Gary Bettman Takes Center Stage at the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles
Feb 22, 2025, 05:44 PM ET
LOS ANGELES — Hockey fans, brace yourselves for a summer filled with more of Gary Bettman than ever before. The NHL draft is set to take place this June, and the league has some exciting changes in store.
On Saturday, the NHL officially announced that the 2025 draft will be held on June 27-28 at L.A. Live’s Peacock Theatre. This announcement confirms a report from ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski back in December. The big news? Gary Bettman, who has been the NHL’s commissioner since 1993, will be front and center, announcing each first-round pick for the first time.
In a light-hearted moment, Bettman quipped, “Hopefully there won’t be too many hard [names] to pronounce,” before the Los Angeles Kings hosted the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday night.
This year’s draft will mark a significant shift in how the event is conducted. For the first time, the NHL will adopt a decentralized model, similar to what the NFL and NBA have been doing for years. This means team staffs will participate virtually from their home cities, a change that Bettman has been advocating for.
While the commissioner and top prospects will still be present at the event, Bettman’s role will expand beyond that of a mere master of ceremonies for the first round. Traditionally, teams have announced their own selections, but this responsibility will now fall to the 72-year-old Bettman. Known for being a lightning rod for boos whenever he takes the stage, Bettman is ready to embrace this new role.
“And remember, the clubs asked for this,” Bettman emphasized. “I wasn’t looking for any more exposure. I have more than enough. But this is what the clubs told us they wanted, and we’re going to try it. And we’ll see after this year whether or not everybody likes it better.”
Bettman acknowledged the unique touch each organization brought to their announcements, noting how they would “thank somebody at home, honor somebody, remember somebody.” However, most teams found it more convenient to manage the draft from their home offices, especially after two years of holding it virtually due to the pandemic.
But wait, there’s more! An expanded presence for Bettman might not be the only change to how the draft is presented. Steve Mayer, President of Events and Content, hinted at a fresh approach, saying, “prospects and our fans can expect a first-rate event with a new look and creative approach.” Details on this new format will be unveiled in the coming months.
For the past three years, the draft has been conducted in person following the coronavirus pandemic. Last year, the NHL bid farewell to the old format with a spectacular event at Sphere in Las Vegas. The gigantic screens inside and outside the 18,000-seat venue were used to stunning effect.
Bettman explained, “It wasn’t practical to keep going back to the Sphere for a whole host of reasons, including what it cost. It was extraordinary. We spent multiples, maybe exponentially, of what we normally spend for a draft. But if we were going to finish off the way we did it under the old format, we were going to do it as big as we could.”
- Key Changes to the 2025 NHL Draft:
- Location: L.A. Live’s Peacock Theatre
- Dates: June 27-28
- Format: Decentralized, with team staffs participating virtually
- Commissioner Gary Bettman to announce all first-round picks
- New look and creative approach promised for the event
As the NHL prepares for this new chapter in its draft history, fans and teams alike are eager to see how these changes will play out. Will the new format be a hit, or will it leave fans longing for the traditional approach? Only time will tell.
Originally Written by: ESPN.com
