This year’s NHL Draft at The Sphere in Las Vegas was incredible. From the visuals to the celebrities, it was perfect for the league, and if really was the last NHL Draft at a central location, they went out on top. I mean, is it even possible for the league to top Montreal bringing out Celine Dion to make their selection? I’m very much against the idea of decentralizing the draft, but it sounds like that’s the way things are heading. If that does indeed happen, fans in Colorado might miss out.

On his podcast Agent Provocateur, agent Allan Walsh talked about how incredible the draft was in Vegas this year and how they really should do it every year at The Sphere. I really don’t disagree, but I’m not sure how that would work out when it comes to money. The Sphere, even though it’s owned by James Dolan, who currently owns the New York Rangers, can’t be cheap to rent out. I know they had specific timeframes on when people were allowed in and out this year, because the media was kicked out almost immediately after the final pick on Day Two was made.

Walsh then dropped a little nugget about what he was hearing about the next NHL Draft.

“There was a lot of talk that the next NHL Draft was going to be in Denver,” Walsh said. “Colorado was set to host it, there was a lot of talk behind the scenes. When the GM’s voted to decentralize at the GM meeting mid-way through the season, that obviously was off the table.”

Denver has never hosted an NHL Draft, and it sounds like the city might not get that opportunity if the league is going to decentralize everything. That hasn’t been finalized, as at the end of this year’s draft, Bill Daly told everyone in the crowd, “we’ll see everyone next year, at a site and location to be determined.” The event at The Sphere might have been such a hit that they want to keep that momentum going, but Ball Arena is a slightly different venue than The Sphere. The only time Denver has hosted an event previously for the league was the 2001 All-Star Game.

The NHL Draft is not exactly an event that fans flock to every single year, unless it’s in Vegas. It’s very much an event made for hardcore fans, as most people likely haven’t heard of 95% of the players that are eligible to be selected. Even that number might be low.

What do you think? If the NHL Draft was to take place in Denver, would you go?