NHL Draft Archives - US Sports News

Capitals to Purchase CapFriendly Website After 2024 NHL Draft, per Report

The Washington Capitals are reportedly in agreement to purchase the popular NHL salary cap website, capfriendly.com, with future plans to turn the site dark.

According to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, the Capitals' purchase of the website won't be finalized until July, as both sides stressed the importance of keeping it functional during the 2024 NHL draft and the onset of the league's free agency period. The NHL draft is set for June 28-29, while free agency opens on July 1.

Per the report, various teams across the league received notice that their contracted agreement with CapFriendly was due to be terminated, an indication that the site had been purchased by one of the NHL's 32 teams.

Once the purchase is made official, it's expected that Washington will bring the site offline, preventing other teams from utilizing its extensive database. Friedman reports that could happen as early as July 5.

CapFriendly was highly-regarded among NHL fans, media and even front office members. The site boasted data on player contracts including salaries, terms, cap hits and more. The site's owner, Dominik Zrim, had previously worked for two NHL front offices; the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks.

8 Jun 24 Jimm Sallivan

Utah NHL Franchise Asked Prospects Bizarre Question in Pre-Draft Meetings, per Report

The franchise formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes is preparing for the upcoming 2024 NHL draft as it navigates its move to Salt Lake City next season.

Utah, which owns the No. 6 pick in the draft, reportedly got a bit creative while conducting interviews with prospects during this weekend's NHL scouting combine in Buffalo.

The Athletic's Arpon Basu reported Saturday that Utah's front office was asking prospects for their Uber passenger rating.

The Utah NHL franchise was asking draft prospects this week at the combine for their Uber passenger rating. I've heard some weird ones over the years, but this one is just puzzling.
— Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) June 8, 2024

A passenger rating on the Uber app is given by drivers after a ride is completed. Drivers give a grade of one through five stars based on the passenger's timeliness, cleanliness and courtesy throughout the ride. Perhaps Utah's front office considers that number a glimpse into prospect's personality off the ice.

Aside from which prospect it'll select with the No. 6 pick, Utah has plenty to figure out before next season begins. Earlier this week, Utah released six team names currently up for fan vote to decide the franchise's nickname—down to the Utah Hockey Club, Blizzard, Venom, Mammoth, Outlaws and Yeti. Fans have the chance to vote on their favorite from last list until June 20.

Regardless of which team name earns the most fan votes, the club will simply wear "Utah" on its uniforms next season. The new nickname and branding will debut during the 2025-26 campaign.

Utah will make its draft choice after the San Jose Sharks (No. 1 pick), Chicago Blackhawks (No. 2), Anaheim Ducks (No. 3), Columbus Blue Jackets (No. 4) and Montreal Canadiens (No. 5) are on the clock. The draft will be held at the Sphere in Las Vegas on June 28 and 29.

7 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Sharks Win 2024 NHL Draft Lottery With Chance to Select Macklin Celebrini

The 2024 NHL draft lottery was held Tuesday night, though it came without many surprises. In fact, this year's draft is the first since 2010 in which the picks went unchanged through the lottery process, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet.

As such, it'll be the San Jose Sharks on the clock first. After a rough season that saw the Sharks finish at the bottom of the league with a record of 19–54–5, they'll have the chance to pick atop this year's draft, where it's widely anticipated that they'll select Boston University standout Macklin Celebrini.

Celebrini, 17, won't turn 18 until just a couple of weeks before the draft in June. This past year at BU, he became the youngest player ever to win the Hoby Baker Award, which recognizes college hockey's top talent. He racked up 64 points—32 goals and 32 assists—across 38 games, and now could be headed to San Jose as the franchise looks to add a game-changing talent to help facilitate the rebuild.

For the first time since 2010, no teams moved up in the NHL Draft Lottery. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/s9AphLHLGO
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) May 7, 2024

Rounding out the top five after the Sharks in the 2024 draft will be the Chicago Blackhawks, Anaheim Ducks, Columbus Blue Jackets and Montreal Canadiens. The upstart Utah franchise is poised to pick sixth.