FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 15th, 2017

CSN TO PROVIDE EXTENSIVE CROSS-PLATFORM COVERAGE OF THE 2017 NHL DRAFT BEGINNING JUNE 22

Draft coverage highlights include an exclusive CSN interview with Blackhawks superstar/2007 #1 overall pick PATRICK KANE

Chicago, IL (June 15, 2017) – CSN Chicago (CSN), the home for the most games and the most comprehensive coverage of the Chicago Blackhawks, is ready to deliver extensive cross-platform coverage of next week’s 2017 NHL Draft (to be held in Chicago for the first time ever), highlighted by a Blackhawks draft preview special (including a brand new, exclusive interview with Blackhawks superstar/former #1 overall pick Patrick Kane), a draft night edition of SportsTalk Live from the United Center, a Blackhawks TV “On The Clock” miniseries aggregate special, up-to-minute digital draft coverage on CSNChicago.com, a new Blackhawks draft-specific podcast, expanded draft coverage on CSN’s multiple array of social media offerings, and much more.  NOTE: NBCSN will provide early rounds coverage of the 2017 NHL Draft – LIVE from the United Center – on Friday night, June 23 with NHL Network airing subsequent round coverage on Saturday morning, June 24 .  Please note CSN’s multi-platform 2017 NHL Draft coverage schedule, along with its surrounding offers, beginning Thursday, June 22 (NOTE: CSN Live stream of below programming will also be available on CSNChicago.com/WatchLive or via the NBC Sports app to authenticated CSN Chicago subscribers.)

THURSDAY, JUNE 22
11:00 PM – Draft Night: Blackhawks Preview presented by ChevyDrivesChicago.com – This half-hour NHL Draft preview special, hosted by Blackhawks Pre/Postgame Live’s Pat Boyle (@CSNBoyle), Steve Konroyd (@Stevekonroyd), and Jamal Mayers (@jamalmayers), will breakdown the entire draft class with an in-depth focus on the Blackhawks potential picks, along with a behind-the-scenes look at the NHL Draft set-up at the United Center and the accompanying outdoor fan festival at the UC that will take place throughout the two-day event.  PLUS – Draft Night: Blackhawks Preview will also feature a new, exclusive sit-down interview with Blackhawks superstar PATRICK KANE, as the former #1 overall NHL Draft pick in 2007 reflects on the draft night moment that forever changed his life ten years ago, along with his thoughts on this year’s draft class, and much more.

11:30 PM – On The Clock: NHL Draft Preview Produced by Blackhawks TV (https://www.nhl.com/blackhawks/video), CSN will aggregate this acclaimed chicagoblackhawks.com miniseries into a half-hour special, providing viewers with an inside look at how the team prepares for the draft via the club’s amateur scouting meetings and player assessments, along with numerous interviews featuring Blackhawks front office personnel, including President & CEO John McDonough and Senior Vice President/General Manager Stan Bowman.

FRIDAY, JUNE 23
5:30 PM – On The Clock: NHL Draft Preview (replay) See above for details

6:00 PM – SportsTalk Live: NHL Draft Preview presented by The Chevy Silverado – Hosted by David Kaplan (@thekapman), this special edition of SportsTalk Live will take place on the concourse of the United Center on the opening night of the NHL Draft.  Scheduled guests include Blackhawks Pre/Postgame Live host Pat Boyle, CSNChicago.com Blackhawks “Insider” Tracey Myers (@TramyersCSN), plus – additional NHL Draft experts from the local, national, and international media among others.

For even more extensive Blackhawks/NHL Draft coverage, viewers are also urged to visit CSNChicago.com’s Blackhawks section: (http://www.csnchicago.com/blackhawks), which will include in-depth draft previews and player pick profiles via Blackhawks “Insider” Tracey Myers and Blackhawks digital reporter producer Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis), along with additional web-exclusive interviews, draft footage video and more.  In addition, fans can look forward to a NHL Draft-specific “Blackhawks Talk PODCAST” (presented by Vivid Seats) featuring Boyle, Myers, Roumeliotis and additional special guests. Fans can download all of CSN’s podcasts at CSNChicago.com/podcasts and simply subscribe to them via Apple Podcasts, Google Play or Stitcher.  The podcasts can be played on any mobile device, laptop, or desktop computer.

From a social media standpoint, Boyle and Myers will provide instant reaction to the Blackhawks 1st round pick on Friday night, June 23 on Facebook Live (https://www.facebook.com/CSNChicago/), plus – CSN will deliver up-to-the-second live Twitter draft updates/analysis via its dedicated Blackhawks Twitter handle (@CSNBlackhawks).  In addition, NHL Draft/United Center “Sights & Sounds” highlights will be provided via Snapchat (‘csnchicago’), along with additional photos/quick video offerings from ‘CSN Chicago’ through Instagram and Instagram Live.  Fans on Twitter can also interact throughout NHL Draft weekend by utilizing the Twitter hashtag #NHLDraft.

CSN Chicago, a partnership between the Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), Chicago Bulls (NBA), Chicago Cubs (MLB), Chicago White Sox (MLB) and the NBC Sports Group, features over 275 live pro games in high definition each year.  In addition, CSN delivers extensive pre/post-game coverage for its core pro team partners, as well as the Chicago Bears, along with numerous entertaining local sports discussion/social media-focused programs via In the Loop and SportsTalk Live.  Through the network’s growing digital platform, CSNChicago.com, Chicago sports fans tap into the most comprehensive and dedicated 24/7 online destination for breaking news, up-to-the-minute game previews/recaps, highlights, multimedia video clips, and standout coverage from CSNChicago.com’s team of “Insiders.”  Follow the network on Twitter via @CSNChicago.

NBC Sports Regional Networks is NBC Sports Group’s portfolio of nine regional networks that delivers more than 2,200 live sporting events and original content to more than 43 million homes. Aligned within Eastern and Western Divisions, the NBC Sports Regional Networks are: CSN New England, CSN Philadelphia, TCN, CSN Mid-Atlantic and SNY; and NBC Sports Bay Area, NBC Sports California, CSN Chicago and CSN Northwest. For additional information, visit comcastsportsnet.com. For more information on NBC Sports Group properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios, headshots and logos, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com

####