Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - A major hockey event looks like it's heading back to Buffalo.
According to Sportsnet NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, Buffalo is set host this year's NHL Draft.
"It is Buffalo. It's a done deal," Friedman said on Sportsnet's 32 Thoughts podcast.
Friedman adds a formal announcement should happen next week, and that a big reason why Buffalo was chosen was because cities hosting the FIFA World Cup this summer are booked solid. Other venues have started filling up with concerts and other events.
The draft will be held in late June, but there are no other details at this time.
Last year, the NHL elected to go with a decentralized format for the NHL Draft, similar to how the NFL does its annual entry-level draft with teams remaining in their home city, but prospects and fans congregating in one host city for the event.
One other element that may be different with this year's draft that Friedman noted is they may be streamlining the draft with Rounds 1 and 2 being the first night, followed by Rounds 3-7 the second day. The NHL has hosted Round 1 of the draft on Day 1 and Rounds 2-7 on Day 2 over the last several years.
Buffalo last hosted the NHL Draft in 2016.
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