The NHL is set to announce some major changes to the Entry Draft

PUBLICATION

Joshua Deeds
June 10, 2024 (10:07)

SHARE THIS STORY

It looks as if the NHL and Gary Bettman caught another stray as during the Stanley Cup Final weekend, the opening salvo in another front of the labor war was fired.

The NHLPLA believes that the NHL draft should be shortened considerably as there are harmful consequences of there being 7 rounds in the NHL draft.

According to Elliotte Friedman and the 32 TP the NHLPA and player Agents will be lobbying to move the NHL Draft from the current 7 round system to a 4 round draft only.

Some player agents believe the NHL Draft should be shortened to just 4 rounds, and there's a possibility that the NHLPA could fight for shortening the draft in the next CBA, per
@FriedgeHNIC
(32TP).

The reasoning is players that don't get contracts are mostly later-round picks, and people (mostly agents) wonder why players get tied to a team for 2-4 years, only to not get a contract from that team.

«They almost think it's like holding up a player from really beginning their NHL career. We'll see what happens there.»

The current CBA expires at the end of the 2025-26 season.

Which with the current CBA expiring, this seems like a priority not only players would like to address, but agents as well.

Many players unfortunately get dragged around and never get the chance to start an NHL career.

If they could prioritize the draft, this could mean less time wasted for all parties, and many undrafted players who could find another way into the NHL.