Oilers trade up to No. 32, select forward Sam O’Reilly

Edmonton acquired the 32nd overall pick from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for a conditional 2025 first-round pick.

Macklin Celebrini insisted he had to suit up in all of his brand-new hockey gear.

It was the youngster’s first skating lesson — not even a game.

His passion for the sport was there in plain sight for parents Rick and Robyn to see.

Celebrini pushed himself from that moment onward. All the work led him to Sin City’s searing heat and the NHL draft.

The San Jose Sharks did the expected inside the mesmerizing Sphere auditorium Friday, selecting the centre out of Boston University in the NCAA with the top pick.

“Pretty amazing feeling,” Celebrini said. “It’s been a dream of mine since I was a little kid.”

The Vancouver product is coming off a season where he collected 32 goals and 64 points in 38 games to become the youngest winner of the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in U.S. college hockey. 

A busy 2023-24 campaign included representing Canada at the world junior hockey championship and helping his school qualify for the NCAA’s Frozen Four tournament. 

“It’s been a long process ever since last summer and there’s been a lot going on,” said Celebrini, whose name was called by Sharks legend Joe Thornton. “I’ve really enjoyed spending time with my friends and family, going through this with them.

“Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Celebrini knows Northern California well after the family moved there when his dad took a job with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors in 2018. 

He spent one season playing up a year with the San Jose Jr. Sharks youth program before continuing his budding career in Minnesota at Shattuck-St. Mary’s School, whose former student-athletes include Sidney Crosby.

“It was completely different from where I grew up,” Celebrini said of the San Francisco Bay Area. “Got the lay of the land and got to experience what life in California is like. There’s not that much transition. I enjoyed my time playing for the Junior Sharks.

“I’m excited to play for the actual Sharks.” 

The Chicago Blackhawks were up next, taking defenceman Artyom Levshunov before the Anaheim Ducks drafted a stunned Beckett Sennecke at No 3.

“I didn’t think this was an option for me,” said Sennecke, a winger ranked as the 11th-best North American skater according to NHL Central Scouting. “To hear my name called by them, it was definitely shocking.”

The Columbus Blue Jackets took centre Cayden Lindstrom with the fourth pick and the Montreal Canadiens went with winger Ivan Demidov at No. 5.

“I’m so excited to be Habs,” said the Russian, a selection announced by Canadian music icon Celine Dion. “It’s unbelievable.”

The Utah Hockey C