Newsday

This will probably be worth the wait for Montreal. The Bell Centre will host the NHL Draft on Thursday and Friday after the city was initially awarded one of the league’s marquee events for 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic altered those plans and this will mark the first in-person draft since Vancouver in 2019. Plus, the Canadiens have the first overall pick, becoming the first host team to pick No. 1 since the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1985. The first round is Thursday at 7 p.m. and rounds two through seven will be conducted on Friday starting at 11 a.m. The Islanders own the 13th pick while the Rangers do not select until late in the second round at No. 63.