The San Jose Sharks made a significant move towards reclaiming their position in the NHL by selecting Macklin Celebrini as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Celebrini, an 18-year-old star center from Boston University, clinched the prestigious Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s top player, becoming the fourth freshman to achieve this honor. His remarkable performance included scoring 34 goals and amassing 64 points in just 38 games.
Expressing his elation, Celebrini described the moment as surreal, emphasizing that it was a lifelong dream come true. While Celebrini contemplates whether to return to Boston University for his sophomore season, his potential impact on the Sharks is highly anticipated.
The Sharks, who joined the NHL in the 1991-92 season, secured their first-ever No. 1 draft pick on Friday night. Previously, they had selected players like Pat Falloon, Andrei Zyuzin, and Patrick Marleau with the No. 2 overall pick. Celebrini, as described in an NHL Central Scouting report, is praised for his strong skating abilities, fluid stride, elusive speed, and quickness, making him a valuable asset for power plays and an all-around player.
Sharks' general manager Mike Grier expressed the significance of the first overall pick, highlighting the potential for Celebrini to become a core player for the team in the long term. The addition of Celebrini complements the Sharks' previous selection of center William Smith, indicating a strategic focus on building a strong prospect pool for the future.
The draft, held at the Sphere in Las Vegas for the first time, saw other notable selections, including the Chicago Blackhawks choosing defenseman Artyom Levshunov at No. 2 and the Anaheim Ducks surprising many by selecting right winger Beckett Sennecke at No. 3. The Columbus Blue Jackets picked center Cayden Lindstrom at No. 4, while the Montreal Canadiens opted for right winger Ivan Demidov with the fifth pick.
