NHL considers holding June draft before season resumes

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The NHL could conduct the draft in the month it normally takes place even if the season remains on pause.

The league has discussed possibly holding the event in June before the resumption of the current campaign, though that's one of many potential plans, deputy commissioner Bill Daly told TSN's Pierre LeBrun on Tuesday.

It would be held virtually rather than at an arena, but nothing has been decided yet, adds LeBrun.

As he notes, this idea presents several issues, including the draft order and conditional picks, which the final regular-season standings and playoff results typically determine, respectively.

Such a scenario would also make draft-day trades - arguably the most entertaining part of the event - impossible, as ESPN's Greg Wyshynski points out.

The league postponed the upcoming draft, the combine, and the annual awards show amid the coronavirus pandemic in late March. Montreal was scheduled to host the 2020 draft, and the NHL later reassured the Canadiens they would get the chance to host one in the future.