Entry draft moves to prime time

The National Hockey League is moving its annual entry draft to prime time, hoping the appeal of two American stars will pull in a substantial U.S. television audience. ...

The seven-round draft, which will be held Saturday, June 24, in Vancouver, will likely start at 7:30 p.m. EDT and wrap up at about midnight. In Canada, the telecast will be carried on TSN; in the United States, on OLN.

The entry draft always has been a little too early, although it's an event that has sort of become a mid-summer tradition to roll out of bed and watch. I suppose part of what TSN's going for here is a bigger ratings pull, but I can't imagine too many hardcores who have spent half of June watching the Stanley Cup finals will give up their Saturday night for this. Perhaps I'm wrong.

With the draft back in my home province, I'd love to be in attendance for the first time.

(On a semi-related note: If I was picking first overall, something the last-place team — Pittsburgh — will have a 48.2 per cent chance of doing, I'd take Phil Kessel.)