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Fresh off the Stanley Cup Finals, the NHL is scoping out its next generation of recruits. We've compiled everything you need to know about where to watch the NHL Draft, including a Day 1 cable option and live streaming services for all rounds.

The prospected no. 1 pick is Macklin Celebrini, who led his Boston University team to the Frozen Four semifinal this year. They ultimately lost out to Denver, who went on to win the championship against Boston College. Denver's own Zeev Buium is another top pick, along with Artyom Levshunov, Anton Silayev, and more. The San Jose Sharks have the first pick tonight, followed by the Chicago Blackhawks at no. 2 and the Anaheim Ducks at no. 3.

Whether you're only interested in watching Round 1 or hoping to tune in all the way through Round 7, we've got you covered. Keep reading to learn all of your watch options for the 2024 NHL Draft.

• See also: Where to watch US Olympic Gymnastics Trials | Where to watch T20 World Cup | Where to watch Euro 2024

Where to watch the NHL Draft in the US

The NHL Draft is spread across two days. Round 1 will take place on Friday night, starting at 7 p.m. ET. This will air on ESPN and be available to live stream through ESPN+. Rounds 2 through 7 will take place on Saturday, starting at 11 a.m. ET, and be available only on ESPN+. ESPN+ subscriptions start at $10.99 a month and will cover you for all rounds of the draft.

If you're only interested in checking out the first round, ESPN is available to live stream through live TV packages like Sling TV and Fubo. While these are more expensive than something like ESPN+, they have much broader coverage and include dozens of live TV channels as an alternative to cable. Sling TV's Orange plan carries ESPN for $40 a month, but you can currently get your first month for half-off. Fubo, which costs $79.99 a month, also carries ESPN in its coverage lineup. New users can try the service for free for one week.

How to watch the NHL Draft from anywhere

Hockey fans who will be traveling away from home during the NHL Draft can still tune in to their subscriptions via VPN (virtual private network). VPNs allow people to change their device's virtual location so that they can keep up with their usual websites and apps from anywhere. Plus, they're a strong way to boost online privacy. This option will be best for Americans who are just traveling abroad since the services we've spotlighted today require a US payment method. 

If you'd like to try out a VPN, our go-to rec is ExpressVPN. It's beginner-friendly and has a 30-day money-back guarantee. Our ExpressVPN review has all the details, and you can keep reading to learn how to use it.

How to watch the NHL Draft with a VPN

• Sign up for a VPN if you don't already have one.
• Install it on the device you're planning to watch on.
• Turn it on and set it to a US location.
• Sign up for one of the above streaming services with a US form of payment.
• Navigate to the correct page or channel and enjoy the competition.

Note: The use of VPNs is illegal in certain countries, and using VPNs to access region-locked streaming content might constitute a breach of the terms of use for certain services. Insider does not endorse or condone the illegal use of VPNs.