The New York Rangers may end up doing what millions of fantasy sports participants do every year: draft online. That’s right, you could see John Davidson, David Quinn, and other Ranger officials sitting in front of a big screen, time clock ticking away in the corner, as the look through the list of players available. Then they make their selection and press enter, and the New York Rangers have made their pick. Sound far-fetched? It might not be as the NHL canceled some events, including the live 2020 Entry Draft.
Covid-19 Forces the NHL to cancel events
Recently, the NHL announced it has postponed the 2020 NHL Draft Combine, the NHL Awards Show and the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The Draft Combine was scheduled to take place on June 1-6 in Buffalo, NY as it always does. The Awards show was to be held in Las Vegas, NV on June 18 and the draft would’ve been June 26-27 in Montreal. Not surprising because in a best-case scenario, the Rangers and/or other NHL teams will be playing games during this time. But in postponing this live, planned event, the NHL will have to look at other ways to have teams, select players.
This is from the official press release: The location, timing and format of the 2020 NHL Draft (and Draft Lottery) will be announced when details are finalized.Â
The New York Rangers may be drafting “online”.
Overall, this has possibilities. Whether it may be to help with the continuing practice of social distancing or to facilitate a draft that has to be planned in a short period of time, drafting online has some merits. It could also be quite interesting to watch this kind of draft. Imagine following along on the television or on a computer. You might get to see the same screen that the teams are using. Maybe there is a little trash talking going on between teams in the little chat box that is featured in most fantasy draft formats.
Something to ponder while we do some mock MLB drafts while practicing social distancing for a little while longer.