NHL Draft: When to Expect the First Round

The NHL Draft is finally upon us after what feels like an eternity. When is the first round and what time can you tune in?
We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know about the first round of the NHL Draft

Why the NHL Draft is Important

The NHL Draft is an important event for hockey fans because it is the opportunity for teams to restock their rosters with young, up-and-coming talent. It is also a time for fans to get a first look at the players who could one day be the stars of the league. This year’s draft will be held on June 21-22, 2018, in Dallas, Texas.

Who is Eligible for the NHL Draft?

To be eligible for the NHL Draft a player must:
-Be born on or after January 1st in the year of the draft
-Be 18 years of age or older (as of September 15th in the year of the draft)
-Not have been drafted in a previous year’s NHL Entry Draft
-Not have played more than 25 games in any single preceding season in any major professional league (i.e. NHL, AHL, WHL, QMJHL, etc)

The NHL Draft Lottery

The NHL Draft Lottery is an annual event in which the fourteen teams who did not make the Stanley Cup playoffs compete for the right to the first overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft The lottery is held two weeks before the draft, and only the top three picks are decided by it with the remaining first-round picks being ordered by inverse finish.

There has been much controversy over the years regarding how fair the lottery system is. Many argue that it gives an advantage to teams who tank at the end of the season, as they have a higher chance of receiving one of the top three picks. In 2015, for example, the Buffalo Sabres had a 20% chance of winning the lottery despite having finished last in the League Standings

Critics also argue that because only three picks are decided by the lottery, it does not do enough to help teams who are at the very bottom of the standings. In 2014, for example, the Florida Panthers had a 0.8% chance of winning the lottery and thus ended up with the second overall pick despite being one of the worst teams in the league.

With all this said, there have been calls for reform to the NHL Draft Lottery system but no concrete changes have been made as of yet.

The NHL Draft Order

The NHL Draft order is finalized as of the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The lottery to determine the top three picks took place on April 9, and the results were as follows:

1st overall pick: New Jersey Devils
2nd overall pick: New York Rangers
3rd overall pick: Chicago Blackhawks

The remainder of the first Round Draft order was determined by reverse order of regular season standings, with the exception of the Los Angeles Kings who will pick 22nd overall due to their trade with the Buffalo Sabres
So, with that in mind, here is a look at when each team will be making their first Round Selections in this year’s NHL Draft
Note that all times are ET.

Friday, June 21st (Round 1)
7:00 PM – New Jersey Devils (Pick 1)
7:10 PM – Buffalo Sabres (From Los Angeles Kings)

How the NHL draft Works

The NHL Draft is an annual event in which each of the thirty teams in the National Hockey League select young ice Hockey Players who have never played professional hockey before.

The NHL Draft Lottery is a system implemented by the National Hockey League to determine the order in which the first overall selection in the NHL Entry Draft will be made. The lotteries are held to determine the order of selection for the first overall pick, as well as for other draft positions.

NHL Draft Trades

NHL Teams have until Monday to make trades without needing to expose players to the expansion draft but the NHL Draft always provides an opportunity for teams to make moves.

The first round of the NHL Draft will take place on Friday, June 21st. The full schedule of rounds can be found here.

Here’s a look at some of the recent trades involving first-round picks:

-The Colorado Avalanche traded forward Matt Duchene to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for a first-round pick in this year’s draft, defensive prospect Shane Bowers, and forwards Vladislav Namestnikov and Andrew Hammond.

-The Anaheim Ducks traded defenseman Sami Vatanen to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a conditional third-round pick in 2019 and forward Stefan Noesen.

-The Pittsburgh Penguins traded forward Patric Hornqvist to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick in 2020 and goaltender Michael Haley.

NHL Draft History

The first NHL Draft was held on June 5, 1963. Of the 21 players selected in the first round, 11 went on to play at least one game in the NHL. Among those 11 players, six were selected within the first 10 picks of the draft.

In recent years the NHL Draft has consisted of seven rounds with each team having one pick in each round. In 2019, the first round of the NHL Draft will be held on June 21st.

NHL draft Prospects

NHL teams will be looking to add some young talent to their rosters at the NHL Draft which takes place on June 22-23. The first round of the draft will be held on June 22, with rounds 2-7 taking place on June 23.

NHL teams will have a chance to add some young talent to their rosters at the NHL Draft which takes place on June 22-23. The first round of the draft will be held on June 22, with rounds 2-7 taking place on June 23.

There is always a lot of speculation leading up to the NHL Draft about which players will go where, but it is sure to be an eventful weekend nonetheless.

Mock NHL Drafts

Mock NHL drafts are back for the final time before the actual event on October 6th. As is always the case with these things, there are a few outliers but we’re mostly in agreement on who the top prospects are and where they’ll go. Here’s a look at what the experts are saying about the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft

NHL Draft Results

The first round of the NHL Draft is complete, and we now know which players will be taken in the first 31 picks. The full results are below.

The NHL Draft was held virtually this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Because of that, there was some uncertainty about when exactly the draft would take place. But on Tuesday, June 23, all 31 picks in the first round were made.

This year’s NHL Draft order was determined by a lottery back in August 2019. The order remained unchanged following the cancellation of the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs As a result, the Ottawa Senators had the No. 1 pick for the second straight year.

Here are all 31 picks from Tuesday’s first round of the 2020 NHL Draft

1) Ottawa Senators: Tim Stützle, C/LW (Adler Mannheim – Germany)
2) Los Angeles Kings: Quinton Byfield, C (Sudbury Wolves – OHL)
3) Detroit Red Wings Lucas Raymond, RW (Frolunda HC – Sweden)
4) Buffalo Sabres: Jack Quinn RW (Ottawa 67’s – OHL)
5) Anaheim Ducks Jamie Drysdale, D (Erie Otters – OHL)
6) New Jersey Devils: Alexander Holtz, RW/LW (Djurgardens IF – Sweden)
7) Chicago Blackhawks Lukas Reichel, LW/RW (Eisbaren Berlin – Germany)
8 ) Calgary Flames Connor Zary, C (Kamloops Blazers – WHL)
9 ) Winnipeg Jets Cole Perfetti, C/LW (Saginaw Spirit – OHL)*