NHL draft 2017: Start time, TV schedule for Round 1

Nico or Nolan?

That’s the question everyone’s asking of the New Jersey Devils as they prepare to select first overall in the 2017 NHL entry draft on Friday. After a stunning lottery draft victory, the Devils will take one of two consensus best players in the draft: Canadian center Nolan Patrick or flashy Swiss center Nico Hischier.

The Flyers, Stars, and Avalanche will follow the Devils, in that order. Canadian center Gabriel Vilardi, Finnish defenseman Miro Heiskanen, and American center Casey Mittelstadt round out the consensus best five players available.

But this isn’t like previous drafts: none of the first round players taken are expected to join the NHL next year like Auston Matthews (Toronto) or Connor McDavid (Edmonton) have. Patience will pay off, though.

Here’s how you can watch the first round, with rounds two through seven taking place on Saturday.

Location: United Center, Chicago, Ill.

Date: Friday, June 23

Time: 7 p.m. ET

TV: NBCSN (U.S.), Sportsnet (Canada)

Stream: NBCSports.com