Gary Bettman to implement new system which will end many NHL careers

Gary Bettman and the NHL are planning to decentralize the NHL draft, but it now seems they might also be changing the event's structure entirely.

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.

Agents argue that being drafted in later rounds often delays a player's career start. This change might be discussed in the next collective bargaining agreement, which expires at the end of the 2025-26 season.

With the NHL already moving towards a decentralized draft, it seems the entire draft process is being reconsidered, despite it not being a major issue before.

The NHL Draft will be held June 28/29 at the Sphere in Las Vegas. NHL Board just made it official. This will be the final draft before decentralizing.

Shortening the draft could impact the careers of many young players, and there's hope that the NHL will reconsider this change.

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