The NHL Entry Draft, nothing can compare

The NHL and particularly Gary Bettman takes a lot of heat from the media, fans and everyone in between because of poor decisions, whether its because of the television deals, ownership, rules or officiating but for all of the bad we see a lot of good that the NHL does right and does better than anyone else.

The NHL’s entry draft is done better by the NHL than any other professional league in North America ( NFL, NBA, MLB ).

We get the best coverage, we get close to the players, team management and breaking trades.

All 30 NHL teams are on the draft floor right near all the players and fans, we get to see everyone put in the work right in front of us, not like other drafts where the everything is hidden.

When a trade breaks we get to watch the commissioner take to the stage and announce the trade as it happens, in other leagues trades happen but the trade is not official and a drafted player gets to the podium and puts on another teams jersey only to change in a day later for his new team.

In other drafts the pick is made by the commissioner and the team general manager and scouts are no where to be found. That does not happen in the NHL, we get to watch all of the scouts and members in management take to the stage and announce the pick and watch the next generation walk up to the podium, put on their new jersey and be welcomed to the NHL.

Some drafts happen during the season and get buried under all of the other news going on, where as the NHL’s draft is right after the playoffs and just before July 1st when free agency begins.

No other league does the draft as well as the NHL, it is time to think of that when you say or hear someone else say the NHL does everything wrong.

When you are watching the draft this Friday night keep this in mind, your watching the best draft around, be proud of the fact that the NHL does it right and does it the best.