There’s potential that the Seattle Torrent’s inaugural season captain and women’s hockey legend Hilary Knight could be playing elsewhere next season. The 37-year-old forward was left off the team’s protected list for the upcoming PWHL expansion draft, featuring new teams in Detroit, San Jose, Las Vegas and Hamilton, Ontario, forty-five minutes southwest of Toronto.
“Hilary is a professional and that’s how we approached it,” Torrent GM MeghanTurner told the media earlier this week. “That was a very professional conversation, and I have a ton of respect for her as a player and a person and a leader.”
As painful as it sounds and as difficult as it might be for Torrent fans to accept, the decision makes complete sense. Knight’s future playing days are limited; she’s expressed an interest in playing just another year or two of professional hockey. She did express an interest in playing again in Seattle.
Turner has to look at the big picture. She protected young goalie Hannah Murphy, forward Alex Carpenter, who just signed a three-year contract extension, and valuable defender Anna Wilgren.
Carpenter, currently an alternate, would likely fill the shoes as team captain, should Knight move on.
Seattle fans will hope that Knight is still around for the same reason the Torrent left her unprotected: The expansion teams have to look to the long term picture, not just to the public relations boost and thrill it would be to have a legend around.
Aside from her leadership qualities, Knight would do wonders for inaugural ticket sales.
She’s the all-time leading scorer in International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) women’s hockey history, while winning a record ten gold medals at the World Championships, on top of two Olympic Golds and three Silvers.
She captained Team USA to the Olympic championship in Milano four months ago and was the country’s flag bearer at the closing ceremony.
Before turning pro, Knight helped win two NCAA national championships at the University of Wisconsin.
Earlier Torrent:
— Torrent, Like Kraken, Show Quick Trigger With Coach
Earlier Kraken:
— Do Kraken Youngsters Need More Tough Love?
