The 2025 entry draft style will officially become a thing of the past.
Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday Headlines that big changes are coming to the 2026 NHL Entry Draft after feedback from fans, teams and media following the 2025 event.
Last year, there was a virtual interview room where each team had the opportunity to speak with one of their drafted players, but the process posed time challenges so it will be removed from the 2026 draft.
Broadcaster interview access will also be impacted in 2026, and there might just be one reporter interviewing for all of the various outlets, instead of the usual two to three interviewers who have access.
The league is also looking to save time by potentially changing the seating configuration so drafted players have less of a distance to walk.
There have also been conversations within the league about shrinking the first round enough so both of the first two rounds can fit on the first night, with rounds three to seven following on the second day. There were many complaints about the length of the draft last year and the NHL is looking to shorten it in 2026.
The host city for the 2026 NHL Draft has yet to be decided, but there are still three to four cities in the mix, including Montreal.
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