© David Kirouac/Imagn
The New York Islanders have the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft after surprisingly moving up 10 spots to win Monday night’s lottery. The newly founded Utah Hockey Club also moved up 10 picks, a combined result that had just a 1-in-370 chance of occurring prior to the event. But if that result seems bizarre, then perhaps you missed the additional angle involving New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
The 2026 NHL All-Star game was initially slated to take place at the Islanders’ home of UBS Arena. But ESPN reported Monday that the league has decided to change those plans, instead hosting an international event at UBS Arena one week prior to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Hochul was not happy with the change of plans.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul sent this open letter to Gary Bettman today regarding the NHL replacing the 2026 ASG at UBS with an Olympic kickoff event.
TLDR: She’s not happy. pic.twitter.com/sWgLezpEO2
— Ethan Sears (@ethan_sears) May 5, 2025
New York Governor Kathy Hochul Torches NHL Of All-Star Game Change Of Plans
“I am writing to express my disappointment regarding the NHL’s decision to cancel the 2026 All-Star Weekend at UBS Arena and replace it with a Winter Olympics kick-off event. This decision was made without consultation with the State of New York, which has been a critical partner in supporting this facility and the NHL’s presence on Long Island as well as the entire State,” Hochul wrote.
“Through a public-private partnership with New York Arena Partners, New York State invested more than $100 million to build the first new LIRR station in nearly 50 years, supporting UBS Arena as a world-class venue. We made this investment not only for the local community and the New York Islanders but also in support of the league itself. We acted in good faith based on commitments that were publicly celebrated and on the belief that this was a true public-private partnership.
“The cancellation of the 2026 All-Star Weekend, an event expected to bring millions in economic activity to the region, is deeply disappointing. While we understand the significance of the Winter Olympics, the conflict was foreseeable and could have been addressed through early coordination. This decision overlooks the efforts by New York State and sends the wrong message to every public entity that has supported the NHL.
“Therefore, we request that the NHL revisit this matter immediately. Given that Long Island’s 2026 NHL All-Star Weekend has been canceled, the NHL should bring a hockey event with equal or greater economic activity and cultural value to the region in 2027.”
See where this is going? What better way to placate an angry governor (in an extremely powerful state) and upset franchise than by handing them a No. 1 draft pick out of nowhere?
I’m not saying! I’m just saying.
As for Utah, that one is easy to exemplify. The yet-to-be-named club just finished its first season in Utah. It’s important for the NHL for that club to succeed. Said success is much easier with more star players.
Again, I am not saying that the NHL Draft Lottery was rigged. But the evidence doesn’t look great for the league.