The new decentralized format for the 2025 NHL Draft didn't quite go as planned on Friday night. And that's putting it mildly.

Schaefer, a defenseman with Erie of the Ontario Hockey League, was selected No. 1 by the New York Islanders in the 2025 Upper ...

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman isn't the most popular figure for hockey fans and they let him know it at every NHL Draft.

Yes, I know the [GM] vote was 26-6, so Gary Bettman was quick to make sure that it was clear it was the managers’ idea, but I don’t think that vote’s going to be 26-6 if they do it again.

The NHL’s Shift to a Decentralized Draft As NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman put it best, “This is us executing the will of the clubs,” when asked in March about decentralizing the NHL Draft.

It’s notable that no one asked for that audio to return after the call was done. We had already heard enough. Commissioner Gary Bettman said earlier in the day the GM vote was 26-6 in favor of ...

James Hagens was happy to hear his name called by the Boston Bruins in the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft on Friday night.

Anton Frondell, the No. 3 draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks, with Commissioner Gary Bettman and former Hawk Jeremy Roenick, left, during the 2025 NHL draft in Los Angeles on Friday, June 27, 2025.

Joshua Ravensbergen, left, stands with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after being drafted by the San Jose Sharks during the NHL hockey draft Friday, June 27, 2025, in Los Angeles.

And let's face it -- even if he had done your play on Broadway, he'd only have ended up working for, like, one week longer. -Leah, he's not Asian! -David, no one is Asian enough for you.