Where should the 2010 draft be held?

by James Mirtle on Jun 28, 2009 6:51 PM CDT Comment 37 comments

By all accounts, Montreal was a grand success for the 2009 draft. The stands were fairly full, the poutine was plentiful, and the home team picked a homegrown hero.

Looking ahead to 2010, there should be an announcement in mid-July, as there was last year, when it comes to where the next entry draft will be. Eyeballing the list of cities that have never hosted a draft, there are plenty of good candidates:

Host cities
Boston - 1999
Buffalo - 1991, 1998
Calgary - 2000
Columbus - 2007
Detroit - 1987
Edmonton - 1995
Miami (Sunrise) - 2001
Minneapolis - 1989
Montreal - 1963-84, 1986, 1988, 1992, 2009
Nashville - 2003
Ottawa - 2005
Pittsburgh - 1997
Raleigh - 2004
St. Louis - 1996
Toronto - 1985, 2002
Vancouver - 1990, 2006

Defunct teams
Quebec - 1993
Hartford - 1994

Never hosted
Anaheim, Atlanta, Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey, New York (Islanders and Rangers), Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Jose, Tampa Bay, Washington

Chicago, L.A., New York, Philadelphia and Washington would all be good cities if they wanted to go to a major American market and generate some interest, but there are obviously a lot of candidates there.

Poll

Where should the NHL draft be held in 2010?

A city it's been before

97 votes

Anaheim or Los Angeles

61 votes

Atlanta

14 votes

Chicago

199 votes

Dallas

22 votes

Denver

42 votes

New Jersey or New York

161 votes

Philadelphia

73 votes

Phoenix

21 votes

San Jose

40 votes

Tampa

9 votes

Washington

135 votes

874 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

It’s going to be held in Vegas. I called it first!

by Sweet Monkey Action on Jun 28, 2009 6:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Host

Give it to a northern team with a good chance of picking top 10.

Ottawa, Buffalo, Islanders

by Derek Zona on Jun 28, 2009 7:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Ottawa hosted the draft in 2008.

by hockeycountry on Jun 29, 2009 4:49 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s gotta be either NY or Chicago. To never have held the draft in either of these Original 6 cities is unconscionable.

I've seen enough to know that I've seen too much.

by Smoboy41 on Jun 28, 2009 7:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I was surprised to see that, too.

I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Washington this year, although Chicago’s a good choice given their rebirth.

Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com

by James Mirtle on Jun 28, 2009 7:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I could see Washington as well, especially since NBC pulled the rug out from underneath their Winter Classic bid for next season.

Would be the league sort of throwing them a bone.

by Cluster on Jun 29, 2009 8:36 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Any league led by Gary Bettman that “throws me a bone” has me crossing my legs and squirming in my seat, b/c I’m pretty sure I don’t want that bone.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Jun 29, 2009 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hamilton, Ontario seems like it would be a good place to hold a draft.

by cubanpuckstopper on Jun 28, 2009 7:55 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Despite the fact it has been the longest (among previous hosts), it certainly won’t be in Detroit. They don’t have a new, sparkly arena with lots of bling to attract attention – and they are likely to trade out of the first round again anyway to get more picks, so it would be somewhat anticlimactic anyway.

But given that it has never hosted, Chicago I think would be the best choice. Vibrant history, team that actually has attention from the fans again, and it is a city that is easy to get to and has plenty of hotel space and a lot of experience with conventions and other large PR events. The coasts in the US get all the attention – try having an event in the Midwest for a change (aka “flyover country”).

"A vacuum is a hell of a lot better than some of the stuff that nature replaces it with." -- Tennessee Williams

by Baroque on Jun 28, 2009 8:32 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Colorado will be celebrating their 15th anniversary, so it’d be nice to see them get to draft Taylor Hall in the Pepsi Center. ;-)

All other notable anniversaries are for teams who have already hosted the Draft.

Vancouver: 40th
Buffalo: 40th
Calgary: 30th
Minnesota: 10th
Columbus: 10th

by TD O'Dell on Jun 28, 2009 8:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The Canucks and the Sabres came into the league at the same time, but i’m pretty sure they didn’t host the entry draft together.

I've seen enough to know that I've seen too much.

by Smoboy41 on Jun 28, 2009 8:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The anniverseries are for the introduction of the team

not the last time they hosted the draft.

2008-2009 Avalanche: It's like watching a car crash.

by Drakenlot on Jun 28, 2009 9:33 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I misread O’Dell’s post. I apologize for lowering the collective IQ of SBNation.

I've seen enough to know that I've seen too much.

by Smoboy41 on Jun 28, 2009 9:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You don't have the right to claim all of the blame

My awkward phrasing cannot be overlooked when handing out the Brain Cell Killer awards.

by TD O'Dell on Jun 29, 2009 8:01 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Washington’s 35th anniversary is this coming season.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Jun 29, 2009 7:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, but next year’s draft will kick off their 36th year. I was simply looking at things from the Habs’ 100th anniversary point of view (1909-2009). Most people are already sick of of Montreal’s 100th, yet it is only six months old. The fact is, the team wasn’t founded until December of 1909, so their 100th season has only just begun. In those 100 years, only 98 Stanley Cups have been awarded, so they technically have two more chances to collect their 25th of the first 100 possible Cups. That 100th anniversary seemed to start about 14 months ago and may just stretch for another 25 months yet.

Point is, the Caps will be attending their 36th Entry Draft next June, so they can wait until 2014, according to my stupid “anniversary priority” criteria.

by TD O'Dell on Jun 29, 2009 7:58 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Okay. Well, since Montreal’s supposed centennial season was such a joke ….

And the barbershop pole jerseys still make my eyes hurt.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Jun 29, 2009 9:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Washington is the hockey market with the most growth. It would get lost in NY. I say Philadelphia, Washington, or Chicago.

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by Ben Rothenberg on Jun 28, 2009 9:20 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I could go with any of these.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Jun 29, 2009 7:11 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I voted Denver just cause then I could go to it. Probably a fun way to spend a weekend.

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Sacrifice the Body - Examining the NHL through statistical analysis, reasoned thought, and blind conjecture.

by IAmJoe on Jun 28, 2009 9:35 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know if the NHL considers conference considerations when it comes to the draft, but Chicago seems logical for its resurgence, being an Original Six team, and being a Western Conference team. Plus, the city has never hosted the event before. But with Bill Wirtz formerly in charge of the ’Hawks, TSN would have had to televise the draft from Wrigley Stadium with “Monster!” blaring over the loudspeaker.

Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell

by bkblades on Jun 28, 2009 9:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I originally picked Washington, but after thinking about it, maybe Chicago is the best choice. But really, you really can’t go wrong with either Washington or Chicago.

by DarrenM on Jun 29, 2009 12:05 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Baltimore!:

For the street-wise edge, you know?
Have Omar or Snoop from ‘The Wire’ announce the picks.
In all honesty I think Washington or Chicago would be fine due to their growth spurts.

by Sneps-ish on Jun 29, 2009 5:56 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If there’s a fear that people wouldn’t show up in Washington, I’ve always found sports drafts fairly boring, and I’d probably attend. Giving it to any town that hasn’t hosted it would be the best idea, with DC and Chicago leading the way.

However Washington (supposedly) got the huge snub this year in the Winter Classic, and it’s the 35th anniversary of the team.

Let’s be honest though, it’s time for Vegas or one of the teams that has already hosted twice.

by :hsughrofl: on Jun 29, 2009 6:57 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Vegas got the awards ceremony … I’d say not.

Any of Chicago, Washington, or Philadelphia would work. Washington is absolutely miserable in high summer, though, being built on a swamp as it is. I voted Washington (because I could go) but Chicago makes a lot of sense.

"It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees." - Delores Ibarruri

by gotsparkly on Jun 29, 2009 7:26 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Washington at least is an interesting city. And it got rave reviews for Frozen Four. Plus there’s a slew of bars right outside the VC.

Although……mid-June in DC? it can be miserable.

by RedBirdie on Jun 29, 2009 2:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Put it in Montreal again

I mean, hell, they are spending two full years celebrating their 100th anniversary, and nobody could possibly be sick of everything being put in Montreal, amiright?

by Resolute on Jun 29, 2009 9:11 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

St. Paul

We’ve proven the X can host a major event, with the RNC, and it would be nice to not travel to cover the draft next season.

Proprietor of Hockey Wilderness - We take Minnesota hockey WAY too seriously.

by nathaneide on Jun 29, 2009 9:51 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I didn’t vote for it, because I don’t think it should be there, but everyone knows it’ll be in Phoenix if Gary can swing it.

Pittsburgh Black And Gold -- So new, it still smells like paint!

by JustinM on Jun 29, 2009 10:09 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know if this is a joke or not. But even if Bettman could swing it, there’s no way. Considering how difficult it’s been for Phoenix to fill the arena at the best of times, the empty seats (in late June, no less, possibly 2 full months removed from the most recent hockey news in Phoenix) … well, it wouldn’t be ideal from a marketing standpoint.

by ChicoMaki on Jun 29, 2009 10:30 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It was half a joke, yeah, but on the other hand, I can see him doing it just to try to prove a point. After all, it’d be a lot easier to fill the seats for the draft than it would be for a random meaningless game. People come from everywhere for it, you can hand out more press credentials than usual to fill the empties, etc.

Pittsburgh Black And Gold -- So new, it still smells like paint!

by JustinM on Jun 29, 2009 11:05 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

2011

If anything Phoenix will get the 2011 draft, after the allstar game. Since they still haven’t awarded Glendale one from when they were supposed to host it in the lockout season.

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by Travis Hair on Jun 29, 2009 11:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I believe Atlanta was supposed to host the game during the lockout and Phoenix was supposed to have it in 2006; cancelled because the NHL decided not to have the game during the Olympic year.

by David M. Getz on Jun 29, 2009 1:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’d love to see the draft in Phoenix but I seriously doubt it will ever happen. I’m even doubting that the All-Star Game will be here – hell, there always seems to be an excuse NOT to have it here.

You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.

by zyllyx on Jun 29, 2009 1:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Chicago, definitely. Surprised it’s never been there before.

I can’t wait for it to come back to Columbus, that weekend was so much fun.

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by Andy Newman on Jun 29, 2009 12:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

vancouver, four months after the winter olympics.
it will be a big year in vancouver.

GO CANUCKS GO!

by missy on Jun 29, 2009 1:08 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Until Leonsis owns the Verizon Center/Wizards he will not push to have the NHL entry draft there. Reason why is that he really wouldn’t have an financial incentive as the cash money would be coming to him. At least not in its entirety.

by usiel on Jun 29, 2009 2:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs