Gary Bettman makes controversial change that ends careers of thousands

PUBLICATION

Joshua Deeds
June 10, 2024 (7:09 PM)

SHARE THIS STORY

The NHL and NHLPA are exploring a new rule for the next CBA in 2025-2026.

This new rule which the NHL and NHLPA could implement could affect the future of many prospects. Or create a lack thereof for their professional prospects.

According to NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman, the rule could shorten the NHL draft from 7 rounds as it stands now, to a 4-round system:

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.

This rule change could see a drastic after-effect, as scouts could be deprived of future work as a result.

This could also be a game-changer as late-round prospects won't get the respect they deserve in a system, whereas in a 7-round system they still would get development camp resources, which wouldn't be available to them in a system proposed by the NHL.

Source Hawks Insider
Significant rule change to end the hockey career of thousands of players