The excitement has already began to build for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft, but while scouts and fans alike have already began the debate between who should go first overall next June, the NHL has yet to set a venue.
The city of Pittsburgh and the new Consol Energy Center is a strong candidate and has been rumoured as the expected destination for the 2012 draft.
“(The Penguins are) one of the teams in (the) 2012 draft bid process,” the NHL’s vice president of player development and event communications Jamey Horan told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “But no decision has been made yet.”
There has also been heavy speculation the St. Pete Times Forum and the Tampa Bay Lightning will host the event.
The draft isn’t expected to come to Canada in 2012.
Each Canadian team has held the selection process since 2000, except the Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets. The Oilers aren’t likely to host the draft until their new rink is built, while it is uncertain if the Jets have applied to host the event.
There is no timetable to announce the host of the draft.
The XCel Energy Center in St. Paul, MN. was announced as the host of June’s NHL Entry Draft in April of 2010.
Aaron Vickers is the managing editor of Future Considerations and can be found on Twitter. For all the latest Future Considerations news and posts, follow FC’s Official Twitter Feed, on YouTube and on Facebook!