Auston Matthews is expected to complete a most incredible journey on Friday.
When the 2016 NHL Entry Draft begins, Matthews will go from Scottsdale, Ariz., to the Swiss hockey league to No. 1 pick. That's the consensus of projections, that Matthews will be called by the Maple Leafs as part of the major overhaul under way in Toronto.
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The draft begins with the annual booing of Gary Bettman at 7 p.m. ET. TV coverage begins at 6:30, via NBC Sports in the U.S. and SportNet and French-language TVA Sports in Canada.
Friday brings only first-round picks. Rounds 2-7 go off like fireworks on Saturday.
Saturday also is the first day teams get to talk with any and all unrestricted free agents. Signings won't begin until July 1, but discussions will be hot and heavy.
Matthews took an unusual path to the draft, eschewing traditional North American operations including U.S. and Canadian juniors. Instead, he played against stronger veteran competition in Zurich. There, he played for Marc Crawford, a long-time NHL coach who directed the Avalanche to the 1996 Stanley Cup.
"There's no question in my mind he should be the first pick," Crawford told NHL.com. "To me, he's the whole package. He's got maturity, he's got huge upside. He wants to be the best player at everything he does. He's one of those players you watch at practice, he tries to win skating drills."
Crow is back in the NHL, as an Avalanche assistant. But the only way he'll get to coach Matthews again is if the Avs pull a blockbuster trade for the No. 1 pick. Leafs chief Brendan Shanahan gets to make that decision.
Considering Matthews gets compared to Jonathan Toews, Sidney Crosby and Patrick Kane (in a good way), Shanny isn't going to blown away.
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For now, fans must wait. Expect deals, including veterans, prospects and picks on the move. Many observers believe the Oilers, for example, might be ready to remake their roster. After years of high picks and no success, the Oilers are getting nowhere.
Here's a name you will hear frequently: P.K. Subban. Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin is a joker, but he seems dead serious in saying the Habs aren't looking to trade their top defenseman. Not that Bergevin won't do it; he might be the proverbial offer he cannot refuse.
Forwards are expected to be plentiful and talented. There are puck-moving defensemen but few top goalie prospects.
Here is the order of first-round picks when the selections begin in Buffalo.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs
2. Winnipeg Jets
3. Columbus Blue Jackets
4. Edmonton Oilers
5. Vancouver Canucks
6. Calgary Flames
7. Arizona Coyotes
8. Buffalo Sabres
9. Montreal Canadiens
10. Colorado Avalanche
11. New Jersey Devils
12. Ottawa Senators
13. Carolina Hurricanes
14. Boston Bruins
15. Minnesota Wild
16. Detroit Red Wings
17. Nashville Predators
18. Philadelphia Flyers
19. New York Islanders
20. Arizona (from Rangers)
21. Carolina (from Kings)
22. Winnipeg (from Blackhawks)
23. Florida Panthers
24. Anaheim Ducks
25. Dallas Stars
26. Washington Capitals
27. Tampa Bay Lightning
28. St. Louis Blues
29. Boston (from Sharks)
30. Anaheim (from Maple Leafs via Penguins)
The NHL's future is on display every year at the draft. This year, that future includes veteran players in new places as trades likely will be plentiful.