Teams are planning for the future.
The NWHL's 2016 draft took place on Saturday at noon Eastern time. It was a quicker, simpler process than most professional drafts, taking place on various social media platforms and concluding within the hour.
(all links to eliteprospects.com)
The NWHL drafts players entering their senior year of university (an NWHL team has yet to draft a player from outside NCAA Division 1), so teams are only allowed limited contact with their picks until graduation, at least a year later. This precludes the jersey-donning ceremonies of other leagues and leaves the consequences of the draft resting solely with the teams.