So long, Sphere. And say goodbye to the NHLB次元官网网址檚 centralized draft B次元官网网址� for now, at least.

The league is planning to shift from its current setup, in which team executives and scouts are all gathered on the floor of a venue to make their selections, to doing so remotely from their headquarters next year.

Though plans are not complete, the expectation is the league will still hold some type of draft celebration in one of its markets for television purposes and to draw fans, and featuring its top prospects, much like the NFL draft is conducted.

Several team executives shared the pros and cons of making the switch during the two-day, seven-round draft held in Las Vegas this weekend.

B次元官网网址淔rom a club standpoint, itB次元官网网址檚 excellent, because you can talk freely B次元官网网址� and thereB次元官网网址檚 a lot more room to spread out,B次元官网网址� Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell said in favor of holding the draft remotely.

B次元官网网址淭he negatives are, thereB次元官网网址檚 always a lot more trades made in person,B次元官网网址� he added.

WaddellB次元官网网址檚 biggest concern in going remotely is having fewer prospects B次元官网网址� especially those projected to go in the later rounds B次元官网网址� in attendance.

B次元官网网址淲e drafted a kid in the sixth round, and heB次元官网网址檚 here with his parents. And theyB次元官网网址檙e excited,B次元官网网址� Waddell said of selecting defenseman Luke Ashton, who is from North Vancouver, British Columbia. B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e only going to get drafted once. And thatB次元官网网址檚 probably the most disappointing thing for me, is the kids will lose out on that opportunity.B次元官网网址�

Toronto GM Brad Treliving said thereB次元官网网址檚 nothing like having the entire NHL community together under one roof. Treliving, however, voted in favor of going remote because of scheduling constraints with the start of the free agency period almost immediately following the draft.

B次元官网网址淓verything being jammed up,B次元官网网址� Treliving said. B次元官网网址淚 love the draft. IB次元官网网址檇 love to do it every year. ItB次元官网网址檚 just scheduling more than anything else.B次元官网网址�

Treliving and his staff as well as the Washington Capitals are among teams staying in Las Vegas so not to lose time traveling home with free agency signing opening on Monday.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said there are no expectation of the league changing its decision for next year, after teams favored the decision to go to a remote draft.

Vegas GM Kelly McCrimmon said the Golden Knights were one of the few teams to vote in keeping the status quo.

B次元官网网址淚 went to 27 NHL drafts in a row before I ever worked at an NHL draft,B次元官网网址� McCrimmon said. B次元官网网址淎nd I just loved going to the draft. I was always fascinated by everything about it.B次元官网网址�

The shift in going to a remote draft represents a split between teamsB次元官网网址� hockey departments, who favor the status quo, and the business side focusing on saving on travel and hotel expenses.

Vancouver Canucks president Jim Rutherford is taking a wait-and-see approach.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 have an opinion until we try the other way,B次元官网网址� Rutherford said. B次元官网网址淎nd once we try that for a year, I think everybody will be able to make a good decision as how we go forward.B次元官网网址�

Global game

Kevin He, who was selected 109th by Winnipeg, became just the second Chinese-born player chosen in the draft, following Andong Song, who went 172nd to the New York Islanders in 2015. Both are from Beijing.

Harrison Brunicke, who is from Johannesburg and grew up in western Canada, was the second South African-born player drafted, going 44th to Pittsburgh. He joins goalie Olie Kolzig, who was also born in Johannesburg, and went No. 19 to Washington in 1989.

Three players from Latvia were drafted, matching a draft record for the eastern European nation. Eriks Mateiko went 90th to Washington, followed by Mikus Vecvanags (No. 134 to Montreal) and Darels Uljanskis (No. 214 to Anaheim).

Michkov update

Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said progress is being made on forward Matvei Michkov finally arriving in Philadelphia, but ruled out the Russian being in attendance for the teamB次元官网网址檚 development camp next week. Briere added thereB次元官网网址檚 also been progress on signing the 2023 first-round draft pick to a contract.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 a lot of logistics that have to go in. Immigration, visa, and all that stuff,B次元官网网址� Briere said. B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 have a timeline as far as when we expect him in Philadelphia, but itB次元官网网址檚 looking good. ItB次元官网网址檚 moving in the right direction.B次元官网网址�

Michkov was cleared to join the Flyers after being released by his club in RussiaB次元官网网址檚 Kontinental Hockey League.

Columbus coaching search

With the draft over and the Blue Jackets not anticipating to be too active once the free agency period opens on Monday, Waddell can begin focusing on hiring a coach in Columbus.

B次元官网网址淚 officially havenB次元官网网址檛 interviewed anybody yet. IB次元官网网址檝e talked to some people,B次元官网网址� said Waddell, who took over the Blue Jackets in late May, and fired Pascal Vincent in mid-June.

ThereB次元官网网址檚 no rush, Waddell said, noting Columbus is the NHLB次元官网网址檚 only team without a coach. Waddell previously said he planned on having a list of 12 candidates, before narrowing it to four before starting the interview process.

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Freelance writer W.G. Ramirez contributed to this report.

John Wawrow, The Associated Press