Contents
The NHL draft is an annual event in which every team in the National Hockey League (NHL) selects newly eligible ice hockey players who can then join the league.
Checkout this video:
How the NHL Draft Works
The NHL draft is an annual event in which NHL teams select eligible amateur players to join their organization. The draft order is determined by the previous season’s standings, with the team that finishes last getting the first pick and the Stanley Cup winners getting the last pick.
Players who are eligible for the draft are typically between the ages of 18 and 20, although some players may be older if they have not been previously drafted. Players can only be drafted if they are not under contract with an NHL team.
To be eligible for the draft, players must submit a “letter of intent” to the NHL indicating their intention to enter the league. This letter must be submitted no later than 60 days before the draft.
Once a player is drafted, they are then placed on that team’s reserve list. This means that they are not yet under contract with the team and are free to sign with any team that they choose. However, if a player does not sign with an NHL team within two years of being drafted, they become ineligible for selection in future drafts.
The NHL Draft Lottery
The NHL Draft Lottery is a weighted system that gives all 14 non-playoff teams a chance at winning the first overall pick. The lottery is held every year after the Stanley Cup Playoffs have concluded.
The lottery winner will receive the first overall pick in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. The remaining 13 non-playoff teams will be slotted into picks 2-15 based on their regular season point totals.
There have been varying degrees of success for teams who have won the NHL Draft Lottery. In recent years, however, many draft lottery winners have gone on to have very successful careers in the NHL.
The NHL Entry Draft
The NHL Entry Draft is an annual event in which every team in the National Hockey League (NHL) selects a young player who they believe will be a significant contributor to the team in the future. Players who are eligible for the draft are typically 17 to 20 years old and come from all over the world – though most are from North America (Canada and the United States).
The draft consists of seven rounds, with each team making one pick in each round. The order in which teams select players is determined by a combination of their regular season standings and any trades that may have been made by teams leading up to the draft. The team with the worst record gets the first pick, while the Stanley Cup-winning team picks last.
Players who are drafted but do not make an NHL roster become free agents and are eligible to sign with any team. However, if a player drafted by one team does not sign with that organization, that team retains their rights to that player for one year before they become a free agent.
The NHL Entry Draft is usually held in June and is one of the most anticipated events of the offseason for fans of the sport.
NHL Draft Eligibility
To be eligible for the NHL Draft, a player must:
-Be at least 18 years old by September 15th of the year they are drafted
-Not previously have been selected in a previous year’s NHL Entry Draft
-Be a citizen of the United States or Canada
NHL Draft Order
NHL teams take turns selecting eligible amateur players at the annual NHL Entry Draft. The order of selection is determined by a combination of factors, including the previous year’s standings, playoff results, and which team owns which draft picks.
The team with the worst record in the regular season gets the first pick, while the Stanley Cup champion selects last. In between, the order is determined by a combination of factors, including previous year’s standings, playoff results, and which team owns which draft picks.
NHL Draft Prospects
NHL Draft prospects are players who are eligible to be drafted by NHL teams. Each year, hundreds of young players from around the world become draft eligible, and each team has the opportunity to select a certain number of players.
To be eligible for the NHL Draft, a player must be:
-At least 18 years old by September 15th of the draft year
-A citizen of one of the IIHF member countries
-Not currently under contract with an NHL team
Players who meet these criteria are then ranked by NHL scouts, and teams use these rankings to make their selections on draft day. While many players are drafted straight out of junior hockey leagues or college, some older players may also be drafted.
The NHL Draft is typically held in June of each year, and is often one of the most highly anticipated events for hockey fans. On draft day, each team makes seven selections, with the order of selection determined by inverse order of finish from the previous season. For example, the team that finishes last in the league will pick first overall, while the Stanley Cup champion will pick last.
After all seven rounds have been completed, teams are then free to sign any undrafted players to contracts. These players are known as free agents.
NHL Draft Combine
The NHL Draft Combine is an event that allows NHL prospects to showcase their skills to NHL scouts and general managers. It is held annually in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The combine consists of a series of physical and mental tests, as well as interviews with team personnel.
NHL Draft Trades
NHL teams often trade draft picks in order to move up or down in the draft order, or to acquire a player that they feel will be helpful to their team.
In order to make a trade, both teams must agree on the terms of the trade and submit the trade to the NHL for approval. The NHL will only approve trades if they feel that the trade is fair and equitable for both teams.
Once a trade is approved by the NHL, the team that is receiving the draft pick(s) will have those picks added to their list of draft picks. The team that is giving up the draft pick(s) will have those picks removed from their list of draft picks.
NHL Draft History
NHL draft history dates back to the NHL’s inaugural season in 1917. The first draft was held in Montreal, where the NHL’s first ever Pick was Rangers’ future Hall of Famer Frank Boucher. The following year, the Toronto Arenas made future Hall of Famer Clarence Hemingway the NHL’s first-ever American-born draft pick. In total, 21 different drafts have been held since 1917, with the most recent being the 2020 NHL Draft.
NHL Draft FAQ
The NHL Draft is an annual event in which every NHL team selects eligible amateur players who have turned 18 years old by September 15th of that year. The draft order is determined by a combination of the previous season’s standings, a draft lottery, and other rules.
Eligible players include those who are North American (born in the United States or Canada), as well as those who are European (born in countries that are part of the International Ice Hockey Federation).
Players who have been drafted can choose to play either in the NHL, or in one of the three minor leagues affiliated with the NHL: the American Hockey League (AHL), the ECHL, or the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
If a player drafted out of junior hockey chooses to play in the AHL or ECHL, they must first sign an entry-level contract with their NHL team. If they drafted out of college hockey, they can choose to become a free agent if they don’t sign an entry-level contract within two years of their draft year.
