Since scouts began tracking the class, Macklin Celebrini has been the consensus first-overall pick for the 2024 NHL Draft. The team that won the draft lottery wouldn't have much of a decision, but some teams made more sense than others. Enter the San Jose Sharks, who have plenty of connections to Celebrini and should be a perfect fit. Celebrini is Canadian-born but has had most of his success in the United States. He joined the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League for the 2022-23 season, dominating the league with 46 goals and 40 assists in 50 games.
Most hockey players play junior hockey for a year or two after high school to improve their size and strength before taking on grown men in the NCAA. However, Celebrini had no interest in delaying his college enrollment, especially considering it may be his only chance to play if he signs with the Sharks immediately. Celebrini didn't look out of place at Boston University this season, tallying 32 goals and 32 assists in 38 games. He became the fourth freshman and youngest player to win the Hobey Baker Award as the nation's top player. This year's draft class isn't terrible, but no other player is on Celebrini's level.
The NHL and its broadcasting partners knew that it was only a matter of who Celebrini was going to with the first overall pick. ESPN and Sportsnet, North America's hockey rights holders, had a joint broadcast of the NHL Draft lottery. The companies had Celebrini attend the event and even take part in an interview with Sharks general manager Mike Grier after the results came out.
Macklin Celebrini's connections to the Bay Area
Celebrini's connection to the Sharks before the NHL Draft begins in their front office, as Mike Grier is also a Boston University alumni. Grier mentioned that on the draft lottery broadcast, as his connections with the program likely led to them telling him many good things about the young phenom. Grier had 120 points over three seasons during his career with the Terriers.
Celebrini also has connections to the Bay Area outside of the Sharks organization. Macklin's father is Rick Celebrini, a former professional soccer player and the Director of Sports Medicine and Performance for the Golden State Warriors. Celebrini's childhood had him surrounded by greatness, as he was able to learn from players like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green. Draymond even commented on Celebrini leading up to the draft.
“Rick's working on me and I'm like, ‘Hey Rick when we go to Chicago, any chance Mack's got a game?' He starts checking the schedule, and he does. So, I'm like ‘Great, I'm going,'” Draymond Green said, via TSN. “Mack didn't have his best game. But I'm an athlete and like you know when somebody's got it. You know who got it, and he just got it. I got a chance to see a generational talent play.”
Celebrini even played with the San Jose Junior Sharks' U14 squad during the 2019-20 season after Rick took the Golden State job. Celebrini had 49 goals and 94 points in 54 games while playing against players a year older than him.
Fit with the Sharks
The Sharks have gone through some lean years after the Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, and Brent Burns era. That team made a Stanley Cup Final, losing to Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016. The young core the Sharks are building could find themselves competing to advance there again one day. Last season's first-round pick, Will Smith, recently signed his entry-level contract to leave Boston College and join the Sharks next season. That decision is likely linked to the Sharks winning the draft lottery, as Smith and Celebini can pair up in San Jose next season.
The Sharks also have Collin Graf, William Eklund, Thomas Bordeleau, and Fabian Zetterlund. All these players are below 24 and will be able to learn and grow together in San Jose for a long time. The Sharks may need to upgrade their defense and goaltending to become serious contenders, but that is an issue they can tackle in the future. The Sharks' defense prospect pool is decent, with players like Luca Cagnoni, Artem Guryev, and Shakir Mukhamadullin. They also have $36 million of projected cap space for this offseason. The Sharks could try to acquire a defenseman, but they'll likely take a wait-and-see approach, as they could have two top picks again next season.
The Sharks own Pittsburgh's first-round pick from the Erik Karlsson trade, which will be No. 14 this season. They also own Vegas' first-round pick next season from the Tomas Hertl trade. San Jose has plenty of opportunities to upgrade their young core and compete for the next decade. Picking Macklin Celebrini in the 2024 NHL Draft will be a great transition to that era.
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