Celebrini officially on Sharks pick young star No. 1 overall

Celebrini officially on Sharks pick young star No. 1 overall originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area

In a move that surprised no one but could still change the franchise, the Sharks selected highly touted prospect Macklin Celebrini No. 1 overall in the 2024 NHL Draft on Friday night in Las Vegas.

Seven weeks after San José won the 2024 draft lotteryhis selection is official, ushering in a new era of hockey in Northern California.

Celebrini enjoyed every moment, revealing his joy at fulfilling a childhood dream by being officially selected for the NHL draft.

“It’s a surreal feeling. I’ve dreamed of this moment since I was a kid, and for it to come true is an incredible feeling,” Celebrini told ESPN’s Leah Hextall.

Former No. 1 overall selection and Sharks legend Joe Thornton was on hand in Las Vegas to announce the selection, effectively passing the baton to Celebrini as the young star joined the Jumbo franchise that lived for 15 seasons.

“It’s super exciting [Thornton] made the pick, obviously a Sharks and NHL legend, so it was really exciting,” Celebrini told Hextall about Thornton announcing the pick.

Celebrini has long been considered the best perspective in the 2024 class, giving the Sharks a much-needed wave of optimism after a historically bad season in which San Jose finished with an NHL-worst 47 points.

The 18 year old, whose family lives in Livermorespent last season at Boston University and won the Hobey Baker Memorial Award – given annually to the best college hockey player – during his only season with the Terriers.

Celebrini recorded 64 points – 32 goals and 32 assists – during his solitary season at BUdemonstrating the electric playmaking ability that led to him being San Jose’s first No. 1 pick in franchise history.

For the Sharks, Celebrini’s selection could now serve as a true turning point, as a long period of suffering quickly turns to unbridled optimism about what the future might hold after a five-year playoff drought.

Rarely in sports does a team get the chance to celebrate winning the lottery like San Jose did upon learning it would have the opportunity to add Celebrini to a growing stock of young talent.

Sharks general manager Mike Grier – the architect behind an ambitious reconstruction – knows the kind of impact a player like Celebrini can have on an NHL franchise. After winning the lottery in May, Grier explained why Sharks fans should be excited about the addition of Celebrini, offering flattering comparisons between the aspiring rookie and a handful of proven NHL veterans.

“Comparisons are not always fair. I think he has a little bit of all types of players,” Grier said. “He is [Celebrini] I got a little bit of Jonathan Toews, a little bit of Bo Horvat. A bit of [Patrice] Bergerón. He has a lot of plays that you can see he has learned from players over the years.

“I think they [Sharks fans] should be excited. First, he’s a great kid. Humble, down to earth, hardworking. I think we’ve talked about the importance of competitiveness to win in this league, and he has that in spades. I think he’s the player that shows up every night and plays a complete game.”

Although San Jose is far from a traditional hockey market, the local fan base has vigorously supported the Sharks throughout the franchise’s 32-year history, developing a deep connection with the players on the ice. One area where Grier believes Celebrini stands out is his desire to play in the Bay and connect with fans who want to return to the golden years when San Jose was a Western Conference powerhouse, regularly competing for a Stanley Cup Final appearance. , despite never having won one.

“One of the big things I think for the fans here is he wants to be here,” Grier said. “His father has the [Golden State] Warriors. He has a house half an hour away. When we interviewed him earlier this year, he expressed how great it would be to play here. So I think he’s going to connect with the fans, and it means a lot to him to be a San Jose Shark.”

Celebrini now faces the difficult task of not only raising a franchise but also an entire region, as the Bay prepares to welcome a young star with local ties. In fact, Macklin incredibly racked up 49 goals and 45 assists in just 54 games for the 14-and-under Jr. Sharks in 2019-20.

He’s a big shark now.