NHLPA and player agents pushing to make major changes to the NHL Entry Draft

With some time still remaining on the current Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL and NHLPA, things are expected to remain status quo until at least September 15th, 2026. However, during the next set of negotiations, we could see some major changes made to the draft.

Currently, the NHL Entry Draft goes on for 7 rounds. The agents who are lobbying for a change are proposing that the draft be limited to 4 rounds.

The reason for the request for a change, which the NHLPA sees merit in, is that most of the players who end up signing NHL deals are selected in the first 4 rounds, while the expectancy for an entry-level contract for prospects drops significantly from rounds 5 through 7.

Players who are selected in rounds 5-7 often don't even have the option of signing with another NHL club while the drafting team owns their rights, which don't expire until 2-4 years after they've been drafted, which drastically impedes the development of some prospects, as Friedman noted in his latest edition of "32 Thoughts: The Podcast".

A 4-round draft would certainly be a bit different and would separate the NHL from a lot of other sports. It could also make for more exciting seasons, as more players would remain available and eligible to sign NHL deals at any time.

As Friedman stated, we'll see where this goes.

Source: Elliotte Friedman