Skip to content

How to watch, draft order, top picks and more

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JUNE 05: Top prospect Connor Bedard speaks to the media prior to Game Two of the 2023 NHL Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and the Vegas Golden Knights at T-Mobile Arena on June 05, 2023 in Las Vegas. Nevada.  (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The 2023 NHL Draft takes place next week. Here’s everything you need to know. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Vegas Golden Knights took home the Stanley Cup, the 2022-23 NHL season is over, and now it’s finally (almost) time for the long-awaited NHL Draft. With all eyes on Regina (Saskatchewan) Pats center and world junior championships MVP Connor Bedard — who finished the last WHL season with 143 points in 57 games — and his presumed new team, the Chicago Blackhawks, this year’s NHL Draft is definitely one to watch. And Bedard isn’t the only buzzy new player coming into the mix this season. Adam Fantilli, Will Smith and Matvei Michkov are also drawing major attention from the league.

Here’s what you need to know about tuning into the NHL Draft next week, including how to watch the NHL Draft on TV, NHL Draft livestream info, the full draft order, top picks and more.

How to watch the NHL Draft in the US:

  • Watch every round of the NHL Draft on ESPN and NHL Network

    Fubo Elite

NHL Draft date: June 28–29

NHL Draft time: 7 p.m. ET

NHL Draft location: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, Tenn.

NHL Draft TV channel: ESPN, NHL Network

NHL Draft streaming: ESPN+, Fubo

When is the 2023 NHL Draft?

The 2023 NHL Draft’s first round will be held on Wednesday, June 28 at 7 pm ET. Rounds 2-7 won’t take place until the following morning, on June 29 at 11 am ET, making this year’s NHL Draft a two-part event.

What channel is the NHL Draft on this year?

Round 1 of the NHL Draft will air on ESPN and stream on ESPN+ on Wednesday, June 28 at 7 pm The following day, rounds 2–7 will air on the NHL Network starting at 11 am

Don’t have cable or access to ESPN or the NHL Network? Here’s what we recommend for how to watch the NHL Draft 2023.

How to watch the NHL Draft without cable:

(Photo: Fubo)

Watch every round of the NHL Draft on ESPN and NHL Network

Fubo Elite

Fubo TV’s Elite tier gives you access to ESPN and NHL Network, so you can catch every round of the NHL Draft. Plus, get ABC, CBS, CBS Sports Network, NBA TV, Ion and 200-plus more live channels. At $85 per month, the live TV streaming service is definitely the priciest option on this list, but still leaves you with major savings compared to a traditional cable package. Fubo subscribers also get 1000 hours of cloud DVR storage. The platform offers a 7-day free trial period.

Fubo at $85

(Photo: ESPN+)

Stream Round 1 of the NHL Draft

ESPN+

On top of airing on ESPN, this year’s NHL Draft Round 1 will stream live on ESPN+, so if you don’t want to pay for a pricey cable or streaming package that includes ESPN, this is a budget-friendly alternative. An ESPN+ subscription grants you access to exclusive ESPN+ content including live events like UFC Fight Night and F1 races, fantasy sports tools and premium ESPN+ articles. You can stream ESPN+ through an app on your smart TV, phone, tablet, computer and on ESPN.com.

$10 at ESPN

How to watch the NHL Draft 2023 in Canada:

Tuning in from the Great White North? The NHL Draft will air in Canada on Sportsnet and TVA Sports, and stream live on SN Now.

Stream on SN Now

NHL Draft top picks 2023:

While Regina (Saskatchewan) Pats center and world junior championships MVP Connor Bedard has the entire NHL buzzing as the presumed No. 1 pick, he’s not the only potential player in demand heading into the draft.

Adam Fantilli, William Smith, Matthew Wood, Leo Carlsson and Matvei Michkov are also on the list of top picks this year.

Round 1 NHL Draft order 2023:

The first 16 picks of the 2023 NHL Draft are finalized through the draft lottery. The Blackhawks won the draft lottery and now get the No. 1 pick in the draft. Positions 17-32 were determined at the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs.

No. 1 Chicago Blackhawks

No. 2 Anaheim Ducks

No. 3 Columbus Blue Jackets

No. 4 San Jose Sharks

No. 5 Montreal Canadiens

No. 6 Arizona Coyotes

No. 7 Philadelphia Flyers

No. 8 Washington Capitals

No. 9 Detroit Red Wings

No. 10 St. Louis Blues

No. 11 Vancouver Canucks

No. 12 Arizona Coyotes (from Ottawa Senators)

No. 13 Buffalo Sabres

No. 14 Pittsburgh Penguins

No. 15 Nashville Predators

No. 16 Calgary Flames

No. 17 Detroit Red Wings (from New York Islanders via Vancouver Canucks)

No. 18 Winnipeg Jets

No. 19 Chicago Blackhawks (from Tampa Bay Lightning)

No. 20 Seattle Kraken

No. 21 Minnesota Wild

No. 22 Philadelphia Flyers (from Los Angeles Kings via Columbus Blue Jackets)

No. 23 New York Rangers

No. 24 Nashville Predators (from Edmonton Oilers)

No. 25 St. Louis Blues (from Toronto Maple Leafs)

No. 26 San Jose Sharks (from New Jersey Devils)

No. 27 Colorado Avalanche

No. 28 Toronto Maple Leafs (from Boston Bruins via Washington Capitals)

No. 29 St. Louis Blues (via Dallas Stars)

No. 30 Carolina Hurricanes

No. 31 Montreal Canadiens (from Florida Panthers)

No. 32 Vegas Golden Knights

Originally published