They answered a number of these questions in their post about it:
The Draft Order of Selection is led by the Vancouver Goldeneyes, who earned the first overall pick after finishing first in the PWHLâs âGold Planâ standings during the regular season, followed by the Seattle Torrent, who finished in last place in the regular-season standings. The leagueâs four expansion teams occupy the next four selections, as determined by a randomized draw in the presence of all General Managers, followed by an inverse order of the non-playoff teams based on their final regular-season standings, and the playoff results for the four teams who qualified (inverse order), as previously announced.
Why the break up of non-playoff teams?
Short answer: to benefit the expansion teams.
Long answer: because technically neither New York or Toronto actually earned any Gold Plan points and no Gold Plan points means no Gold Plan privilege.
Why is the league reinventing the wheel here?
Short answer: to tip the scales to an outcome they prefer.
Long answer: because there really isn't a blueprint for a North American women's hockey league reaching this level of success let alone doing it this quickly. Copying leagues with established histories is a good plan for the long term, but would they have had this level of success right off the bat if they had been copying those blueprints from the beginning?
For the record I don't like this method, because I love a slow and stable growth, but I can't not recognize that the league playing fast and loose is how they've always done it and it's hard to argue with results.
I think the real test will be next season. If they cut out the monkey business next season and start to develop a stable set of rules, I'll forgive the reckless driving of the first 4 years. But if it continues? Well, I'll probably just continue to piss and/or moan, as is my way.
