Brad Treliving loves everything about the NHL Draft.
Conversations. Friendship. Find old colleagues. Meet new ones. Seeing teenagers live out one of their dreams in the spotlight.
The general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs nevertheless voted in favor of a radical change in the annual event from its current form.
The only major sport in North America to bring all of its teams – including management and scouting staff – under one roof to select the next generation of players is considering decentralizing the annual event in the future.
Much like the NFL and NBA, most of the club’s management would be remote, communicating with a handful of people on site. One benefit would be simplified logistics, while reducing travel and overall costs.
But it would mean the end of tables, where heads are gathered, with the draft clock ticking down as fans watch impatiently from the stands.
The NHL surveyed teams this season to gauge their interest in changing the format. Although the results have not been made public, things could be very different in the future.
The current setup, which began taking shape in 1984, allows general managers to go to a few tables to talk with one of their counterparts, meet with an agent face-to-face in a restaurant and get a final, up-close look at prospects before making decisions that sometimes alter their team.
“It’s the interaction,” Treliving said. Interacting with people from the hockey world. »
Vegas Golden Knights general manager Kelly McCrimmon added that it was an opportunity for the sports’ top minds to come together in one place.
“For the players, it’s really good,” he said. “All these players have a picture in their minds of what draft day looks like.”
McCrimmon added that much of daily life is now technology-based and it’s refreshing to shake hands and chat unexpectedly.
“Our world is becoming more virtual,” he noted. “Any time you have the opportunity to attend these events in person, I think this is a really great way to do it… It’s unique to the National Hockey League.”
This year, the seven-round marathon took place not in an arena, but rather in The Sphere, a breathtaking $2.3 billion auditorium with a gigantic, mesmerizing screen that wraps around the building.
“It was an exceptional draft,” said Washington Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan, who added that he also voted in favor of decentralization. Simply the visual, the reaction of people, the way certain choices were presented. I thought it was more entertaining than any other draft we have attended or seen. »
But sport – and the world – has changed. Teams have many more scouts and staff than in the past. It’s expensive and time consuming to get everyone together in one place.
The pandemic, meanwhile, has forced the company to find other ways to communicate. Video conferencing is now a common business practice. The 2020 and 2021 drafts were held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It wasn’t as glamorous, but teams adapted and made it work.
The NHL also has a narrow window at the end of its schedule. The season now begins in mid-October and teams receive bye weeks during the 82-game campaign. This year’s Stanley Cup Final concluded on June 24. The draft took place Friday and Saturday. The free agent market opens Monday.
“There’s no downtime,” Seattle Kraken general manager Ron Francis said. “It’s really busy for us.”
Calgary Flames general manager Craig Conroy, however, mentioned that something would be lost if the draft format changed.
“It looks like the NHL,” said Conroy, who still voted in favor of decentralization. You’re going to lose that feeling of being in person going on stage to draft these kids. It will be different. »
Treliving and his management team are staying in Las Vegas for the start of the free agent market rather than returning to Toronto due to that narrow window. MacLellan and the Capitals do the same.
“The calendar is like that,” Treliving suggested. But the draft is special when you have everyone on the floor. If this is indeed the last of its kind, I will miss it. »
