How to watch 2016 NHL Entry Draft live, key things to know
The 2016 NHL Entry Draft runs June 24-25
By
Chris Peters
•
3 min read
The 2016 NHL Entry Draft will feature 211 of the best young players the hockey world has to offer being selected among all 30 teams. The seven-round affair will be split up over two days, with the first round getting prime time treatment Friday, and Rounds 2-7 wrapping things up Saturday.
Here's how you can follow the draft as it happens, as well as some of the basics you should know heading in.
What: 2016 NHL Entry Draft
Where: First Niagara Center, Buffalo, N.Y.
When: Friday, June 24 -- Day 1, Round 1, 7 p.m. ET; Saturday, June 25 -- Day 2, Rounds 2-7, 10 a.m. ET
How To Watch: Round 1 will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Network in the United States with a pre-draft show at 6:30 p.m. Rounds 2-7 will air live on NHL Network Saturday.
First round order:
| 1. Toronto Maple Leafs | 11. New Jersey Devils | 21. Carolina Hurricanes |
| 2. Winnipeg Jets | 12. Ottawa Senators | 22. Winnipeg Jets |
| 3. Columbus Blue Jackets | 13. Carolina Hurricanes | 23. Florida Panthers |
| 4. Edmonton Oilers | 14. Boston Bruins | 24. Anaheim Ducks |
| 5. Vancouver Canucks | 15. Minnesota Wild | 25. Dallas Stars |
| 6. Calgary Flames | 16. Detroit Red Wings | 26. Washington Capitals |
| 7. Arizona Coyotes | 17. Nashville Predators | 27. Tampa Bay Lightning |
| 8. Buffalo Sabres | 18. Philadelphia Flyers | 28. St. Louis Blues |
| 9. Montreal Canadiens | 19. New York Islanders | 29. Boston Bruins |
| 10. Colorado Avalanche | 20. Arizona Coyotes | 30. Anaheim Ducks |
Top-10 prospects (via Bob McKenzie's scout survey on TSN.ca):
1. Auston Matthews, C, Zurich (NLA)
2. Patrik Laine, RW, Tappara (SML)
3. Jesse Puljujarvim, RW, Karpat (SML)
4. Matthew Tkachuk, LW, London (OHL)
5. Pierre-Luc Dubois, LW, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
6. Olli Juolevi, D, London (OHL)
7. Alexander Nylander, RW, Mississauga (OHL)
8. Clayton Keller, C, U.S. NTDP (USHL)
9. Mikhail Sergachev, D, Windsor (OHL)
10. Logan Brown, C, Windsor (OHL)
About the projected No. 1 pick: Auston Matthews has been widely considered the No. 1 prospect for the entire season, holding off a late push by Finnish scoring sensation Patrik Laine to remain the top dog in the draft. The Scottsdale, Ariz., native appears likely to go first overall to the Toronto Maple Leafs and instantly become the crown jewel of their rebuild.
The 18-year-old made the unprecedented decision to forgo opportunities in Canadian junior and NCAA hockey to play professionally in Europe. Having missed last year's draft cutoff by just two days, he signed with the ZSC Lions of the Swiss NLA and put up 24 goals and 46 points in just 36 games. He also starred for Team USA at the recent World Championship as the team's top center.
A gifted all-around forward, Matthews plays the game at a high rate of speed and possesses a killer shot. His puck skills have only improved over the last year in pro hockey, which allows him to escape defenders and get into the scoring areas easier than most players his age. At 6-foot-2, 216 pounds, he protects the puck extremely well and is difficult to knock around. His defensive skills also bumped up while playing under former NHL coach Marc Crawford in Switzerland.
He looks like a longtime No. 1 center in the NHL, which is exactly what the Leafs have been lacking for the last few years.
What else to watch for: TRADES! If this year's draft is anything like last year's, expect a lot of movement on draft day. Much of it may come before the actual draft gets underway, like we also saw last year. Dougie Hamilton, Milan Lucic and Martin Jones were among the players moved on draft day in 2015. With the looming probability of an expansion draft forcing existing teams to make difficult roster decisions, some teams may be looking to get out in front of that and get something for their players while they still can. Expect a flurry of activity if there are first-round draft picks up for grabs.
