The widely criticized decentralized draft format appears set to remain.
NHL franchises have voted to retain this new format for the 2026 Draft.
Approximately two-thirds of the teams supported keeping the decentralized approach.
Following last month`s draft, the league surveyed teams for their feedback. Although many top prospects were present in Los Angeles for the TV presentation, team staff conducted their selections remotely from their own locations.
The first round this year extended beyond four hours. However, Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly indicated Friday that a `simple solution` involving production adjustments could shorten the duration.
Nevertheless, the initial experience was perceived negatively by many, finding the broadcast fragmented as newly drafted players interacted virtually with team executives via large screens, often experiencing unstable connections.
Historically, the NHL was unique in gathering all participants together for the draft. In contrast, both the NBA and NFL have utilized decentralized drafts for many years.
Duncan Priestley