Projected No. 1 NHL Pick Macklin Celebrini Isn't Sure What He'll Do Next Season Following Frozen Four Loss

Last year around this time, we were all waiting to see where presumptive No. 1 overall draft pick Connor Bedard would wind up. Now, we're waiting to see which team gets the opportunity to select this year's presumptive No. 1 pick, Boston University's Macklin Celebrini.

However, something a little bit interesting happened last night: Celebrini's BU Terriers lost to Denver in overtime in their Frozen Four semi-final game in St. Paul, Minnesota on Thursday night.

After the game, Celebrini told the media that he was unsure about what the future holds for him, and said he's not sure where he'll play next season.

"Yeah, I mean, I wasn’t really planning on losing tonight," he said, per NHL.com. "So, I mean, I gotta figure that out. Kind of still in shock. So, I’m not too sure."

Celebrini has some time before he decides if he is going to return for a sophomore season or make a go of it in the pros, but you've got to think any team that winds up with a high pick will probably want an answer ahead of the draft.

Celebrini is a highly-enough-rater prospect that the thought of him going back to college shouldn't be a deal breaker. Especially because any team that winds up the top pick will not be in "win now" mode and can afford to give Celebrini a bit more time to hone his game in the NCAA before he makes the jump to the NHL.

The presumptive No.1 pick in this year's NHL Draft, Macklin Celebrini, has yet to decide if he'll go pro or return to Boston University next season. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images)

Could A Return To College Be A Smart Move For Celebrini?

There's a case to be made that that's a smart idea. Celebrini is only 17 at the moment, making him one of the younger prospects in the upcoming draft. 

Do you know who else is on the younger end of his draft class? Connor Bedard.

He was just fine jumping straight into the NHL.

While Celebrini hasn't made his decision on whether to return to BU or sign with whichever team ends up with the top pick — which right now would likely be Chicago, San Jose, or Anaheim — Terriers coach Jay Pandolfo is prepared for either case.

"You know, maybe Macklin's one and done," Pandolfo said. "It hasn't affected our culture, at least in the short time I've been here. So I think if you bring the right type of player that's a one and done or two and done or whatever it may be, if they're the right type of person and they have their feet on the ground when they're here at BU, I think it makes a difference and we have those type of guys right now."

So, let's see what Celebrini decides to do, but either way, it seems pretty unlikely that going back to school would negatively affect his draft stock.