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# Analysis: Seattle Torrent Will Have Scary First Line Entering Second Season
- URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/seattle-torrent-top-line-abbey-murphy-alex-carpenter-julia-gosling/
- Published: 2026-08-14T20:29:49.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-08T06:13:53.000Z
- Author: Josh Frojelin
- Tags: Analysis, Torrent, Abbey Murphy, Alex Carpenter, Julia Gosling

\[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="2897"\]

![  Abbey Murphy (37) of the United States skates over the blue line against Canada in the women's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images  ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/2026-02-19t194320z_650060036_mt1usatoday28282848_rtrmadp_3_olympics-ice-hockey-women-finals-gold-medal-game-jpg-format-original.jpg)

Abbey Murphy (37) of the United States skates over the blue line against Canada in the women's ice hockey gold medal game during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images \[/caption\]

Even though the Seattle Torrent finished last in the PWHL standings last season as an expansion franchise, their top line next season could be the scariest in the league.

With the second overall pick, the Torrent added a world class goal-scorer in Abbey Murphy. On Seattle’s top line, Murphy will have solid linemates with USA teammate Alex Carpenter and Canadian Olympian Julia Gosling.

**Abbey Murphy**

Murphy was the consensus second-overall pick behind Caroline Harvey. She tallied 40 goals and 66 points in 33 games in her University of Minnesota fifth-year. She won gold with Team USA at Milan, and has represented her country internationally since 2021.

While her on-ice antics and embellishment sees her take lots of penalties, it also frustrates opponents. Even at 5-5, she’s still a physical player. Torrent general manager Meghan Turner likes her fit on a potential top line.

“We knew how well she would work with Alex Carpenter up front, and Julia Gosling, and some of the other forwards that we have there,” she said after the draft. “It felt like she was the winger that we needed and the piece that we needed to fit.”

Unlike the NHL, top PWHL Draft picks make significant impacts immediately. 2024 first overall pick Sarah Fillier had slightly less college scoring compared to Murphy, and put up 13 goals and 29 points in 30 games as a rookie.

Murphy also redshirted a year in college, and is 24 years old. Her age, plus her international experience, should lead to a seamless transition to the professional game. Murphy could contend for the goal-scoring title and put up near a point-per-game in her first pro season.

**Alex Carpenter**

Last season’s top-line center and likely future captain Alex Carpenter signed a three-year extension this offseason. Her 12 goals were tied-sixth in the PWHL last season, and she’s been a top offensive talent in the league since it formed in 2023-24.

The 32-year-old also just won gold, and has been a point-per-game player with Team USA since 2013.

Carpenter is a smooth-skating, legit top-line center. She can help Murphy make the jump to the pros and hopefully both can contribute many goals for the Torrent, who were third-last in scoring last season.

“It's a lot of speed on a line,” Murphy said about possibly playing with Carpenter.

**Julia Gosling**

Gosling, the Torrent’s assist leader last season, was a mainstay in the top-six forward group. While Gosling is not a lock to join the Team USA duo on the top line, it was notable that the Turner mentioned Gosling with Murphy after the draft.

Gosling is entering her third PWHL season. While taking on a larger role with Seattle last season, her scoring doubled from her rookie year with the Toronto Sceptres. In her Olympic debut with Canada, she added three goals and five points in seven games.

The 25-year-old is also one of few forwards signed beyond next season, so building chemistry with Murphy long-term is important to both forwards’ future with the team. With two great linemates over a full season, Gosling could put up even more than the six goals and 20 points she had in 30 games.

While Seattle still has some unknown commodities rounding out their roster, one thing is for sure: this top line is scary.