Sharks select Macklin Celebrini with No. 1 pick in NHL Draft

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

The San Jose Sharks took a step toward returning to NHL relevancy Friday night when they selected Macklin Celebrini with the No. 1 overall pick of the draft.

Celebrini, 18, was a star center at Boston University, the fourth freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s top player. And he did so as the nation’s youngest player. 

He scored 34 goals and had 64 points in 38 games.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Macklin Celebrini of Boston University was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the first round of the NHL Draft June 28, 2024, at the Sphere in Las Vegas.  (Jeff Speer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

"Just a surreal feeling," Celebrini said. "I’ve dreamed about this moment ever since I was a kid, and for it to come true, it’s just an amazing feeling."

Celebrini is still undecided whether he’ll return to Boston University for his sophomore season.

The Sharks entered the NHL at the start of the 1991-92 season. Friday night was the first time they had the No. 1 pick in the draft. They’ve had the No. 2 overall pick three times. In 1991, they selected Pat Falloon. In 1996, they selected Andrei Zyuzin. In 1997, they took Patrick Marleau.

An NHL Central Scouting report described Celebrini as being a "a strong skater with fluid stride, elusive speed and quickness. ... The go-to for one-timers on the power play. Plays a heads-up complete game."

CONN SMYTHE TROPHY WINNER CONNOR MCDAVID'S FIANCÉE REFLECTS ON STANLEY CUP LOSS: 'HEARTBROKEN'

Macklin Celebrini (71) of the Boston University Terriers and Zeev Buium (28) of the Denver Pioneers battle for the puck during the Division I men's ice hockey