Draft to stay de-centralized

[bluetunehead]

Various reports are saying that NHL GMs have voted keep the draft in the same de-centralized format going forward.

For the love of god I hope they all at least all send a team representative next time. Watching the draft picks do an awkward video conference with their new team and then have nobody there to actually talk to in person was ridiculous.

[BalotelliMassive]

Apparently one of the changes will have Gary Bettman donning the penguin suit from Batman....




This is a welcome change.

[danno]

its too dang hot for a penguin to be just walking around here

[TheJackBurton]

That draft was one of the most awkward and painful things to watch in a long time.

If it fails a second time there is absolutely no reason to ever do it again.

[Billy Madison]

its too dang hot for a penguin to be just walking around here

I see what’s going on here.

[STL fan in MN]

Count me as surprised. They better cut out those awkward zoom calls at least. Or have the kids do them off camera. We don’t need to hear “thanks for drafting me and believing in me.” and the execs responding “we really like the way you *generic hockey compliment*. We think you’ll make a great addition to our team someday.” 32 times. Or…29 times as 3 teams just stare blankly as their execs are too old to figure out how to take themselves off mute.

[TheJackBurton]

Count me as surprised. They better cut out those awkward zoom calls at least. Or have the kids do them off camera. We don’t need to hear “thanks for drafting me and believing in me.” and the execs responding “we really like the way you *generic hockey compliment*. We think you’ll make a great addition to our team someday.” 32 times. Or…29 times as 3 teams just stare blankly as their execs are too old to figure out how to take themselves off mute.

and of course don't forget the awkward 3 second pause between each statement as they wait for the audio to transfer.

[JoshInFenton]

for the teams, i think they'll always want a decentralized because it's easier on the draft groups. That being said, they have to know the pace has to pick up a little bit going forward. there was zero reason to drag it on 4 hours, and it wasn't really done in a productive way, it was basically filler content by quite a few teams. More analyzing what a player can bring, their pros and cons, just bringing the expertise to the table would go a lot further. I don't need a well known player from the past on the broadcast, i need someone who knows what they are talking about when it comes to the future of some of these teams. A former GM who can explain what might be going through a teams head when they make a move, an explanation on why a team might reach for a specific player.

I also think teams have massively dropped the ball when it comes to producing some of the draft video. The pre-draft discussions were interesting bits from the blues last year, but i'd almost rather they have the GM sit down with the video production team and explain maybe their assessment of what they drafted and how he fits their long term outlook (or short term if it's a top pick). Some phone calls that may have happened that could've been shown, and maybe a hint as to why they didn't work out. NFL has more money to do it, but the NFL shouldn't be running 20 laps around the NHL's production at this point.

[BalotelliMassive]

That draft was one of the most awkward and painful things to watch in a long time.

If it fails a second time there is absolutely no reason to ever do it again.

It was the worst television that I've watched in a long time....worse than watching the voting in Squid Game. I was excited going into it but by pick five I was legitimately tired from watching. It was ratings cancer and now they're going to try it again?

[wiscrev]

I kept checking in and out waiting for the Blues pic. The whole production was terrible.

[George Zipp]

I would guess we aren't going to see Nikki Glaser and the Goo Goo Dolls and Carrot Top and the Three Stooges reading picks. They have to clean that up if they are keeping this silly format. I like Nikki Glaser on a comedy central roast. I don't much care for seeing her try to roast the towel guy and pronounce names at the draft. Maybe stick to, you know, ex players and such doing the reading of the picks.

[TheJackBurton]

That draft was one of the most awkward and painful things to watch in a long time.

If it fails a second time there is absolutely no reason to ever do it again.

It was the worst television that I've watched in a long time....worse than watching the voting in Squid Game. I was excited going into it but by pick five I was legitimately tired from watching. It was ratings cancer and now they're going to try it again?

yep. The NFL draft can drag it out, because it's the NFL, but does anyone ever want to watch a 4 hour NHL 1st round draft?

[STL fan in MN]

That draft was one of the most awkward and painful things to watch in a long time.

If it fails a second time there is absolutely no reason to ever do it again.

It was the worst television that I've watched in a long time....worse than watching the voting in Squid Game. I was excited going into it but by pick five I was legitimately tired from watching. It was ratings cancer and now they're going to try it again?

I don’t like the decision to keep it decentralized but there’s no way they’re doing the exact same thing again. I don’t have a lot of trust in the NHL but I trust them enough to know they saw what we all saw and they better make improvements.

[Francis Park Thug]

Plenty of things to complain about the broadcast.
I will add another. Too many girl (women) analyst.
Sorry, flame away! It seemed forced.

[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.

[bluetunehead]

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.