NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Celebrini looking to go #1 in draft; Knights dominate Canucks; plus more NHL news

Team Canada Macklin Celebrini scores against Team Latvia in the IIHF World Junior Championship group in Gothenburg Sweden Wed Dec 27, 2023. Celebrini is the NHL No.1 draft choice in the 2024 NHL Draft. (TT News Agency photo via AP)

On the NHL podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 Macklin Celebrini is the expceted No.1 draft choice out of the NHL draft. Celebrini is having a great year at Boston University scoring 32 goals and 64 points in 37 games. Celebrini is well sought after most likely he could go in the first of the draft.

#2 Len, how potent is this Vegas Golden Knights (42-25-8) team they scored four goals in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks to win it 6-3 on Tuesday and pick up their point streak to seven games. The Canucks who are first in the Pacific are starting to show ware they have now lost three of their last four games.

#3 Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella says the Flyers need another level just to make post season. The Flyers are on a five game skid and have lost five of their last ten games. The Flyers are third in the Metropolitan Division. Tortorella said that it’s his job to get this team over the hump and he hasn’t done that good of a job to do that.

#4 The Vegas Golden Knights Tomas Hertl made morning practice on Tuesday. Hertl had been skating on his own on Mar 11. Since he had knee surgery on Feb 12th he’s skated on his own and the Knights are hoping to get him in the line up on Friday night against the Arizona Coyotes.

#5 Len, lets talk about Dallas and the scoring race.

Join Len Shapiro for the NHL podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Barracuda Center Danny O’Regan – Profile

Photo: sjbarracuda.com

By Alexandra Evans

SAN JOSE—Born in Berlin, Germany, Danny O’Regan, his older brother, Tommy, and their parents moved to Boston when O’Regan was four years old. His father, Tom, had played for Boston University and, the BSC Preussen in Berlin, and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Tommy played for Harvard University. O’Regan’s mother was also a figure skating coach, so one could argue that he was destined to end up on the ice; he as been skating for as far back as his memory dates

O’Regan, 23, played hockey for his father’s alma mater while pursuing a degree in advertising. His junior year, the Terriers won the Beanpot, an experience which O’Regan deems his greatest accomplishment to date. He exceeded the Terriers in points as a freshman, was the recipient of the Hockey East Second Team honors as a junior (in which BU also won the Hockey East championship), and served as an assistant captain as a senior. He was also the first BU hockey player to exceed 150 points (O’Regan had 154 comprised of 66 goals and 88 assists) since 1998.

A 90’s baby, one of several players O’Regan followed growing up was Sharks alternate captain Joe Thornton when he played for the Boston Bruins. Since signing a two year deal with San Jose in early 2016, O’Regan has played alongside his childhood idol both in training camp and games. He made his NHL debut on November 21, 2016 and described his overall experience with the Sharks as a dream come true.

O’Regan, a center, and Adam Helewka, a left winger, have played very much in harmony this season thus far. With stellar hand-eye coordination and speedy (but wise) decision making, multiple times have the pair managed to notch goals and assists, respectively, between one another.

Fun and random facts: O’Regan’s favorite movie is Remember the Titans; he has watched the entire series of The Office “over 50 times” (he believes); he is currently on a 400+ day Snapchat streak with his girlfriend, his longest yet! He also remains a loyal Patriots and Red Sox fan, and his next stop in San Francisco will likely (he hopes) be Alcatraz Island.