LAS VEGAS — Macklin Celebrini headlined an NHL draft by going first overall to the San Jose Sharks on a night hockey and Las Vegas royalty mixed company under the visual spectacle the Sphere on Friday night.

French-Canadian chanteuse Celine Dion shared the stage with the likes of former Sharks star Joe Thornton and rookie of the year Connor Bedard by announcing the selections to provide the event a true Vegas flair.

And to top it off, the newly established Utah Hockey Club leaned on NHL pedigree in making Kelowna center Tij Iginla the franchise’s first selection with the No. 6 pick. Iginla is the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Jarome Iginla, who spent much of his career in Calgary.

Utah, which relocated from Arizona to Salt Lake City two months ago, selected Iginla, ending any chance of Calgary landing the son of their former star at No. 9.

“It’s so unpredictable,” said Jarome Iginla, who was selected 11th overall by Dallas in the 1995 draft before being traded months later to Calgary. “Every city’s a great city, but Utah, we’re excited. … We’re very happy for him. He’s worked hard, and it’s a big day.”

The Iginlas become the sixth father-son duo taken in the top 15 of the draft.

Four defensemen were selected among the top 10 picks — capped by the New Jersey Devils picking Russia’s Anton Silayev, who is listed at 6-foot-7, and 211 pounds . And six blueliners went among the top 12, after Minnesota traded into the 12th spot to draft University of Denver defenseman Zeev Buium.

Newsletter