The league announced Wednesday that the first round of the draft in Columbus will be held on Friday, June 22 starting at 7 p.m., and will be televised live on both sides of the border. Rounds 2 through 7 will commence starting the next morning.
Last year's draft in Vancouver was broadcast in prime time in the east and was conducted entirely on the Saturday.
Quebec Remparts forward Angelo Esposito was the top-ranked North American skater in the mid-season rankings by the NHL's Central Scouting Service.
Russia's Alexei Cherepanov was the top-rated European player.