The Decentralized NHL Draft Reminds Us Of The Event's True Purpose
One year after holding the glitziest and most spectacular NHL draft ever at The Sphere in Vegas, it turned in a tedious, clunky, awkward and loooooong affair with its decentralized draft in 2025.
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And after watching what transpired in Los Angeles, the NHL will likely do it again?
Well, not the league, exactly. As was the case this year, the GMs wanted this because it was a less expensive and more efficient way to do business.
That's the crux of the matter here. The NHL draft is not for us. It's not to entertain the fans or keep members of the media happy.
It's the most important day of the year for a hockey operations department. They are procuring young talent that will dictate the future direction of their franchises. That's the purpose of the draft. Everything else is just window dressing.
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If the NHL can clean up the process, then there's no reason why a decentralized draft can't work.
The 2025 NHL draft took place at Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
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