LOS ANGELES -- The NHL Draft will be returning to Los Angeles in 2025, the league announced on Feb. 22. The Draft will come with a new format for the league, although one familiar to sports fans.
The draft is scheduled to take place June 27 and 28 at the Peacock Theater at LA Live, across Chick Hearn Court and Star Plaza from Crypto.com Arena, which hosts the Los Angeles Kings. The Kings last hosted the NHL Draft at the then-Staples Center in 2010, when the Anaheim Ducks selected Cam Fowler at No. 12 overall and the Kings selected Derek Forbort at No. 15 overall.
“We have a proud tradition of holding world-class events in our city, and we are both honored and excited to once again be hosting the NHL Draft in Los Angeles,” Kings’ President Luc Robitaille said. “We would like to thank the NHL for working with us to present this event in its latest format and showcase the future stars of our sport to our great fans and the entire hockey community.”
The NHL will be shifting its draft to a decentralized format, similar to that of the NFL, NBA and MLB, in that teams will make draft picks from their “war rooms” at team facilities with the draft location just being a stage show with top prospects attending at Peacock Theater and the commissioner announcing picks.
"The NHL Draft is an amazing showcase of the future stars of the National Hockey League so it’s only fitting for it to be held in Los Angeles – a city filled with stars,” said Steve Mayer, President of NHL Events & Content. “With the support of the Kings, LA Tourism and Upper Deck, the prospects and our fans can expect a first-rate event with a new look and creative approach. We are excited to share more details in the coming months.”
Since 1963, the NHL has had team representatives on site populating tables on the draft floor, which since 1980 was usually the covered up ice surface at NHL arenas. Last season, the NHL went big and out of a traditional league arena with a one-of-a-kind draft experience at Sphere in Las Vegas.
Since 1980, there have only been five NHL drafts held at non-arena venues: Toronto Convention Center in 1985, Westin Hotel Ottawa in 2005, NHL Network Studios in 2020 and 2021–which were decentralized due to the COVID-19 pandemic—and 2024 at Sphere.
The decentralized format opens up the league to host at more non-traditional venues like the NFL has done in recent years and lowers costs across the league, with team personnel not needing to travel.