Chicago already hosts a team in the Blackhawks that has been, without question, far and away the best in the NHL over the last six or so seasons. They've appeared in, and won, three out of the last six Stanley Cup Finals, cementing themselves last season as the premier franchise in the league. And now, apparently, they also have the NHL Draft to add to their list of accomplishments. ESPN's Pierre LeBrun broke the news early Thursday that an announcement is expected to be made later in the day that Chicago will be the host city for the 2017 NHL Draft.
Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun Times confirmed LeBrun's report, adding that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Rahm Emanuel, Blackhawks president John McDonough and team own Rocky Wirtz are expected to attend the press conference announcing the move.
The 2016 version of the NHL Draft is set for Buffalo this coming June.
The draft has annually rotated host cities throughout its life, with last year's being held at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida.
