NHL reportedly considering holding 2020 draft before season resumes

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The NHL is reportedly considering holding the 2020 draft in June before the potential conclusion of the 2019-20 season, deputy commissioner Bill Daly told TSN's Pierre LeBrun after Tuesday's conference call with the general managers. It would likely be conducted virtually, although nothing official has been decided.

The obvious complication in this scenario is finalizing the lottery and rest of the order before the Stanley Cup is awarded, and ironing out conditional draft picks. It could also eliminate the possibility of draft day trades unless there's a creative workaround, considering the league is still operating for this season and the trade deadline was Feb. 24.

The Blackhawks are currently projected to own the No. 9 overall pick if the percentages fall where they're supposed to. It would mark the third consecutive year the Blackhawks pick inside the top 10, with Adam Boqvist being taken No. 8 overall in 2018 and Kirby Dach No. 3 overall in 2019.

The 2020 NHL Draft was originally scheduled to take place from June 26 to 27 in Montreal, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The league remains committed to finishing the 2019-20 season in some capacity.

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