The buildup to the 2023 NHL Draft has been centered on phenom Connor Bedard, and for good reason. Bedard is considered a generational prospect, one who could instantly become the face of his NHL team.
Thanks to the NHL Draft Lottery, we know Bedard's likely destination: Chicago. The Blackhawks are expected to make him the No. 1 overall pick on Wednesday night. But, what comes next?
There is still a great crop of talent available, including Adam Fantilli and Leo Carlsson. The top half of the first round also features a few teams who are hoping this is their last lottery pick for the foreseeable future, and one way to speed up that timeline is by making the right pick in Nashville on Wednesday.
MORE: Watch the 2023 NHL Draft on Fubo: Sign up today!
Here's what you need to know about the 2023 NHL Draft, including start time, TV coverage, and draft order.
What time does the 2023 NHL Draft start today?
- Date: Wednesday, June 28
- Round 1 start time: 7 p.m. ET
- TV channel (US): ESPN
- TV channels (Canada): Sportsnet, TVA Sports
- Live stream (US): ESPN app, ESPN+ Fubo
- Live stream (Canada): SN NOW
The NHL Draft will begin at 7 p.m. ET on Wednesday, with the first selection by the Blackhawks coming shortly after the start time.
ESPN will broadcast the first round in the United States, while Sportsnet will be showing the draft in Canada. TVA Sports will host the French broadcast in Canada.
What channel is the NHL Draft on today?
- TV channel: ESPN
- TV channels (Canada): SportsNet, TVA Sports
The first round of the NHL Draft will be broadcast on ESPN in the U.S. before shifting to NHL Network for Day 2. In Canada, viewers can watch the entire draft on SportsNet. TVA Sports will also broadcast the entirety of the draft in Canada for French-speaking viewers.
MORE: Connor Bedard, by the numbers
NHL Draft TV schedule
| Round | Day | Date | Start time (ET) | TV channels |
| 1 | Wednesday | June 28 | 7 p.m. | ESPN (U.S.), SportsNet (Canada), TVA Sports (Canada) |
| 2-7 | Thursday | June 29 | 11 a.m. | NHL Network (U.S.), SportsNet (Canada), TVA Sports (Canada) |
NHL Draft live stream
Cord cutters have a few different options to catch the first round NHL Draft. Fubo, YouTube TV, Hulu+ Live TV, Sling TV and DIRECTV each have options for ESPN.
ESPN apps are also available on selecting gaming consoles and streaming devices, including Roku, FireTV and Apple TV.
| Platform | NHL Draft? | Cable/satellite login needed? |
| Fubo | Yes | No |
| YouTube TV | Yes | No |
| Hulu + Live TV | Yes | No |
| Sling TV | Yes | No |
| DIRECTV STREAM | Yes | No |
| AT&T TV | No | — |
| Xbox (ABC/ESPN Apps) | Yes | Yes |
| PS4 (ABC/ESPN Apps) | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Fire TV (ABC/ESPN Apps) | Yes | Yes |
| Android TV (ABC/ESPN Apps) | Yes | Yes |
| Apple TV (ABC/ESPN Apps) | Yes | Yes |
| Roku (ABC/ESPN Apps) | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile devices/tablets (ABC/ESPN Apps) | Yes | Yes |
| Computers (ESPN.com/Watch, ABC.go.com) | Yes | Yes |
MORE: NHL Draft Big Board 2023: Ranking the top 100 prospects
2023 NHL Draft order
The first 16 picks of the 2023 NHL Draft were finalized at the draft lottery in May, with the Blackhawks receiving the No. 1 overall pick. Selections outside the lottery were determined by the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Here's a complete look at the draft order for Wednesday night's first round.
| Pick | Team |
| 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 | Colorado Avalanche (from Florida Panthers via Montreal Canadiens) |
| No. 32 | Vegas Golden Knights |
