Around the NHL 2024-25 regular season Part II

[JrFischer54]

It had been rumored for a few months, but confirmed this weekend. I thought last year's draft in Vegas would be the last one I'd attend but LA is an easy enough destination for me. Won't be as much fun without the teams there, but I still have a nerdy good time being there. Since the Devils won't have a first rounder, maybe this is the year I wear something silly for the first round.

And I should have known better than to read the Twitter responses. Mostly confusion over:

- Decentralized does not mean it'll look like the remote drafts of 2020 and 2021. The teams are staying home but the prospects are welcome / expected to attend. Some expectation that the teams will send an emissary (notable alumnus, current player, celebrity fan) to make the (1st round) pick announcement.

- This change was not mandated by Gary Bettman. The teams voted to do this because it was a pain to send 20+ staffers to the draft location for a week and then have to rush back home to prep for free agency on July 1st. Unfortunately with the networks wanting the SCF to avoid conflicts with the NBA, the SCF has gotten pushed back which has pushed the draft back.

The teams had a taste of getting to stay home for the 2020/2021 Drafts and most felt that it was a smoother process. Always funny seeing draft floor footage of teams calling each other with trade offers when they were within walking distance.

Although after last year's draft at The Sphere, some team staffers seemed to be like "If the draft were here every year then we wouldn't mind coming."

they should honestly host it on the beach hell even do it on the jersey shore one year. weather would be the trickiest thing but it would give great visuals with a cali sunset in the background

 

[SteveCangialosi123]

This will always be a classic. RIP

 

[Brodeur]

they should honestly host it on the beach hell even do it on the jersey shore one year. weather would be the trickiest thing but it would give great visuals with a cali sunset in the background

They were brainstorming different ideas for unique locations since most arenas weren't exactly jumping at the chance to host an NHL Draft. Outdoors would be fun, but it might be rough if the draftees were still expected to wear suits and sit in summer heat for a couple hours. I forget if it was his own personal suggestion or if he heard it bounced around, but I remember Elliotte Friedman used Disneyland as an example.

When the decentralized draft was announced, some agents seemed to indicate that some prospects would stay home. But I'd still expect any potential first rounders to show up; Teenagers will want their TV time.

 

[JrFischer54]

They were brainstorming different ideas for unique locations since most arenas weren't exactly jumping at the chance to host an NHL Draft. Outdoors would be fun, but it might be rough if the draftees were still expected to wear suits and sit in summer heat for a couple hours. I forget if it was his own personal suggestion or if he heard it bounced around, but I remember Elliotte Friedman used Disneyland as an example.

When the decentralized draft was announced, some agents seemed to indicate that some prospects would stay home. But I'd still expect any potential first rounders to show up; Teenagers will want their TV time.

go with the flow and ditch suits for beach wear i say then. it will never happen but it would set the bar pretty high and then move day 2 inside at a venue or something like that. disney would be pretty cool

 

[njdevils1982]

They were brainstorming different ideas for unique locations since most arenas weren't exactly jumping at the chance to host an NHL Draft. Outdoors would be fun, but it might be rough if the draftees were still expected to wear suits and sit in summer heat for a couple hours. I forget if it was his own personal suggestion or if he heard it bounced around, but I remember Elliotte Friedman used Disneyland as an example.

When the decentralized draft was announced, some agents seemed to indicate that some prospects would stay home. But I'd still expect any potential first rounders to show up; Teenagers will want their TV time.

 

[Emperoreddy]

This will always be a classic. RIP

RIP buddy.