NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has confirmed that the 2024 draft is set to take place at The Sphere in Las Vegas on June 28 and 29.
While contracts are still pending finalization, Bettman expressed the league's enthusiasm for the event, anticipating significant viewership due to the unique features of The Sphere.
"I think it'll be a pretty well viewed event, both in terms of the draft itself and the viral use of The Sphere inside and outside using the globe. So we think it'll be fun. We think it'll be dramatic and compelling," said Bettman.
Officially opened in September, the $2.3 billion Sphere offers 580,000 square feet of LED lighting and an auditorium for 18,600 people.
The NHL Draft will be hosted by the Vegas Golden Knights for the first time in their seven-year history. This announcement comes on the heels of the Golden Knights' involvement in various high-profile events, including hosting the Stanley Cup Final in 2018 and 2023, the All-Star Game in 2022 and their upcoming participation in the Winter Classic on January 1 against the Seattle Kraken at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.
The league also announced that the salary cap would increase to $87.7 million for the 2024-25 season. Plans are underway for a mini-international tournament in February 2025, featuring four countries as a prelude to the 2026 Olympics.
However, there are still issues to work out between the NHL, the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) before players can take part in the next Olympics.
New decentralized format
The upcoming 2024 NHL Draft will also mark the end of an era as it signals the last occurrence of the event in its current format. Mike Stephens of The Hockey News highlighted that the 2020 and 2021 NHL drafts, held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, were the only drafts since 1963 not centralized in one location.
Traditionally, all 32 teams have been stationed on the host arena's floor throughout the two-day affair. However, the NHL is set to embrace a new direction akin to the decentralized model used by the NFL and NBA. In this revised approach, the top prospects will attend the draft in person, while the majority of team personnel will be located remotely.
The decision to decentralize the draft gained traction in October, as reported by Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, who noted that the "vast majority" of teams supported the shift.
Several factors contributed to this decision, including cost concerns associated with extensive team travel, concerns about potential leaks of strategy and decisions and the timing of free agency starting on July 1.
Notably, the spotlight on the 2023 draft was intensified by the presence of generational talent Connor Bedard. The Chicago Blackhawks claimed the top spot in the draft lottery, securing the opportunity to select the promising playmaker as the potential face of their franchise for years to come.
Looking ahead to the 2024 draft, notable prospects include Macklin Celebrini, Cole Eiserman, Artyom Levshunov and Ivan Demidov, among others.