NHL teams have voted in a majority to decentralize the NHL Entry Draft, per Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, ending the years-long tradition of front offices gathering for an in-person event. The change will likely take effect for the 2025 edition of the draft.
Friedman cited three primary reasons why support for a draft format that does not require in-person participation in a single venue had gained traction. The largest issue has arisen from a problem of the league’s own creation: the shortening distance between the draft and free agency, which decreased to just one day this past summer. Travel costs of teams’ front offices and scouting departments were another consideration. Friedman also added that “some teams felt their plans were being discovered because tables were too close and things were overheard.”
Notably, the 2024 NHL Draft, slated to take place in Las Vegas, does not have a confirmed venue. The Golden Knights’ T-Mobile Arena is booked for the desired dates, and the new Sphere venue has reportedly been considered as a potential venue. If a venue can’t be secured, it’s possible the transition away from in-person drafts begin as soon as 2024.
How a remote draft will look is anyone’s guess. It is certain to have more production value and added detail compared to the drafts conducted remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic – the draft does generate some significant TV revenue and will need to maintain viewability for a television audience.
Perhaps the most uncertain portion of a decentralized draft is player/prospect participation. The league will need to figure out a suitable substitute for players getting called up to a podium and putting on their team’s jersey – one of the most seminal moments in many players’ pro careers.
Well then. Thats disappointing.
Another enjoyable tradition done away with. But hey, lets be like the NBA! :/
the one thing the NHL did better than the other major leagues. allows for more informal discussions and new draftees get to meet their new team (and bosses) immediately. instead each player may now be in a green room itching at the chance to me Gary
Disagree. This format is so much better, at least from a fan perspective
Jonathan Brunelle wishes this had happened sooner.
The only real reason behind this should be because a global concern for climate change (but it would affect all leagues & have teams play consecutive games (ie Dallas in Winnipeg for 2games) but we all know what’s driving this. You have to ask why obvious solutions weren’t applied first — no reason season should start this late, no reason not to reduce exhibition schedule to 6 games max, no reason not to consider best-of-5 opening round playoffs etc
Kind of conflicted on this. For teams I get why decentralizing it makes sense…the whole thing is impractical and a bit of inconvenience given the timing between draft and free agency and having to travel with your entire front office/head scouts to a place. And in general I’d assume teams would rather conduct the draft from a war room rather than be crammed into a stadium/hall with all the other teams. If teams really want to have a presence there, I’m sure they’ll take inspiration from the NFL and send a representative or have a special guest announce their pick.
On the other hand the moment for draft picks to take a picture with the sweater surrounded by the team’s staff is a pretty iconic moment and I feel like having all the teams in one spot does help encourage and push through some trades.
The idea that players might not want to go to the draft because they might not care to meet Bettman is a reach though. Realistically I don’t think any players (NHL, NBA, NFL, and MLB to a lesser degree since they’re starting to make the draft a spectacle now) probably care if they met the comissioner or the front office up on the stage. It’s all about the actual moment…hearing your name called, walking to the stage with basically all eyes on you, throwing on the jersey/sweater/hat and taking the picture. I actually like seeing the raw emotion of players when they get drafted…the realization of their hard work and fulfillment of their dreams culminating in that one moment. NHL draftees seem so stoic and robotic when they get drafted and it might have to do with meeting their new employers (the front office staff) right away.
I’d say less of a “reach” than a “say what?” I’d say that your average 18 year old North American hockey player doesn’t give a flying eff one way or another about the league management, and may well react with “Bettman who?” (One doubts the average teenage European hockey player knows *that* much.)
Absolutely the most badly managed league in all of professional sports. Every day provides a fresh example, and this is a big one.
I should add that holding the draft in any given NHL city is a big boost to those local economies (this past one in Nashville is a good example). That’s gone now too.
They’re going to have thousands of partying fans instead of a couple hundred men in suits. This’ll be much better for which ever city hosts the draft.
There won’t be anymore fans at the event or surrounding venues than there are now. The loss to the hospitality industries will be impactful due to all those team officials not traveling.
This has to be bad for Air Canada, thinking how many families would buy tickets for family to see their kid drafted. Now they can sit at home and watch on Zoom. You would think move the draft up sooner it’s not like every team is involved in Cup Finals action.
What’s preventing them from going to the hosting city like the families of those drafted in the NFL?