The NHL will keep its decentralized draft format for a third straight year, drawing sharp criticism from analysts and hockey media.
The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun confirmed the decision on X, writing, “The NHL draft, which is being held June 25-26, will once again be with the decentralized format.”
The league moved away from a fully centralized event after the 2024 draft in Las Vegas. Now, teams conduct their selections from separate home-market war rooms.
MORE: Oilers’ Connor McDavid reveals why he loves playing in Montreal
The NHL draft, which is being held June 25-26, will once again be with the de-centralized format for a third year in a row, the league confirms.
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) September 8, 2026
The 2025 draft became the first official decentralized edition under the new approach. The 2026 event followed the same model, keeping executives, scouts and coaches away from one shared draft floor.
The change offers teams logistical benefits, especially during a crowded NHL calendar. However, analysts argue that the league sacrificed much of the draft’s unique atmosphere.
TSN’s Marco D’Amico called the decision “incredibly disappointing” before mentioning that, “It was the one thing they did better than any other league.” He pointed to “the vibe in the city, all the teams and scouts, the draft floor, the excitement for the players.”
The NHL maintaining a decentralized draft is incredibly disappointing.
It was the one thing they did better than any other league. The vibe in the city, all the teams and scouts, the draft floor, the excitement for the players.
The players and fans deserve better.
— Marco D’Amico (@mndamico) September 8, 2026
NHL content creator Mike Bartner also criticized the move, saying it was “incredibly lame” if owners were simply trying to save travel costs. He added that the “buzz in the city/arena is night and day different.”
Analysts question the NHL’s priorities
Buffalo, New York, USA; Gavin McKenna talks to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and singer Justin Bieber after being selected with the first pick in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft by the Toronto Maple Leafs at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect (Reuters)
The criticism also focuses on what the centralized draft created beyond the selections themselves.
The Athletic’s Murat Ates wrote, “The centralized draft is the source of, I don’t know, two-thirds of my A1 relationships in the NHL.”
Ates added, “I’m guessing other people in hockey, whether media, teams, agents, etc. can give similar numbers. Bring it back, please and thanks.”
Philadelphia Flyers writer Charlie O’Connor offered a shorter verdict: “yeah, the fun days are never coming back huh.”
Sabres columnist Mike Harrington said the event “will be unwatchable for the third straight year.” He also wrote, “Owners love saving money. Such a dumb league at times.”
MORE: Thomas Chabot reveals his true feelings on Brady Tkachuk leaving Ottawa
From an NHL business perspective, teams gain efficiency and privacy through separate war rooms. Yet the centralized draft created media access, league-wide interaction and a stronger event atmosphere.
That tradeoff now appears permanent. The NHL has chosen operational convenience over the traditional draft experience, despite continued backlash from its media community.
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —