The Vancouver Goldeneyes have secured the first overall pick in the upcoming PWHL entry draft after finishing at the top of the Gold Plan standings, a system designed to discourage tanking for better draft positions. The Goldeneyes, who concluded their inaugural season with a 9-3-4-14 record, are expected to select American defenseman Caroline Harvey, 23.
Gold Plan Success
The Gold Plan, created by Adam Gold in 2012, rewards teams with points for wins and overtime or shootout losses after they are mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. The PWHL adopted this system in its debut season (2023-24), becoming the first major league to implement it. The Vancouver Goldeneyes won their final four games to clinch the top spot, edging out the Seattle Torrent via a tiebreaker based on more regulation wins after elimination.
"I think it went down to the double tiebreaker to decide who got it. And to me, that was awesome," said Goldeneyes general manager Cara Gardner Morey. "I was so proud of the players that continued to fight for every point. They played with so much pride for the city."
Caroline Harvey: Top Prospect
Harvey boasts an impressive resume, including being named MVP and best defender at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, where she helped the U.S. win gold. She also won the Patty Kazmaier Award as the NCAA's top player while leading the University of Wisconsin to a national championship. The Goldeneyes are poised to add her to their roster, aiming for a significant impact.
Comparison with NHL
The Gold Plan has sparked discussions about its potential adoption in the NHL, which currently uses a draft lottery system. The Vancouver Canucks, who finished last in the league with 14 points fewer than the next-worst team, would have been a prime candidate for the Gold Plan. However, critics argue that the system is more suitable for smaller leagues like the PWHL (eight teams) than the 32-team NHL.
Lachlan Irvine of Canucks Army calculated that if the Gold Plan were used this NHL season, the New York Rangers would have the first pick, followed by the Canucks and then the Florida Panthers and St. Louis Blues. The Panthers and Blues finished with 26 and 28 more points than Vancouver, respectively, raising questions about fairness.
The NHL draft lottery has been in place since 1995. The Canucks have a 25.5% chance of picking first overall but a 55.7% chance of dropping to third. In three of the past five years, the team with the best odds retained the top selection.
Goldeneyes' Future
With the first pick in each round, the Goldeneyes are well-positioned to build a strong program. "There's a lot of great talent in the draft class," Gardner Morey added. "It's exciting to have control of the first pick and bring someone who can make a big impact."
Read more about the Vancouver Goldeneyes' inaugural season and their bright future.
