From the moment it began, there was something drastically different about the NHL Draft this year. No general managers or team representatives were present in person; instead, they called in via video conference to speak with the newly drafted prospects. It’s hard to understand exactly what Gary Bettman and the NHL were aiming for with this COVID-reminiscent new format.
Usually, the draft floor is buzzing with dozens of tables set up for all of the team executives. Phones on each table are used for general managers to discuss trades, which always provides a lot of buzz as fans wonder which team's GM could be on the other end of the call.
But the large video screen featuring the various GMs felt impersonal, and frankly, quite awkward at times. Fans lost all of the drama and excitement that comes from seeing all 32 GMs in the same room, which happens very rarely in public.
After being selected, draftees were ushered into a room that Bettman called the "NHL Draft House," but really was just a small area backstage with a screen and a microphone. This was perhaps the biggest issue with what some are calling the "decentralized" format.
The "Draft House" interviews sure are awkward. 🏒📺🎙️#NHL #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/O1KSiQSMcy
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 27, 2025
It would have been amazing to see the New York Islanders staff interacting with Matthew Schaefer as he had an emotional reaction to being drafted first overall. The prospect burst into tears upon seeing the breast cancer awareness ribbon sewn onto his draft jersey, honoring his late mother who he lost to the illness in February of 2024. Instead, Schaefer had to meet GM Mathieu Darche on a video call that was slightly delayed, producing an uncomfortable feeling among those watching at home.
Things got even worse when James Hagens was supposed to virtually speak with the Boston Bruins team. Some technical difficulties affected the B's connection to the video call, so Hagens excitedly went to the Draft House only to be met by a stone-faced group of executives who could neither see nor hear him. ESPN tried to salvage it by interviewing Hagens in place of the virtual meet and greet, but it was overall a painfully unpleasasnt experience to watch.
James Hagens, in the best moment of his life, was just asked to wave at a broken feed on national television.
— Scott Wheeler (@scottcwheeler) June 28, 2025
Fans were also robbed by having to see the draftees met by Gary Bettman alone on stage, as opposed to an entire team of executives and players. Seeing the prospects shake hands with the guys who drafted him is an exciting experience for both the skaters and the viewers. The new format produced a somewhat lonely feeling with just the player and the commissioner on stage.
The whole experience felt like a Zoom call. Remember having to take classes and conduct all business over the computer during the pandemic? I don't think anyone missed living a virtual lifestyle, which is exactly what this year's NHL Draft was a reminder of.
The NHL will undoubtedly go back to the old process after seeing reactions from fans and media online. It has been a resounding "no" from all viewers, and ultimately was a swing and a miss on the NHL's part.