2023-10-30 00:57:12
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said he was “surprised” Sunday by the majority vote of the league’s teams in favor of changing the format of the draft.
This new version would be similar to what is done in the NFL and NBA, where all the teams stay at home while the league organizes a centralized event with the different prospects.
“I was a little surprised,” admitted the commissioner in an interview with our colleague Renaud Lavoie on the sidelines of the Heritage Classic in Edmonton.
“But it was very clear that the teams wanted to host their own event in their city, much like the NFL and NBA do,” he added. We will have the draft picks with us, at the location where we hold the event, the families will be there.
“The only difference will be that the teams will be able to do their business at home, in their markets, and will organize events for their fans,” the commissioner also mentioned. I think it has to do with everything that a draft entails for a team. The number of people who participate in it, like the scouts, those who do the work on the computers and who combine technology and statistics…”
The big boss of the NHL, however, suggested that this new direction may not be definitive.
“This is what the clubs told us they wanted to do,” he reiterated. We’ll see how well it works and we can always go back. But it will still be a big event wherever we (the league) are going to organize it.”
The first edition of this brand new auction should take place in 2025, with a possibility of June 2024.
Pinto, an isolated case
The commissioner was also kind enough to comment on the Shane Pinto file. The skater from the Senators organization was suspended for 41 games a few days ago in connection with his sports betting habits. Pinto did not bet on hockey games, which is strictly prohibited, but his behavior when betting on other sports was nevertheless questionable.
Bettman is confident he doesn’t need to re-explain to players around the league what they can and can’t do.
“It’s already very clear,” he stressed. The fact that there is legal sports betting makes it easier to monitor, and let’s be very clear: Shane did not bet on NHL games.
There are more than 700 players playing in the league and even though everyone knows the league’s rules for sports betting, an “aberration” can occur, he said.
The commissioner nevertheless insists that the Pinto case was “an isolated, exceptional situation”.
Watch the full interview in the main video.
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