NHL teams reportedly vote to decentralize entry draft

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.