How the PWHL should align its 12 teams in 2026-27
The Professional Women’s Hockey League is closing in on its biggest season yet.
With four new teams, a massive influx of talented players from the collegiate and European ranks, and plenty of storylines to boot, there’s a lot to be excited about heading into the 2026-27 campaign.
The additions of Detroit, Hamilton, Las Vegas and San Jose give the PWHL 12 teams in action this coming year. It’s quite the jump from the six-team operation the league started with just three years ago. With that, the PWHL faces a new scheduling challenge.
With the 30-game schedule staying intact, it’s impossible for every team to play an equal number of games against each opponent. Therefore, more contests might be played between teams that are based closer to each other. The PWHL could stick to what it has done in its first three years – sticking with league standings, similar to the WNBA. However, with so many teams, and the opportunity to create intense rivalries, why wouldn’t the league be interested in developing a two-conference format? They could even go a step further and split the teams up into divisions.
While the PWHL hasn’t made a decision on next season’s format, let’s take a look at how the 12 teams could be divided and what a revamped playoff format would look like.
Two Conferences
| Western Conference | Eastern Conference |
| Detroit | Boston Fleet |
| Las Vegas | Hamilton |
| Minnesota Frost | Montreal Victoire |
| San Jose | New York Sirens |
| Seattle Torrent | Ottawa Charge |
| Vancouver Goldeneyes | Toronto Sceptres |
This is the idea I believe the PWHL is most likely to pursue: an easy six-team split. Sure, the majority of the teams are in the Eastern Time Zone, but the only way to give the West a complete conference is to add Detroit. I’m sure Detroit Red Wings fans are having PTSD from all the late nights from their team going out west during their days in the NHL’s West (up until 2013).
The schedule could be fairly simple. Each team will play two games against squads from the opposite conference, then at least three intraconference matchups as well, with the final three games most likely against conference rivals closest in proximity (i.e., Vancouver vs. Seattle, Minnesota vs. Detroit). It’s hard to predict how many in-conference home games each team will get, given that there’s still a chance for more Takeover Tour games this coming year.
In terms of competitive balance, the East would be the tougher of the two conferences. Even while the Sceptres are expected to be bad, and the Sirens haven’t made the postseason in three tries, there’s a lot more depth on the eastern seaboard. The West has some quality teams, as the Frost are going to be near the top of the league once again, and Detroit and Las Vegas are hopefuls to make a big splash in their inaugural seasons. However, with the Torrent not projected to make any massive strides, and the Goldeneyes and San Jose expected to struggle, it could be a top-heavy conference.
Playoff Format
The individual conferences can follow the PWHL’s four-team playoff format used thus far. The top team in each conference gets to pick its first-round opponent between the third- and fourth-place teams. To save some time, the conference semifinals might be a best-of-three series, or a best-of-five if the league wants consistency. The conference finals would be a best-of-five, before the respective conference champions meet up in a best-of-five final.
Cap Summary
Draft Picks
Four Divisions
Plan A
| Pacific | Central | Midwest | Atlantic |
| San Jose | Detroit | Hamilton | Boston Fleet |
| Seattle Torrent | Las Vegas | Ottawa Charge | Montreal Victoire |
| Vancouver Goldeneyes | Minnesota Frost | Toronto Sceptres | New York Sirens |
Plan B
| Pacific | Central | Northeast | Atlantic |
| San Jose | Detroit | Montreal Victoire | Boston Fleet |
| Seattle Torrent | Las Vegas | Ottawa Charge | Hamilton |
| Vancouver Goldeneyes | Minnesota Frost | Toronto Sceptres | New York Sirens |
So, I don’t think the PWHL will go as far as to create divisions, as it might seem like too much of a hassle for them. However, think of the chaos and battles that would take place across the league.
For us NHL fans who grew up in the 90s and pre-lockout era, weekly matchups against division rivals were the norm. That could be the case with this format. Teams would play the nine teams outside of their division twice, leaving a total of six matchups against their two divisional foes. That Northeast proposition would lead to so many nasty games that you’d have to watch with one eye open. With how many wild games the Torrent and Goldeneyes played last year, even those of us on the East Coast had to stay up late to not miss those exciting clashes.
I made two versions of a four-division format, because there are a couple of options for how to split up the four Eastern Canadian teams. While the Western divisions will stand pat (even though Las Vegas and Detroit might loathe the travel), a decision would have to be made regarding the defending Walter Cup champion Montreal Victoire and the expansion squad in Hamilton. The league would have to either limit the cross-border rivalry between the Victoire and Ottawa Charge, which reached great heights during last year’s final, or erase the possibility of a true Southern Ontario conflict between Toronto and Hamilton. Either way, one fanbase will be left disappointed.
Like the NHL, the Pacific Division looks to be the weakest of the bunch. Sure, their battles might be enthralling, but the lack of talent, especially with first-year club San Jose. Both Eastern divisions look tough, but if the cards fall where they may, the Central Division, like the men’s game, could be extremely competitive and fun to watch.
Playoff Format
The first round would be simple, as the top two teams in each division would meet in a best-of-three series (because why would any of those teams want to possibly play one team 11 times in one season?). From there, the PWHL can get creative. You can simply split the divisions into East and West, and have two best-of-five conference finals. Or, you can reseed the four remaining teams and let the No. 1 seed select its semifinal opponent before the eventual best-of-five championship series.
