The New Jersey Devils and Philadelphia Flyers are set to play host to the 2013 and 2104 NHL Drafts respectively.

The announcement of locations came just hours before action got underway in the 2012 NHL Draft in Pittsburgh.

“I think it’s great for the franchise and great for the city,” Devils GM Lou Lamoriello told NHL.com.

“The Devils are pleased to be hosting the 2013 NHL Draft — a first for Prudential Center,” Devils chairman Jeff Vanderbeek said. “We appreciate the support from Commissioner [Gary] Bettman and the assistance of [New Jersey] Governor [Chris] Christie and [U.S.] Senator [Robert] Menendez in scoring the important event.”

Flyers president Peter Luukko shared a similar sentiment.

“I think it’s really important for us in Philadelphia,” Luukko said. “People have always said we’re a Flyers town and not a hockey town. It’s a confirmation of where we’ve come as a true hockey market. If you look at [Philadelphia-area] youth hockey and where we’ve come, we’ve got kids playing in Canadian juniors, colleges, U.S. juniors, prep schools, local schools. There’s a real interest in hockey. Our people in our community, they know who these players are. Hopefully we’ll have a couple people from the market draft eligible and be picked [in 2014].”