Blue Jackets currently own 6 picks in 2022 NHL draft, how fans can watch the selections
The NHL draft starts on Thursday in Montreal, Canada. The Columbus Blue Jackets enter with six selections, two of which are first-rounders.
The Jackets will use their picks to help them with what general manager Jarmo Kekalainen has referred to as a franchise "reset," which started after the 2020-21 season when Columbus went 18-26-12, wound up last in the Metropolitan Division and 28th overall in the NHL. This past season, Columbus improved, going 37-38-7 and finishing sixth in the Metropolitan Division. However, it's still a ways off from being the Stanley Cup contender Kekalainen and Blue Jackets fans hope.
So getting things right this week will be crucial.
With that in mind, how can you follow the goings-on?
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When is the NHL draft?
The 2022 NHL draft will be held in Montreal at the Bell Centre with the first round beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday and rounds 2-7 starting at 11 a.m. on Friday.
Who is broadcasting the NHL draft?
The first round airs on ESPN. The second day will be broadcast on the NHL Network. And coverage on both days will be streamed on ESPN+.
If you prefer to listen on the radio, 97.1 The Fan is broadcasting the first round from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday.
Where can I watch the draft with other Blue Jackets fans?
The Blue Jackets are staging a watch party at Pins Mechanical Co. at Easton Town Center Thursday. It begins at 6 p.m. Admission is free and all ages are welcome.
Sean Kuraly, Elvis Merzlikins, and Nick Blankenburg will be there to sign autographs.
Which picks do the Blue Jackets own?
Round | Number of picks | Selections |
|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | No. 6 (from Chicago), No. 12 |
2 | 1 | No. 44 |
3 | 1 | No. 96 (from Tampa Bay) |
4 | 1 | No. 109 |
5 | 0 | |
6 | 0 | |
7 | 1 | No. 203 (from Anaheim) |
Who might the Blue Jackets take in the first round?
Dispatch reporters Brian Hedger and Bailey Johnson have been profiling some of the most likely candidates, and you can find a list of those stories here.
The history of first-round Blue Jackets draft selections in photos:
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: When is the NHL draft and what picks do the Blue Jackets have?
