Vegas Golden Knights: The pros and cons of a June Draft

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Payton Krebs reacts after being selected seventeenth overall by the Vegas Golden Knights during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019. /

Pro 2 – Spotlight

With no games being played currently, you can’t blame the NHL for wanting to do anything that keeps the league and the sport relevant.

That is a hard enough task even when games are being played, so it is understandable that they would want to still stage their flagship event in June in order to attract some eyes to this great game of ours.

With no other sports going on and the NFL having already successfully conducted their 2020 Virtual Draft, there is a chance that non-hockey fans may tune in just to squeeze in their sports fix.

Any new eyes would be fantastic for the NHL and, as such, I can see why they would want to still hold the 2020 NHL Entry Draft next month.

And, for Golden Knights fans, it also helps to fill a void left by games by giving everyone the chance to sink their teeth into what the franchise might do when it comes to replenishing their farm system.

On a selfish note too, it would also give those who cover the Knights and the NHL the chance to actually write about something meaningful, rather than speculating about what may or may not happen or going over old games and past events.

Kelly McCrimmon and George McPhee of the Vegas Golden Knights attend the 2019 NHL Draft at the Rogers Arena on June 22, 2019. /

Con 2 – Taking the fun out of trades

One of the logistical nightmares the NHL will have to deal with if the 2020 Draft does take place before the 2019-20 regular season is resumed is the fact that trades between teams would almost be impossible to conduct.

Let’s use the Golden Knights as an example straight out of the gates.

Currently projected to have the No. 24 overall pick in the First Round, and with only two selections in the last four rounds combined, the Knights could look to trade up in the First Round in order to draft a real blue chip talent.

However, in order to do so, Vegas would likely have to throw in a player or a prospect as a sweetener.

But, given that the hope is the 2019-20 regular season will resume after the Draft, the Golden Knights won’t be able to afford to part with a player on their roster.

The same logic applies to if the Knights had their eye on a certain player on another team and wanted to make a trade during the Draft.

That won’t be able to happen.

As such, one of the most exciting and key aspects of the Draft will be taken away and the Golden Knights may be hindered in how they exactly approach the 2020 NHL Entry Draft.

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