Nash Daily: Changes To NHL Draft, Panthers Special Teams Woes

While no changes have been officially made to the 2024 NHL Draft, the league sent a memo to its 32 clubs on Wednesday stating that most of the team support changing the draft format to be decentralized.

Each team submitted a ballot to the NHL offices voting for against making the draft more in line with the NFL and NBA drafts where teams remain in their home markets on draft night while only the players being drafted congregate at the location of the event in the host city.

Per the league memo, obtained by The Athletic, each team would send one or two representatives to the draft in-person to greet their respective draft picks after their selections. Commissioner Gary Bettman would still serve as emcee.

The cost savings of traveling + the revenue increase in having more elaborate local draft parties + the chance for the NHL to made-for-TV draft events in places outside of arenas = this was going to happen the minute it was floated. https://t.co/orWdC6zL2q

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) October 25, 2023

In Case You Missed It

Is Mattias Ekholm elite? Many in Nashville and around the league would argue yes, but of course every player has their anonymous detractors. 

What does Nashville’s most recent waiver claim Liam Foudy bring to the lineup?

Injured Reserve and its recent effects on the Nashville Predators roster is an interesting topic to dive into. 

General manager Barry Trotz appears to love the waiver wire, so it’s helpful to know how this process works. 

Around National Hockey Now and the NHL

Boston Hockey Now: Salary cap space, among other things, calls for difficult decisions to constantly be made with the Bruins placing defenseman Ian Mitchell on waivers for the purposes of reassigning him to the AHL. 

Florida Hockey Now: Special teams can make or break a team and the Florida Panthers are witnessing that first hand early this season. 

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: LTIR continues to be a hot topic across the league with the Pittsburgh Penguins placing goaltender Alex Nedeljkovic on LTIR. 

Washington Hockey Now: Perhaps the Washington Capitals and Alex Ovechkin are finding their game under new head coach Spencer Carbery after the Capitals come back to beat the New Jersey Devils last night. 

Follow Clay Brewer on Twitter/X: @ClayBrewer10