LAS VEGAS (AP) — The San Jose Sharks added a foundational piece to their rebuilding plan by choosing Boston University center Macklin Celebrini with the first pick in the NHL draft Friday.

Celebrini’s selection came as no surprise after the 18-year-old became just the fourth freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s top player. He did so as the nation’s youngest player, too, finishing second with 34 goals and third with 64 points in 38 games.

The 6-foot, 200-pound player from North Vancouver, British Columbia, already has ties to the Bay Area. Celebrini played for the Junior Sharks program after his father, Rick, was hired to be the Golden State Warriors’ sports medicine director.

“Just a surreal feeling,” Celebrini said in becoming the Sharks’ first No. 1 overall pick. “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 was undecided on whether he will return to BU for a second year, but he deepens a talented prospect pool on a Sharks team in the midst of its longest playoff drought, now spanning five years.

The Chicago Blackhawks took Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov of Belarus with the second pick. This marked the third draft to have college players to go 1-2, and first since 2021 when Michigan teammates Owen Power and Matty Beniers were chosen first and second.

Levshunov became the fourth overall player from Belarus to be selected in the first round of the NHL draft, and first since first since Montreal took forward Andrei Kostitsyn 10th in 2003. He also became the earliest selected player from Belarus chosen after defenseman Ruslan Salei went ninth to Anaheim in 1996.

Anaheim followed with what was considered a surprise pick in selecting Oshawa forward Beckett Sennecke, who could be seen mouthing “Oh, my God,” to his father upon hearing former Ducks star Scott Niedermayer announce the pick. Sennecke was ranked 12th among North American players by NHL Central Scouting after finishing with 27 goals and 68 points in 63 games last season in the Ontario Hockey League.

Columbus followed by selecting Medicine Hat center Cayden Lindstrom at No. 4.

Montreal created a stir by having French-Canadian pop star Celine Dion announce their selection of Russian forward Ivan Demidov with the fifth pick.

The Utah Hockey Club was set to pick sixth after the franchise relocated from Arizona to Salt Lake City in April.

Celebrini’s selection was announced by former Sharks star Joe Thornton — drafted No. 1 by Boston in 1997. Thornton opened by saying, “The San Jose Sharks are proud to select from Boston University,” before briefly pausing with a smile, and then said Celebrini’s name and pointing to him in the stands.

“I’m super excited he made the pick,” Celebrini said. “Obviously, a Sharks legend and an NHL legend, so that was real exciting.”

The draft featured the added spectacle of being held at the year-old Sphere, a globe-shaped venue over-looking the Las Vegas strip and featuring video screens on the inside and outside of its structure.

The 32 teams were gathered at tables beneath the wrap-around screen covering almost three-quarters of the curved wall broadcasting scenes from the draft to the crowd overlooking the floor and seated the multi-deck facility. The draft opened with the screen featuring pictures of more than 100 of the eligible prospects.

A small stage was erected in the middle of the floor, where Commissioner Gary Bettman was joined by teams to announce the selections.

Celebrini failed to register a point in just six games at BU. His production accelerated over the second half of the season by combining for 22 goals and 39 points in his final 17 games in helping the Terriers reach the Frozen Four, which they lost in the semifinal to eventual champion Denver.

An NHL Central Scouting report referred to him as being “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.”

Whenever Celebrini turns pro upon consulting with his family, the Sharks and BU, he’ll join a Sharks’ youth movement that includes their two first-round picks last year, forwards Will Smith and OHL forward Quentin Musty. Then there’s the Swedish duo of Filip Bystedt, San Jose’s 2022 first-round pick, who made his minor-league debut last season, and William Eklund, who has 18 goals and 52 points in 97 NHL games since being drafted seventh in ’21.

“Having the first overall pick, it’s a big moment for the organization, to have someone hopefully that can be a big part of our core and play here for a long, long time,” third-year GM Mike Grier said earlier this week.

“It’s definitely doing a good job of laying (the foundation). I don’t know if it’s finishing the foundation,” he added. “It’s definitely an important time, an important draft, but we still got some work to do to kind of round things out and keep building up the prospect pool.”

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

PITTSBURGH — Just when the Brandon Aiyuk sweepstakes feel over, the Pittsburgh Steelers are dragged back in. The contract talks between the San Francisco 49ers and Aiyuk still haven’t bore fruit, despite repeated efforts. As it stands, he hasn’t signed an extension, and speculation surrounding his future continues.

It doesn’t help that there is some calculated negotiating through the media taking place. Aiyuk has been vocal on social media about the situation and his frustration. He’s also frequently seen with Washington Commanders’ rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, fueling the rumors that the Commanders are the frontrunner to land him.

But the gasoline poured into the fire is the media’s indulgence. The buzz and speculation is rampant online and on television. The latest came from former Steelers’ safety and NFL analyst Ryan Clark. On his podcast, The Pivot, Clark welcomed Aiyuk to discuss the situation.

On the show, Clark was pointed with his questions. He asked Aiyuk what uniform he envisioned himself in, and Aiyuk was equally pointed in return.

“Probably a Niners uniform, if not a Niners uniform probably a Washington Commanders uniform. If not a Washington Commanders uniform, probably Steelers uniform,” he said.

Clark told Aiyuk that he believed the Steelers were the best fit for him and his career ambitions. It almost came across as a recruiting pitch for the Black and Gold.

“And so, whether it’s in San Francisco, Washington, Pittsburgh, whatever team you play for, you’ve succeeded at every level, even with odds stacked against you,” Clark said. “So for us, we’re rooting for you. I wanna see you do well. Pittsburgh would be the best place for you to thrive.”

The writing is on the wall for the Steelers, but they are not giving up yet. In all likelihood, Aiyuk will remain with the 49ers. The main sticking point remains the yearly salary and whether the 49ers will give him $30 million or more. Until then, the Steelers remain in pursuit of Aiyuk and upgrading their wide receiver room.

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Connecticut Public announced on Friday the nonprofit broadcaster is laying off four full-time and several temporary employees. That’s a 4% reduction in staff, according to the Hartford-based organization.

In a statement, Connecticut Public said expenses “have grown at rates that have exceeded revenues for the last few years” and that some expenses were because of “deliberate investments” and also inflation.

President and CEO Mark Contreras declined to be interviewed and a Connecticut Public spokesperson declined to answer questions beyond the statement.

“These decisions are never easy and only come after taking many other steps to stabilize finances,” Contreras said in the statement.

Connecticut Public did not release the names of affected employees.

In a separate letter to staff, Contreras said, in addition to the layoffs, there will be no across-the-board salary increases for the next year. In addition, tuition and student loan reimbursement would not be offered and there will be limits on “training, conferences, overtime and discretionary travel.”

But Connecticut Public will offer its employees an increase in paid time off around the holidays.

The nonprofit reported to the IRS total revenues of nearly $23 million for fiscal year 2023 — a decrease of about $2.5 million from the year before, when reported revenues were nearly $25.5 million.

The announcement Friday follows layoffs at other public media stations around the country and in New England.

In May, GBH in Boston announced it was laying off 4% of its workforce — 32 employees — citing an increase in the cost of business coupled with flat revenues.

In April, WBUR, also in Boston, announced it was cutting as much as 14% of its staff through buyouts and layoffs, due to a big drop in underwriting.

NEPM in Springfield, Massachusetts, laid off 20% of its staff in March of 2023.

In the letter to employees, Contreras wrote, “Those affected by these changes have made lasting and impactful contributions to our organization, for which we are all grateful.”

“We believe that the changes discussed above—while difficult—will allow us to deliver on our mission sustainably into the future,” he wrote.

NEPM reported and edited this story independently, at the request of the Connecticut Public newsroom. No Connecticut Public staff or leadership had oversight or reviewed the story before it was published.