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NHL Draft at Las Vegas Sphere Featured Odd Robot Who Introduced Prospects
- Anaheim Ducks
- Arizona Coyotes
- Boston Bruins
- Buffalo Sabres
- Calgary Flames
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Chicago Blackhawks
- Colorado Avalanche
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Dallas Stars
- Detroit Red Wings
- Edmonton Oilers
- Florida Panthers
- Los Angeles Kings
- Minnesota Wild
- Montreal Canadiens
- New Jersey Devils
- Nashville Predators
- New York Islanders
- New York Rangers
- Ottawa Senators
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- San Jose Sharks
- Seattle Kraken
- St. Louis Blues
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Vancouver Canucks
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Washington Capitals
- Winnipeg Jets
The NHL took a big swing this year by hosting its annual draft at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
The Sphere, which opened in September 2023, is known to fully immerse event-goers with graphics displayed in 270 degrees of visuals and sounds unlike any other venue in the United States. It also has its very own robot named "Aura" who permanently resides in the grand atrium of the Sphere.
Aura was in attendance Friday night and introduced NHL prospects as they walked down an escalator.
They have a robot in the Sphere introducing the players 🤖😱 pic.twitter.com/j7pgqcqHKC
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 28, 2024
It doesn't get much more Las Vegas than that.
The Sphere itself was a hit in the first round, as it featured plenty of cool graphics for each pick. As commissioner Gary Bettman took the poidum to officially begin the draft, there were images of dozens of prospects displayed on the sphere's walls that sit 366 feet high and 516 feet wide.
Flying through the draft at the Sphere with a drone is WILD 🤯🔮 pic.twitter.com/yMafxeEDan
— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 28, 2024
Bettman opens the draft with headshots of prospects wrapping around the inside of Sphere. Incredible. pic.twitter.com/zftJTCKtAm
— Nick Cotsonika (@cotsonika) June 28, 2024
As expected, the San Jose Sharks selected Boston University center Macklin Celebrini with the No. 1 pick. The Chicago Blackhawks took Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov with the No. 2 pick, and the Anaheim Ducks rounded out the top three by drafting right winger Beckett Sennecke.
The NHL finish off the first round of the 2024 draft on Friday night and will return to the Sphere on Saturday for Rounds 2–7.
Tom Dierberger is a staff writer and editor on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in November 2023 after stints at FOX Sports, Bally Sports and NBC Sports. Dierberger has a bachelor's in communication from St. John's University. In his spare time, he can be seen throwing out his arm while playing fetch with his dog, Walter B. Boy.