The days of all 32 NHL franchises convening under one roof for the annual entry draft may be numbered. Following the 2025 experience, where teams operated from their home markets while top prospects gathered at a central broadcast location, the verdict from the league`s members appears to be overwhelmingly positive for the decentralized approach.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly recently provided insight into ongoing discussions and polling among the clubs. Speaking on The FAN Morning Show, Daly confirmed a continued trend of support for the decentralized model. This feedback is particularly notable as the league assesses the 2025 format and considers its plans for 2026 and beyond.
The primary drivers behind this preference? Efficiency and focus. The traditional centralized draft, while a major spectacle, can present logistical challenges for teams with demanding schedules leading up to free agency. Having key personnel in their home markets allows for easier access to full hockey operations staffs in a more controlled, business-like environment. As Daly explained, making sound decisions in the draft is critical for a franchise`s future, and clubs value the ability to do so without the distractions and travel inherent in a central event.
This shift aligns the NHL more closely with other major North American sports leagues, such as the NBA and NFL, which have long utilized decentralized draft formats. The NHL`s centralized draft was, in fact, somewhat unique in the landscape of professional sports.
Interestingly, Daly revealed that the impetus for exploring the decentralized model in 2025 came directly from the clubs themselves, not the league office. An initial “straw poll” conducted by the league surprised officials with its strong show of support for moving away from the central gathering.
While the 2025 first round ran over four hours, a point of discussion for some, Daly suggested this is a production issue with an “easy fix” rather than a fundamental flaw in the decentralized concept itself. The league is currently gathering all the feedback from teams and will process it to inform the decision regarding the 2026 draft format.
Based on the deputy commissioner`s comments and reports of the polling results indicating majority support for decentralization, it appears likely that the era of the large-scale, single-venue NHL draft may be nearing its end, replaced by a model prioritizing operational efficiency valued by the teams themselves. The glitz of a central red carpet may give way to the quiet hum of draft boards in war rooms across the continent.
