While it would’ve been a coup to brag about, trading for an Olympic star and one of the most recognizable names in women’s ice hockey, PWHL Detroit expansion franchise general manager Manon Rhéaume took a diplomatic tact when asked about a reported trade for Hilary Knight on Tuesday.
“I can say that Hilary Knight is one of the most accomplished players in hockey, and I have so much respect for what she did for the game of hockey,” Rhéaume said. “But at this point, she’s under contract with another team. So, I’m not gonna speak more than this.”
It was among the first topics for Rhéaume to address as she and PWHL Detroit’s five foundational signees met with media to discuss their role in the growth of professional women’s hockey and its arrival in Hockeytown. The Associated Press reported Monday that Detroit had lined up a sign-and-trade deal to acquire Knight, a Las Vegas expansion signee who captained the U.S. women’s national team to gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
In exchange for Knight, Detroit reportedly would be sending its first-round pick in the 2026 PWHL entry draft, which is slated for June 17 in Detroit.
Knight, who played for the Seattle Torrent in 2025-26 after starting off her PWHL tenure with Boston, signed with Las Vegas during the initial period for expansion franchises to sign players.
That does not mean, though, that Detroit didn’t have a chance to sign Knight.
“We had a chance to do a presentation for Hilary the same way we did presentations for several players and pretty much our whole coaching staff and team, all day in the time that we were allowed to talk to players, our presentation online,” Rheaume said. “So this was the time we had a conversation with Hilary just presenting, really, what we were all about. Our vision, and how we’re going to see this team come together, our core value. And that’s the conversation we had with her.”
Knight, 36, starred in college playing at Wisconsin and has gone on to a long and successful professional career across various iterations of professional women’s hockey leagues. She’s also a veteran of the national team program, playing in five Olympics for the United States and winning two gold medals, along with a trio of silvers. She’s captained the women’s national team since 2023.
Cayla Barnes, a Detroit signee who played on the national team and in Seattle with Knight, spoke briefly about the potential of adding her to the roster, but didn’t have any specifics to add on about Knight’s process or signing decision.
“What I can speak to is Hilary as a person, and as a player,” Barnes said. “I think she brings so much to any team she will be on, and, like I said, I don’t know her process and what’s going to happen. But any team she is a part of, she will make an immediate difference.”
Andrew Graham is a freelance writer.
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: PWHL Detroit GM Manon Rhéaume mum on reported Hilary Knight trade
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