PUBLICATION

Tom Banks
August 3, 2025  (5:35 PM)

The 2025 NHL Draft.

Photo credit: NHL.com

The NHL’s decentralized draft format this past season was a huge disappointment to fans, but now Elliotte Friedman has revealed why GM’s voted in favour of it again.

The 2025 NHL Draft was set to be one of the most intriguing events in years, with the NHL introducing a decentralized draft with front offices not in attendance, making their events more like the drafts of the NBA and the NFL.

Unfortunately for fans watching in person and at home, the format was an absolute disaster, taking plenty of time between picks, adding unnecessary celebrity cameos and the worst of all, the awkward video interviews with front offices after being selected.

The form drew incredible backlash for the National Hockey League, but shockingly, General Managers have voted to keep the format moving forward, with many speculating that it was the price of getting everyone there that motivated the decision.

Now, NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman has revealed the true reason that the vote was 20-12 in favour of keeping the decentralized draft, noting that it was the privacy aspect for the front offices that are usually on the floor that they liked, with the chance to be in a neutral place that provides them that privacy under this format.

While this reasoning certainly makes sense for General Manager’s around the NHL, it’s the worst possible situation for the fans, as they may now need to sit through another lengthy, boring and downright awkward event.

Hopefully the NHL can make some changes for the upcoming event however, but with the league doubling down on this format, they run the risk of ruining a fan favourite event that is often one of the biggest days in the league calendar.

Previously on HouseOfHockey

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The Real Reason NHL GM’s Voted to Keep Controversial Draft Format Revealed by Elliotte Friedman

Do you think the NHL can turn around the dreadful event that was the 2025 NHL Draft?