Celebrini is the fourth NCAA men’s college hockey player to be selected No. 1 and the first since University of Michigan defenseman Owen Power by the Buffalo Sabres in 2021.
With the second pick, the Chicago Blackhawks selected Michigan State University defenseman Artyom Levshunov. The Anaheim Ducks selected Beckett Sennecke, a forward from Oshawa of the Ontario Hockey League, with the No. 3 pick.
Cayden Lindstrom, a forward from Medicine Hat of the Western Hockey League, went to the Columbus Jackets at No. 4, and the Montreal Canadiens used the No. 5 option on forward Ivan Demidov of SKA St. Petersburg in the minor league. Russian hockey.
At No. 6, the Utah Hockey Club made Tij Iglina the first NHL Draft pick in their history. The Kelowna center in the WHL is the son of Hockey Hall of Fame forward Jarome Iginla.
The Sharks earned the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft Lottery on May 7. Rounds 2-7 are here on Saturday (11:30 a.m. ET; KeynoteUSA+, NHLN, SN, SN1).
Celebrini said weeks ago that he will determine after the draft whether he will return to BU for his sophomore season.
“I’m not going to sit there with Macklin and say, ‘I think you really need to come back, I think you need another year,'” Boston University coach Jay Pandolfo said. “I think and I’m pretty confident… I know he can play in the National Hockey League, there’s no doubt about it. Will you ever be completely ready? I don’t know. He’s more than capable, but he has to weigh all those things. Is it the right time? Will it benefit me to come back for another year? Am I ready for the next challenge? I will support you no matter what.
Pandolfo then said with a smile: “Obviously, I told him that the door is still open if he really wants to come back.”
Celebrini said one of the reasons he would consider returning to BU is to help the program win some championships. The Terriers lost to Northeastern in the Beanpot final (4-3 in overtime), to Boston College in the Hockey East final (6-2), and were eliminated by eventual champion Denver in the semifinal round of the NCAA Frozen Four (2-1 in extra time).
“An extra year at BU would give me a little bit more time to develop; there’s nothing wrong with taking the time and getting a little bit better, getting stronger, bigger and faster,” Celebrini said. “An extra year would benefit me just to be more physically prepared and make sure I’m in really good shape and strong when I try to make that jump.”
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