significant.” Like Morrow, Gilkyson is still unsigned. But, the 23-year-old blueliner is one of just seven defenders on the roster now. At that number, Gilkyson should make the roster, and will compete for playing time with the other defenders. ### **Gabriella Durante, G, 62nd Overall** The 25-year-old Durante stood out with Italy at the Olympics. In four games, she held a .908 save-percentage. In four Italian professional games last season, she had a .947 save-percentage. Before playing pro in Italy, she backstopped the University of Calgary in U Sports, with strong results. The Hockey News said she’s “not a starter for the PWHL, but as a third, she could step in and up in a pinch for any big moment like she did in Milan.” She’s the expected third goalie for Seattle, behind Hannah Murphy and CJ Jackson.