Chicago Will Host NHL Draft in 2017

CHICAGO, IL - The city that’s conquered the NHL for the last decade will be the home of the draft next year too.

Chicago will host the NHL Draft in 2017, according to multiple media reports. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Blackhawks Owner Rocky Wirtz and team president John McDonough are expected to make the announcement at a 3 p.m. press conference Thursday.

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This will be the first time the city hosts the yearly event that gathers all 30 NHL general managers in its history. It is usually held in late June, when Chicagoans have recently been coming off the excitement of a Stanley Cup parade.

Thursday’s announcement is the latest hockey highlight for a city that has had plenty of them over the last 10 years, dating back to when Jonathan Toews joined the team in 2006 and a year later when Patrick Kane was picked up with the number one pick in the 2007 NHL Draft. In addition to seeing the Blackhawks win three Stanley Cup championships (2010, 2013, 2015), Chicago has hosted a Winter Classic and Stadium Series game.

The Draft has rotated from city to city since 1985. Before that, it was a yearly event held in Montreal.

Sources haven’t confirmed the United Center as the official site, but last year the event was held at the home rink of the Florida Panthers and in 2016 will be at the First Niagara Center, the home of the Buffalo Sabres.

The 2017 event won’t be the first time a professional sports draft has taken place here. In 2015, the NFL Draft was held in Grant Park and is planned to take place there again this year.