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The Trib reports that on Thursday, Commissioner Gary Bettman will be at Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh to officially announce that the 2012 NHL Entry Draft will be held there in late June. The article points out the possibility that the Penguins could win the Stanley Cup, then host the draft in their own building just a few days later.
Consol Energy Center, which opened in August 2010, will host to both days of the draft. Round 1 will be held on the evening of June 22, with the Rounds 2-7 to take place starting the morning of June 23.
The Stanley Cup Final generally wraps no more than 10 days before the draft, creating the possibility that the Penguins could figuratively own June by winning the Cup and playing host to the draft.
Wouldn't that be something? It might be a little premature to wish for, sure, but it's not beyond the realm of possibility at all, given how well the Pens have played so far without Sidney Crosby.
The Trib also notes that the Pens will create a "summer hockey carnival" based around the draft, and that having the draft in Pittsburgh will bring attention to the youth hockey scene in Pittsburgh. Several players with Pittsburgh ties were chosen in last year's draft, including No. 15 overall pick J.T. Miller.