NHL blasted for shocking offseason move before 2025-26 season

The NHL faces fan backlash as Gary Bettman confirms the controversial 2026 NHL Draft will keep the slow decentralized format

The 2025 NHL Draft was supposed to be exciting, but instead it turned into a slow, awkward, and frustrating event for fans.

Now, to the surprise of many, Gary Bettman and the NHL have decided to stick with the same format for 2026, a decision that's already drawing plenty of criticism.

The NHL Draft has always been one of the most anticipated events on the hockey calendar, but last year the league tried something new for the first time ever.

Instead of the traditional stage and in-person celebrations, the draft went decentralized. Teams stayed away from the main venue, meaning no front-office staff were there to meet their new picks in person.

Fans fear another long and awkward event as the NHL sticks with its decentralized draft format for 2026 despite heavy criticism

The event dragged on, felt lifeless, and fans had to sit through awkward video interviews with draft picks, complete with technical glitches and painfully uncomfortable pauses.

It made for bad television and even worse viewing for fans who usually count on the draft to bring some summer excitement.

Many believed the backlash would force the NHL to return to the old format, but according to TSN's Darren Dreger, the league is doubling down and keeping the same setup for 2026.