As a matter of course, the 2023 NHL Draft will start with Chicago, which owns this year's No. 1 overall pick.
LIVE: Follow NHL Draft picks from Rounds 1-7
But, much like Victor Wembanyama and the NBA draft, this year's selection of the top available NHL prospects actually begins with Ducks at pick No. 2. The Blackhawks used their pick on Connor Bedard, considered a generational talent and one of the most anticipated prospects since Connor McDavid went first in the 2015 draft.
Bedard this season broke the record for most points by a Canadian in a single World Juniors tournament with 23 (nine goals, 14 assists). He also scored 71 goals in the Canadian Hockey League, becoming the first 17-year-old CHL player to score 70-plus goals in one season in 25 years. As such, the Blackhawks are set for an automatic A+ grade by taking him (and an automatic F if they do anything else with the pick).
Bedard is the headliner, but this could go down as one of the more talented NHL drafts in recent memory: It also includes the likes of Adam Fantilli, Matvei Michkov, Leo Carlsson and Will Smith, among others.
MORE: Watch the 2023 NHL Draft on Fubo: Sign up today!
Where they go remains to be seen. Here's everything you need to know for the 2023 NHL Draft, including dates, start times and TV and streaming info for U.S. and Canadian viewers:
What channel is the NHL Draft on today?
- TV channel (U.S.): ESPN (Round 1), NHL Network
- TV channel (Canada): Sportsnet, TVAS
- Live stream (U.S.): ESPN+, ESPN app (Round 1), Fubo
- Live stream (Canada): SN NOW
The 2023 NHL Draft will take place over two days. Round 1 will take place on Wednesday, while Round 2-7 will take place on Thursday.
Viewers in the U.S. can watch Day 1 coverage on ESPN, and Day 2 coverage on the NHL Network. Fans in Canada can watch both days of the draft on Sportsnet or TVA Sports (in French).
Streaming options for U.S. viewers include Fubo, which offers a free trial for potential subscribers, while viewers in Canada can stream via SN NOW.
What time does the NHL Draft start today?
The 2023 NHL Draft will have different start times for each day. Here's a look at when each begins:
| Round | Date | Time (ET) |
| 1 | Wednesday, June 28 | 7 p.m. |
| 2-7 | Thursday, June 29 | 11 a.m. |
The first day of the draft starts just shy of prime time, at 7 p.m. ET. The second round starts considerably earlier, at 11 a.m. ET, so that the remainder of the draft can finish on Thursday.
2023 NHL Draft TV schedule
| Round | Date | Time (ET) | TV (U.S.) | TV (Canada) |
| 1 | Wednesday, June 28 | 7 p.m. | ESPN, Fubo | Sportsnet, TVA Sports |
| 2-7 | Thursday, June 29 | 11 a.m. | NHL Network, Fubo | Sportsnet, TVA Sports |
U.S. viewers need access to only two TV channels to watch the entire 2023 NHL Draft: ESPN, for Round 1, and the NHL Network, for Rounds 2-7. Canadian viewers can watch the action unfold on Sportsnet or TVA Sports.
2023 NHL Draft live stream
U.S. viewers with a cable subscription can watch the NHL draft on ESPN.com or the ESPN app, though they will need to provide their cable credentials to stream the event. Otherwise, Fubo — which offers a free trial — is one option cord-cutters may consider to stream the 2023 NHL Draft.
Viewers in Canada will be able to watch draft coverage live using the SN NOW app.