This year’s decentralized draft should be the last
Many were curious to see how things would work out with the first-ever decentralized NHL Draft this past weekend at the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
After two days and a ridiculously long first round on Friday night, fans and pundits alike are already done with the league’s attempt at altering the draft setup.
The opening round of the 2025 draft began at 7 p.m. ET. By the time the Calgary Flames picked Cullen Potter with the 32nd overall selection, it was 11:30 p.m., and some of us had nearly fallen asleep. It was a nightmare to watch, both in the theatre and on television.
Whether it was the glitchy and awkward interviews between prospects and teams over video calls in the “Draft House” or the seemingly extended periods between picks, the way things panned out was a bad look for the league as a whole.
On Monday’s edition of Daily Faceoff LIVE, Tyler Yaremchuk and Matt Larkin explain why the centralized draft needs to return.
Tyler Yaremchuk: The NHL’s first decentralized draft should absolutely be their last, clocking in at north of 4.5 hours (for Round 1). Matt, 1-10, do you think it should be the last time we see the draft in that format?
Matt Larkin: Can I break the scale and just say 11? I think it was an absolute debacle. It was one of those things that was so bad that it eventually became funny. I had so much secondhand embarrassment that I was turning red while watching it. My wife went to a movie, came back, drove home from the movie, and it was pick No. 12. Come on. It was an absolute disaster, and I think in a way, it did the NHL a favor. Yes, I know the [GM] vote was 26-6, so Gary Bettman was quick to make sure that it was clear it was the managers’ idea, but I don’t think that vote’s going to be 26-6 if they do it again. I think it’s a one-and-done.
Tyler: Do you buy into the conspiracy theory a little bit that that might have been the league trying to embarrass the managers a little bit, being like, “Oh, you guys wanted this? Get ready, ’cause it’s gonna suck.”
Matt: Yeah, I’ve heard that’s out there. I think it almost makes sense, but it was so embarrassing that even for Gary Bettman, I don’t think it was worth taking a dive. So, I think it went so far that it actually dispels the conspiracy theory.