Draft to stay de-centralized

[BalotelliMassive]

Flying in a couple of team representatives is asking too much but playing an extra two games on top of the 82 scheduled is brilliant.

This league has been run by bums for a while now...

[blues2112]

Rarely pay attention to drafts — EJ and Petro's years — were exceptions — so I ask from ignorance: What does "de-centralize" mean in this context.

I'll hang up and listen.

The teams were not present at the draft, and they phoned in the picks to the league running the draft. In years past each team had a table with their staff set up in the building and they’d make the picks in person.

The reasons for doing it this way included cutting down on travel costs and freeing up how the teams could operate. For instance the GMs didn’t like having to be huddled together at a table watching what they said in case another team overheard their conversations. They can talk freely and call whoever without causing suspicion if they’re all back in their offices. It’s less fun as an outsider since you miss out on reporters speculating about how two GMs are huddled in a corner having a discussion, but I get why they’d prefer it.

Personally I think it’s still dumb, because having nobody there to meet your new draft pick just seems rude, particularly the 1st round types. They should just give each team one of the luxury boxes if they’re concerned about privacy. Tell them to suck it up about the travel costs.

Thank you for that clear response! Does seem rather impersonal. Are the prospective draftees there in person?

[Sudsy 11]

That was an awful presentation this year. Surprised the NHL double downed on it. Hopefully significant improvements will be made for next year's draft.

[DawgDad]

Each team needs to have representatives there in person, team officials, not third parties. If the GMs and people involved in draft and trade decisions want to be remote, OK.

The draft show was a sad affair, akin to a cringe-worthy second-rate game show. Once the Blues drafted I turned it off.

[HighStick]

The draft and the overall presentation were just awful this year.
As a fan I will just skip it next year. I'm still a NHL fan, I still bleed blue 100%. I just don't need to watch the draft. That's all.

[rezero]

Even if they follow the same format next year will be better. The teams were not prepared so they all said the same thing, which in turn lead the players to respond either way the thanks for drafting me and ready to get to work speech. Now they know it was horrible they will adjust.

[DawgDad]

They should assign 32 guys to be first round draft picks, consensus of rating services or whatever. Put 32 chairs in a circle in a big room and play musical chairs. Once all 32 guys are seated they go one-by-one opening envelope taped to back of seat to reveal the team that "drafted" them. Those who are content get up and leave, the others stay behind and elect to engage either in an MMA style smackdown fight for a different or better team (sticks, helmets, and hockey gloves allowed), or an Idol format panel and audience judged singing contest. That should satisfy a broad audience.

Those who elect to fight go to their team's NHL camp and then to the AHL if they are cut. Those who sing go to college, everyone else back to Juniors.

[Cahokanut]

They should assign 32 guys to be first round draft picks, consensus of rating services or whatever. Put 32 chairs in a circle in a big room and play musical chairs. Once all 32 guys are seated they go one-by-one opening envelope taped to back of seat to reveal the team that "drafted" them. Those who are content get up and leave, the others stay behind and elect to engage either in an MMA style smackdown fight for a different or better team (sticks, helmets, and hockey gloves allowed), or an Idol format panel and audience judged singing contest. That should satisfy a broad audience.

Those who elect to fight go to their team's NHL camp and then to the AHL if they are cut. Those who sing go to college, everyone else back to Juniors.

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