What time does NHL Draft start today? TV channel, schedule, live stream for Friday's Round 1 – sportingnews.com

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Tyler Greenawalt
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the clock with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Penn State winger Gavin McKenna headlines this year’s elite class after a season where he posted 51 points in 35 games. McKenna is widely considered a franchise-altering playmaker and the consensus choice to go first overall to Toronto.

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Swedish standout winger Ivar Stenberg and premier puck-moving defenseman Chase Reid are other highly touted prospects expected to dominate the top of the board, with the San Jose Sharks holding the crucial No. 2 pick. The Vancouver Canucks follow at No. 3, while the Chicago Blackhawks round out the top four selections.
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 NHL Draft, including start times, TV channels, streaming options and draft order.
Round 1 of the NHL Draft will air on ESPN beginning Friday at 7 p.m. ET. The draft will take place at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, New York.
The 2026 NHL Draft begins with Round 1 on Friday, June 26, and concludes with Rounds 2-7 on Saturday, June 27.
Fans in the U.S. can watch on ESPN for the first round and switch to NHL Network for Saturday’s coverage.
Fubo offers a free trial for new U.S. subscribers, so you can try the service before you buy. Stream ESPN, ABC, CBS, Fox and 100+ top channels of live TV and sports without cable. (Participating plans only. Taxes and fees may apply.)

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Tyler Greenawalt is a contributing writer for The Sporting News after stops at Yahoo Sports, USA Today Sports and Turner Sports. He’s worked in written, video, social media and augmented reality content since he graduated from Syracuse University in 2014. His favorite teams — the New York Jets, Orlando Magic and Tottenham Hotspur — always find new and exciting ways to disappoint him, and he consistently questions his fandom. You can follow his bad sports takes at @Tagreenawalt on X.

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