Hilary Knight, a five‑time Olympian and one of the most recognizable faces of women’s hockey, has officially joined the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s expansion franchise in Las Vegas.
A Strategic Move for the Las Vegas Franchise
The agreement is structured as a sign‑and‑trade that will ultimately move Knight to Detroit’s forthcoming team, with Las Vegas set to receive Detroit’s first‑round draft pick once the league’s trade freeze is lifted.
Knight’s deal guarantees her a salary of at least $100,000 for the upcoming season, underscoring the league’s growing financial commitments to its star players.
The PWHL’s expansion process is now in Phase 3, a stage that permits new franchises to sign up to three athletes whose contracts have expired, a rule that has already led to several high‑profile signings.
In a related development, Las Vegas general manager Dominique DiDia is finalizing an agreement to appoint Kim Weiss as the team’s head coach; Weiss becomes only the second woman to hold a full‑time coaching role in the NHL or AHL.
The upcoming draft class promises to be stacked, featuring five Olympic gold‑medal winners from the U.S. national team, signaling a deep talent pool that could further accelerate the league’s growth.