Why the Maple Leafs Stayed in Las Vegas for the Beginning of NHL Free Agency

It's July 1st and outside of trade deadline day, it's the busiest day for NHL general managers and the rest of their front-office staff.

Given the NHL Draft pushed up so closely to the beginning of the signing frenzy, the Toronto Maple Leafs elected to stay in Las Vegas to do their work.

It's why when Leafs GM Brad Treliving was asked how he voted for next year's NHL Draft — whether it should stay the same or have most of the team's staff stay home  — he voted the latter.

"I think the biggest driver of potentially looking at going to remote drafts is strictly the timing," Treliving said. "Everything being jammed up."

Over the last couple of seasons, the NHL Draft has pushed up right against the start of NHL free agency.

It never used to be like this.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the NHL Draft was usually around the third weekend of June. But new NHL partners and the scheduling that comes with it have changed things where there is just one full day between the second day of the draft and the start of free agency,

Based on Treliving's comments, it doesn't sound like anything is going to change from the NHL on that front. And if the 2025 NHL Draft format does change dramatically and the team is back home, then the Leafs will be back home as they usually are on July 1

There were some reports that GMs actually did prefer the format the way it currently is and were getting pressure from owners to vote for a remote draft due to cost. Given how majestic and positive the experience was at The Sphere, it'll be interesting to see how and if things do actually change for 2025.

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