Seattle Torrent top draft pick Abbey Murphy made an unexpected but welcome detour on her way to Washington – as a participant at Edmonton Oilers development camp. In the process, she made women’s hockey history.
Murphy, chosen 2nd overall in June’s PWHL Draft, is considered by many to be a future league superstar. She was joined on the ice at Rogers Place by U. of Minnesota teammate Chloe Primerano and Minnesota-Duluth’s Caitlin Kraemer, stars who will be returning to their college teams.
The trio are believed to be the first three women’s players invited to an NHL development camp. Another PWHL player, Erin Ambrose, served as a camp coach.
Oilers GM & Torrent Draft Pick Know Each Other Well
“It’s pretty neat,” Oilers general manager Stan Bowman told NHL.com. “I’ve known Abbey Murphy for about eight years. Growing up in Chicago (Murphy is from Evergreen Park, Ill.), everybody’s heard about her.
“I met her and followed her career and have been impressed,” Bowman said. “Also, my daughter plays hockey, got introduced to Abbey and trains with her. I was over at the Olympics this year watching the women’s games while I was there with the U.S. men’s team. I was so impressed with the play of women’s hockey.”
Murphy was a member of the gold medal-winning Team USA, alongside future Torrent teammates Alex Carpenter and Cayla Barnes. (Former Torrent Hilary Knight and Hanna Bilka were Team USA teammates as well.)
“It was an obvious yes, just to be here with all these guys,” Murphy said about the camp invite. “Learning from the staff of the Oilers organization.
“They’ve given us so many tips. Going through fitness testing is different, being one of four girls here. But the boys are awesome, yapping at us to keep going. It’s been amazing.”
Bowman said the dazzling women’s Olympic showing influenced his extending dev camp invites. As to what he wanted the three players to take away, “They’re here to try to learn a few things and see what an NHL camp is like. I know Abbey is going to be a professional player in Seattle. She’s going to be in a professional camp herself in a few months, so I thought it would give them some new experiences and better themselves.”
Torrent Gaining A Wizard On Skates
From NHL.com: “Murphy recently completed a standout collegiate career with Minnesota, leading the Golden Gophers with 66 points (40 goals, 26 assists) in 31 games as a graduate student this past season.
“One of those 26 assists went viral following a 4-3 win against rival Minnesota State on Jan. 10. Late in the first period, Murphy flipped the puck up on a rush and then batted it through the legs of a defender before sliding it across the slot to Anabella Fanale for a one-timer.”
In case you’re not familiar with Abbey Murphy – she did this earlier this year https://t.co/t1MJ4d6z64 pic.twitter.com/WV6jbHJeQT
— Flappr (@flapprdotnet) February 10, 2026
Reflecting on the invite, “You’re skating with some of best guys in the world,” Murphy said. “They’re on their own journey and we’re on our own journey, too, and to cross paths in a development camp is a pretty unique opportunity.
“I think this is the first time girls have been invited to a development camp, and to be a part of history like that is pretty fun. They’ve been nothing but welcoming to us and giving us the best experience they could.”
Murphy’s scoring prowess with the Gophers – 143 goals and 118 assists in 170 career games – will be welcome on a Torrent team that had offensive struggles in its expansion season.
“Obviously, going out to Seattle, it’s a big organization, too, and I’m super pumped for that, and here they’re also just helping us get settled in with what it’s like to be a professional.”
Images in this story from Edmonton Oilers X
Earlier Torrent:
— Torrent Promote Bumstead As New Head Coach
Earlier Kraken:
— Kraken Prospect’s Brother His Rival And Number-1 Fan
