The NHL Entry Draft begins with the opening round set for tonight at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and rounds 2-7 set for Thursday.

The Chicago Blackhawks hold the first overall selection at the draft and are widely expected to select generational prospect Connor Bedard. The 17-year-old forward scored 134 goals and 271 points in 134 career WHL games with the Regina Pats.

Also, Shaunavon's Kalan Lind could hear his name called in the next couple of days after being ranked 39th among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings. Lind scored 40 goals and 88 points in 119 regular season games with the Red Deer Rebels.

Flames send top-scorer Toffoli to Devils

The first domino has fallen in Calgary, as the Flames have traded top scorer Tyler Toffoli to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for Yegor Sharangovich and the 80th overall pick in this year’s draft.

Toffoli had a career-high 73 points, but requested a trade after the Flames missed the playoffs last season.

Other pre-draft trades on Tuesday in the NHL saw Winnipeg Jets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois dealt to the LA Kings for Gabriel Vilardi, Alex Iafallo and Rasmus Kupari along with a second-round draft pick in 2024. Dubois, who scored 63 points with the Jets last season and was set to be a restricted free agent on July 1, signed an eight-year contract with the Kings worth $68 million.

Giants blank Blue Jays

Kevin Gausman struck out 12 batters over six innings against his former team, but the Toronto Blue Jays were blanked 3-0 by the San Francisco Giants Tuesday night at Rogers Centre.

The three-game series continues tonight, but the Blue Jays have not yet named a starting pitcher.

In the Sask-Alta League tonight, the Gull Lake Greyhounds visit the Hazlet Elks and the Maple Creek Mohawks host the Climax Cardinals.

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