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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Hockey Club had a hard time pegging just what would happen at the top of the NHL draft on Friday.
Everyone knew the San Jose Sharks would take Macklin Celebrini at No.1, but after that? Well, that was anyone's guess.
"We were perplexed trying to find out what would happen," general manager Bill Armstrong said.
So the front office came up with a best- and worst-case scenario to see if everyone would be fine with either option — and any in between. Turns out, they didn't have to worry.
"We were able to walk out with our No. 1 guy, so that was a huge step for us," Armstrong said.
The Utah Hockey Club made 17-year-old forward Tij Iginla the franchise's first-ever draft pick when they took him at No. 6. So when did they think their best-case scenario would actually happen?
"When we hit pick five, that's when we knew he'd be a Utah Yeti — I think," Armstrong said.
Um … Yeti?
"I'm not allowed to pick the name, but I think the little kids in Utah vote about 25 times a day, so I think they got it," Armstrong later added.
He is allowed to pick the players, though. So what made him like Iginla?
"Tij, he's an unbelievable kid; he's just a hockey player inside and out," Armstrong said. "I told him when we met with him, 'We have a lot of 20-goal scorers on our roster, we are looking for a 50-goal scorer.' No pressure.
"He has everything we liked. He not only interviewed well but tested well. We fell in love with not only the person but also the hockey player."
Iginla recorded 47 goals and 37 assists last season in the WHL. He ended the season on a high note, too, scoring eight goals during the Kelowna Rockets first-round series in the 2024 WHL playoffs, tying a franchise record for most in a playoff series.
"He's an amazing kid," Armstrong said. "He's a shooter, make no mistake. He's just an unbelievable kid that loves hockey, and that's the player we want to draft in Utah."
When asked about Iginla's family — his father, Jarome, had a Hall-of-Fame career with the Calgary Flames — Armstrong said there was a certain attraction with the name, but ultimately it was about who Tij was as a player.
"By the end, it's not the name. You fall in love with the player and the talent level and you forget the name. He's going to make his own name in Utah," Armstrong said.
Even after landing his dream option at No. 6, Armstrong and his team weren't done. Utah traded the No. 38 and 71 picks, plus a 2025 second-rounder to Colorado to move back into the first round to take forward Cole Beaudoin at No. 24.
"When you see guys you don't like but you love, if you can get to them, you've got to try," Armstrong said.
Utah has 10 more picks on Saturday, so the dealing might not be done.
Beaudoin is known for crazy workouts, strength and a relentless effort on the ice. Armstrong sees him as a player who could change the fabric of the organization.
"His work ethic and how he plays the game, I do believe he will be a huge piece of our culture, with how he attacks every moment of the game with work ethic," Armstrong said. "He's an impressive kid. He is built like an Utah player should be built, in some regards. He's a big kid who works and doesn't give an inch away on the ice."
That does kind of sound like a Yeti.
