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It’s Draft Day in Buffalo! This much-heralded event is a little less relevant for the Sabres considering we’re not in the top three this year, but knowing General Manager Tim Murray’s gunslinging mentality and the fact that Buffalo has eleven draft picks, you can expect some action today and throughout the weekend too. Besides, the event is being held in Buffalo this year, and the last time that happened the Sabres went to the Stanley Cup Finals the next year (#justsaying).
How To Watch
Date: Friday, June 24th 2016
Time: Coverage starts at 5:30 p.m. ET (draft begins at 7 p.m. ET)
Locations: First Niagara Center, Buffalo NY (tickets only); Fan Fest at Canalside, Buffalo NY (free admission).
TV: NBCSN, Sportsnet, TVA
Online: NBCSports.com, SN NOW
Read: Stay tuned to Die By The Blade for our live thread and coverage of all Sabres news today
The Leafs will kick off the First Round at 7 p.m. ET, here’s the rest of the draft order for tonight, subject to trades.
The 1st Round Draft Order
- Toronto Maple Leafs
- Winnipeg Jets
- Columbus Blue Jackets
- Edmonton Oilers
- Vancouver Canucks
- Calgary Flames
- Arizona Coyotes
- Buffalo Sabres
- Montreal Canadiens
- Colorado Avalanche
- New Jersey Devils
- Ottawa Senators
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Boston Bruins
- Minnesota Wild
- Detroit Red Wings
- Nashville Predators
- Philadelphia Flyers
- NY Islanders
- NY Rangers → Arizona
- Los Angeles Kings → Carolina
- Chicago Blackhawks → Winnipeg
- Florida Panthers
- Anaheim Ducks
- Dallas Stars
- Washington Capitals
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- St. Louis Blues
- San Jose Sharks → Boston
- Pittsburgh Penguins → Toronto → Anaheim
Rounds Two through Seven will be held tomorrow.
Center Auston Matthews is expected to be the first overall pick. The 18-year-old center from Arizona is the consensus best prospect in this year’s draft, had a great season in the Swiss league and good showings at both the World Juniors and the World Championship.
Finnish pair Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi are considered the second- and third-best players in the draft after Matthews, and the wingers had equally impressive performances at the World Juniors and the World Championship. Past those three, well, all bets are off. It’s Draft Day!