NHL draft: Time, TV, streaming info, first-round order and everything you need to know
Jack Hughes is expected to go No. 1 Friday night in the NHL draft, but you can't go wrong with Kaapo Kakko, either.
That's the decision facing the New Jersey Devils when they are on the clock for the No. 1 pick. Devils general manager Ray Shero isn't tipping his hand.
Whoever isn't chosen will go to the New York Rangers, setting up a natural rivalry between the top two players chosen in the draft.
Hughes starred for the U.S. National Team Development Program under-18 team while Kakko starred in Finland.
The top of the draft is expected to have an American flavor, with five players ranked among the top nine North American prospects by Central Scouting. The highest number of Americans taken in the top 10 was four. The most taken in the first round was 12.
Draft weekend might involve more than selecting prospects, as teams could also make deals to get into salary cap shape for the July 1 start of free agency.
The basics
When: The first round will start Friday, June 21, at 8 p.m. ET. Rounds 2 to 7 will start at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Where: Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia.
TV: NBCSN on Friday, with coverage beginning at 7:30. NHL Network on Saturday, starting at 1.
Streaming: NBC Sports app on Friday. NHL.com on Saturday.
More coverage
Live updates and analysis from the first round
NHL mock draft: Predicting the first round
Jack Hughes leads potential historic U.S. draft
The best player picked at every draft spot 1-31
NHL teams struck out with these six picks
First-round order
1. New Jersey Devils
2. New York Rangers
3. Chicago Blackhawks
4. Colorado Avalanche (from Ottawa Senators)
5. Los Angeles Kings
6. Detroit Red Wings
7. Buffalo Sabres
8. Edmonton Oilers
9. Anaheim Ducks
10. Vancouver Canucks
11. Philadelphia Flyers
12. Minnesota Wild
13. Florida Panthers
14. Arizona Coyotes
15. Montreal Canadiens
16. Colorado Avalanche
17. Vegas Golden Knights
18. Dallas Stars
19. Ottawa (from Columbus Blue Jackets)
20. Rangers (from Winnipeg Jets)
21. Pittsburgh Penguins
22. Los Angeles (from Toronto Maple Leafs)
23. New York Islanders
24. Nashville Predators
25. Washington Capitals
26. Calgary Flames
27. Tampa Bay Lightning
28. Carolina Hurricanes
29. Anaheim (from San Jose Sharks via Buffalo Sabres)
30. Boston Bruins
31. Buffalo Sabres (from St. Louis Blues)
Fast facts
-If Hughes gets picked first, he'd be the first player for the U.S. under-18 team to go No. 1 overall since Erik Johnson in 2006. That draft was also held in Vancouver.
-If Kakko is taken first, he'd be the first No. 1 overall player from Finland.
-Hughes' older brother, Quinn, was selected seventh overall by the Canucks last year.
-There are plenty of other family connections in the draft. Former NHL players Alfie Turcotte (Alex), Patrick Poulin (Samuel), Craig Johnson (Ryan), Adam Foote (Nolan) and Steve Staios (Nathan) are among those with sons in the draft. Alexander Lundqvist is Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom's nephew.
-The Blue Jackets don't have a pick until the third round (81st overall).