DETROIT — Following a disappointing inaugural season, the Vancouver Goldeneyes have a new franchise player after drafting defender Caroline Harvey first overall at the 2026 PWHL Draft on Wednesday.Harvey, 23, was the clear No. 1 prospect in a deep draft class that features five players who won gold at the Olympic women’s hockey tournament in Milan earlier this year. Harvey is a special talent and has already solidified herself as one of the best women’s hockey players in the world.She is a modern-day, smooth-skating defender, an offensive threat in all situations and has the deceptive ability to change shooting lanes quickly. For all her exceptional puck skills, it’s Harvey’s world-class skating ability that makes her special.“I haven’t seen a player with Caroline’s speed at the blue line,” said longtime Wisconsin associate head coach Dan Koch in February. “Then her ability to add the offensive side too is really unique. It’s hard to compare her to anyone else in the past.”At just 23, Harvey is already the third-highest-scoring defender in Women’s World Championship history, behind only Finland’s Jenni Hiirikoski, who has played 96 games to Harvey’s 34, and American defender Angela Ruggiero, who is in the Hockey Hall of Fame. At the Milan Olympics, Harvey set a new scoring record for an American defender, leading the tournament with nine points in seven games.While it was never really in doubt, going first overall is a fitting capstone on a season that saw Harvey win Olympic gold, tournament MVP, the 2026 Patty Kazmaier Award — which is given to the best player in college hockey — and a third national championship with the Wisconsin Badgers. Just hours before the draft, Harvey was also named the IIHF’s Female Player of the Year.Ahead of the draft, Harvey’s father, David, called it a “magical season.”“It’s incredible seeing the sport at this time and it’s exciting to have your daughter make it,” he said. “I mean she’s going to be a professional athlete and that’s something I’m still trying to come to grips with — that my little girl is on the doorstep of becoming a pro. We’re just incredibly proud of her.”In Vancouver, Harvey will be able to quarterback the power play and eat minutes at five-on-five, either on a loaded up pair with Sophie Jaques, or solo, giving the Goldeneyes a 1-2 punch in the top four.That kind of firepower on the blue line should immediately help transform Vancouver into a true contender next season — especially with general manager Cara Gardner Morey largely keeping her core intact through the expansion process. First, she protected Jaques, star forward Sarah Nurse and starting goalie Emerance Maschmeyer.Forwards Hannah Miller, Tereza Vanišová, Izzy Daniel and Jenn Gardiner were all exposed to the four expansion teams but have stayed put in Vancouver. The same goes for defender and captain Ashton Bell.Through the first four phases of the six-step process, Vancouver has only lost defenders Sydney Bard and Nina Jobst-Smith. Forward Abby Boreen was taken by Las Vegas, but reacquired by Vancouver in a trade on Wednesday.Vancouver’s roster greatly underperformed expectations this season and very few Goldeneyes players matched or improved upon their production from last season. But the hope is that, with Harvey and a new coach, the 2026-27 season can be a significant improvement.This story will be updated.