Not a fan (draft)

[Bubble4427]

I am not a fan of the draft being done remotely via zoom. I think it comes off as cheap and third rate for a professional league.

I also think that even though there are phones…you can’t tell me that it doesn’t hinder trades during the draft. It’s much easier to walk across the room and talk to a rival GM about potential deals rather than calling GMs during it.

Bettman said GMs were all for doing it this way…I think it’s because it saves the teams money and is just “easier” for GMs.
Personally I think it hurts the league and it might just make doing deals more difficult on draft day.

Last years train wreck of interviews of the players….delays in answers….just came off as a third rate league. When they did the draft at the Spere in Vegas…that was cool.

Thoughts?

[zuck698]

Agree with everything you posted. The old way was much better than last year. Maybe they will have worked a few of the kinks out this time around, but even then it won't be as good as the old way of handling it.

[Pierre McGuire]

The NHL did it better than every other league but as we’ve seen many times before, they chose to follow the other leagues . I think it sucks and it takes away from the drama on the floor which always made it great.
My favorite moment ever is when Brian Burke and Bryan Murray were talking about a possible deal for the Sens to move up and the player in question was Nazem Kadri and Burke was like “what do you want to do..Kadri is the kid we are gonna take….is that the kid you want?” Murray was like “yeah” and Burke responds “well we are gonna take him”

[diehardbluesfan1]

Agreed.

It should be at the sphere every year. That was incredible.

[The Average Gatsby]

Agree 100%. The new format sucks.

[hockey jedi]

I agree with every post on this thread. Well done.

[STL fan in MN]

The draft was downright painful to watch last year. But since they’re doing the same format again, I can only assume it was way way cheaper than doing it in person, especially at the Sphere. I will also hope they learned some things from last year and it won’t be so painfully bad this time around. Either get rid of the painful interview portion with very delayed responses or at the very least, make sure the social media person from each org is in the room to help the old men figure out how to push the unmute button…

[the miracle]

The player - GM/Coach zoom call interview absolutely has to go. Easily the cringiest thing I've seen on live TV in the past 5 years. Tops even the stupidity of the "hat try-on selfie" that the NFL does.

[TheJackBurton]

it was painful and the fact they voted to do it again was even more painful.

It was despised by just about everyone except the league itself.

If it is anywhere close to the same this year I don't see anyway it happens a 3rd time.

[SameOldBlues]

I am not a fan of the draft being done remotely via zoom. I think it comes off as cheap and third rate for a professional league.

I also think that even though there are phones…you can’t tell me that it doesn’t hinder trades during the draft. It’s much easier to walk across the room and talk to a rival GM about potential deals rather than calling GMs during it.

Bettman said GMs were all for doing it this way…I think it’s because it saves the teams money and is just “easier” for GMs.
Personally I think it hurts the league and it might just make doing deals more difficult on draft day.

Last years train wreck of interviews of the players….delays in answers….just came off as a third rate league. When they did the draft at the Spere in Vegas…that was cool.

Thoughts?

Spot on. Zoomin it totally takes off the luster and makes it look like amateur hour. Thankfully Ill still be stoked to see who the team picks, and if there’s any fireworks.

[TBone]

I am not a fan of the draft being done remotely via zoom. I think it comes off as cheap and third rate for a professional league.

I also think that even though there are phones…you can’t tell me that it doesn’t hinder trades during the draft. It’s much easier to walk across the room and talk to a rival GM about potential deals rather than calling GMs during it.

Bettman said GMs were all for doing it this way…I think it’s because it saves the teams money and is just “easier” for GMs.
Personally I think it hurts the league and it might just make doing deals more difficult on draft day.

Last years train wreck of interviews of the players….delays in answers….just came off as a third rate league. When they did the draft at the Spere in Vegas…that was cool.

Thoughts?

I don't know. I don't think I'd be a fan of talking my trade business within earshot of a 6-10 other teams.

I'd personally value my privacy and freeness to speak to my draft team in a war room vs. the floor of an arena.

[Bubble4427]

I am not a fan of the draft being done remotely via zoom. I think it comes off as cheap and third rate for a professional league.

I also think that even though there are phones…you can’t tell me that it doesn’t hinder trades during the draft. It’s much easier to walk across the room and talk to a rival GM about potential deals rather than calling GMs during it.

Bettman said GMs were all for doing it this way…I think it’s because it saves the teams money and is just “easier” for GMs.
Personally I think it hurts the league and it might just make doing deals more difficult on draft day.

Last years train wreck of interviews of the players….delays in answers….just came off as a third rate league. When they did the draft at the Spere in Vegas…that was cool.

Thoughts?

I don't know. I don't think I'd be a fan of talking my trade business within earshot of a 6-10 other teams.

I'd personally value my privacy and freeness to speak to my draft team in a war room vs. the floor of an arena.

You can still have your war room...In the NFL, they have a war room and team reps on the floor.
You and I agree on almost everything....but not this.

The NHL draft looks like amateur hour now.
Build it up and make a spectacle out of it (that's why the Sphere was so great, no league had ever done that before there)
It's stupid decisions like this that reinforce the idea that the NHL is a "garage league". That moniker was given to the NHL 35+ years ago by
Mario Lemieux.

The NHL has a history of tripping over nickels just to save pennies....it makes no sense. They need to think big picture and take a little pride in their product. Just my opinion.

[TheJackBurton]

I am not a fan of the draft being done remotely via zoom. I think it comes off as cheap and third rate for a professional league.

I also think that even though there are phones…you can’t tell me that it doesn’t hinder trades during the draft. It’s much easier to walk across the room and talk to a rival GM about potential deals rather than calling GMs during it.

Bettman said GMs were all for doing it this way…I think it’s because it saves the teams money and is just “easier” for GMs.
Personally I think it hurts the league and it might just make doing deals more difficult on draft day.

Last years train wreck of interviews of the players….delays in answers….just came off as a third rate league. When they did the draft at the Spere in Vegas…that was cool.

Thoughts?

I don't know. I don't think I'd be a fan of talking my trade business within earshot of a 6-10 other teams.

I'd personally value my privacy and freeness to speak to my draft team in a war room vs. the floor of an arena.

You can still have your war room...In the NFL, they have a war room and team reps on the floor.
You and I agree on almost everything....but not this.

The NHL draft looks like amateur hour now.
Build it up and make a spectacle out of it (that's why the Sphere was so great, no league had ever done that before there)
It's stupid decisions like this that reinforce the idea that the NHL is a "garage league". That moniker was given to the NHL 35+ years ago by
Mario Lemieux.

The NHL has a history of tripping over nickels just to save pennies....it makes no sense. They need to think big picture and take a little pride in their product. Just my opinion.

They were the only league that would have the GM and representatives up on stage with the draftees which made it feel a whole lot better than having to take a picture with an ego maniacal commissioner or as with MLB just having a name called.

It was different and better.

[Phil McCrakin]

Agree with everything you posted. The old way was much better than last year. Maybe they will have worked a few of the kinks out this time around, but even then it won't be as good as the old way of handling it.

At the very least no hometown " celebrity " announcing the pick. Have Bettman (probably won't because he'll get booed every 15 mins.....oh wait he already does) or a team rep announce their pick.