NHL Postpones Draft Combine, Awards Show And Entry Draft

The ultimate Coronavirus gauntlet hasn’t swung on the NHL just yet but the 2019-20 regular season is next on the chopping block and the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs are waiting on deck. Right as most in the Eastern Time Zone should’ve been starting their drive home from work, if not for COVID19, the league 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, QC.

Just a reminder the Boston Bruins do not own a first round pick after trading it away in the February 21 trade that got them forward Ondrej Kase.

Here’s the official press statement:

“The National Hockey League today announced the postponements of the 2020 NHL Scouting Combine, the 2020 Bridgestone NHL Awards, and the 2020 NHL Draft, which were originally scheduled for June 1-6 in Buffalo, N.Y., June 18 in Las Vegas, and June 26-27 in Montreal, respectively, due to the ongoing uncertainty resulting from the coronavirus.

The location, timing and format of the 2020 NHL Draft (and Draft Lottery) will be announced when details are finalized.  

With respect to the Bridgestone NHL Awards, the League looks forward to returning to Las Vegas in the future. Las Vegas has been the home of the Bridgestone NHL Awards since 2009.”

Since pausing the season on March 12, the NHL has adapted as the Coronavirus pandemic has evolved and engulfed North America. They originally asked their players to remain in their respective NHL cities but on March 16, following the CDC’s recommendation the cancellation or postponement of all events with 50 or more people the previous day, the league sent players back to their native homes. Then on Tuesday, they extended the self-quarantine for players until April 6. They did, however, ask NHL owners for all available August dates in their respective NHL arenas should they be able to save the season or at least play the playoffs.