Projected No. 1 pick Celebrini set for NHL draft after taking non-traditional path

Rick Celebrini and his family had a decision to make.

The well-known physiotherapist in the Vancouver area, with a resume that included working alongside Canadian Olympians, basketball icon Steve Nash, the NHL's Canucks and Major League Soccer's Whitecaps, was weighing two NBA job offers in 2018.

The Golden State Warriors and San Antonio Spurs.

There was plenty to consider, including hockey.

Macklin Celebrini, the second of Rick and wife Robyn's four children, was a budding star. What would a warmer climate do for the youngster's development?

"We visited San Antonio," Rick Celebrini recalled. "There's no real youth hockey."

He reached out to San Jose Sharks defenceman and former client Brent Burns to ask about the San Francisco Bay Area.

Burns spoke highly of the Jr. Sharks program. Celebrini got in touch to ensure Macklin could play up a year.

"It was important he be challenged," Rick said. "It was a good group."

That made things easier. The Warriors were the choice. The family would relocate to California.

Some six years later, the Celebrinis will be in sizzling Las Vegas to watch Macklin live out his dream.

The star centre from Boston University is expected to be selected by San Jose, the team from what amounts to his second hometown, with the No. 1 pick Friday shortly after 7 p.m. ET at the NHL draft inside the glitzy Sphere auditorium.

"I'm nervous, I'm excited," Macklin Celebrini said. "I have different emotions about it. I'm looking forward to it, though. People say, 'Enjoy it, only happens once in your life.'

"I'm really going to."

Celebrini, who turned 18 this month, became the youngest-ever winner of the Hobey Baker Award when he was named the NCAA's top player in 2023-24 after putting up 32 goals and 64 points