Grier explains the Sharks’ full-circle Celebrini-Thornton moment originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
The Sharks and their fans witnessed a special full-circle moment during Friday’s game 2024 NHL Draft.
Longtime San Jose star Joe Thornton called the name Macklin Celebrini as the Sharks’ No. 1 overall pick, symbolizing the passing of the torch at the center position for the franchise with the goal of returning to glory.
After Thornton and Celebrini embraced onstage at the Sphere in Las Vegas following the 18-year-old’s official welcome to San Jose, general manager Mike Grier discussed the pair’s unique connection when speaking with NBC Sports California’s Brodie Brazil .
“It makes [make sense], for sure,” Grier told Brasil. “I think it’s a good connection to the past. Not only are the two of them [No. 1 overall] choices, but from the Sharks [perspective]what was the No. 1 center here for so long, and we hope it will be our No. 1 center for many years to come.”
Celebrini became the Shark’s first overall pick in franchise history, and he is expected to be the cornerstone of the center. Thornton was in a similar position early in his long NHL career and he also ended up having fundamental expectations as a center for San Jose.
Thornton, Grier’s Sharks teammate between the 2006-07 and 2008-09 seasons, was drafted No. 1 overall by the Boston Bruins in 1997. He would be traded to San Jose during the 2005-06 season, where he ultimately he would win the Art Ross Trophy, Hart Memorial Trophy, three NHL All-Star nominations and 1,055 points in 15 seasons with the Sharks.
Grier knows all too well that Celebrini and Thornton know what it’s like to have high expectations in San Jose. And while one player is beginning his presumably long and storied career and the other is retiring, Grier is happy for Thornton to remain with the team — especially now with Celebrini — as long as the elder Shark’s booming era of play is in the rearview mirror.
“We had times where there weren’t many guys left. We get [Marc-Édouard Vlasic] It is [Logan Couture], but there aren’t many guys left from those glory days,” Gier added. “Having Jumbo here and making that connection with Macklin is really cool.”
Friday was just the beginning of Celebrini era in San José.
Grier appreciates Thornton being a part of the moment with the rookie and is excited for what’s to come.
