Kelly McCrimmon and the Vegas Golden Knights don't think too much about the NHL Draft. To them, it's a time to see who would be the best trade bait for a big-time player. Perhaps you're looking to acquire another Tomas Hertl in your lineup. Maybe you want another Mark Stone to enrage the LTIR crowd.
Whatever the case, the annual event goes beyond the Golden Knights. It celebrates new beginnings for aspiring NHL superstars. They have hopes of cracking the main roster so fans can either chant their names or boo them.
While that's not the main reason why these prospects join the NHL, the upcoming draft still provides players with the necessary platform to follow their dreams. This year's version will be no different, with names like Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa looking to be selected first overall by the New York Islanders.
So I bet you're wondering when the festivities start. It might've been mentioned in prior posts and the news, considering the political affairs in Los Angeles are burning. However, here's for the people who missed the boat and need some more details.
The 2025 NHL Draft goes from June 27 to 28 in Los Angeles
The 2025 NHL Draft will go down on June 27 and 28 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The two-day event will be the league's first decentralized draft outside of the pandemic, with teams located within their respective markets. The Top 100 prospects will attend the event, giving the event some feeling of tradition.
Of course, there's also the ongoing protests in Los Angeles that have Gary Bettman and company on notice. The league is monitoring the situation closely, specifically since the event is held within the current designated curfew boundary.
The #NHL is closely monitoring the ongoing civil unrest and protests in Los Angeles, which is set to host the #NHLDraft in just 16 days.
— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 11, 2025
Peacock Theater and LA Live are both within the current designated curfew boundary which restricts activity and movement from 8pm-6am.
Could there be a redux of the Vegas draft if that's the case? That remains to be seen. However, that's not a bad thing, specifically with the numerous venue options.
Still, draft time is nearly upon us, meaning the mock drafts will come to an end. It'll also mean a deeper evaluation into who stays for the long run and who leaves (*cough* *cough* McCrimmon's trade pieces). Tis the season for hockey's future becoming the present!