17 goals. 22 assists. 39 points in 43 games.
That’s the stat line for the 2024 NHL Draft first overall pick, San Jose Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini.
With names like Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid and Marc Andre Fleury being the first overall picks in their respective NHL drafts, it’s a lot to live up to for younger players making their way in the league.
However, for Celebrini, it’s been an effortless adjustment.
The 2024 Hobey Baker Award winner is no stranger to finding success on the ice. A native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Celebrini began playing hockey at a higher level at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, a preparatory school in Minnesota, and the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League.
In the 2022-23 USHL season, Celebrini was named the All-Rookie team, the First All-Star team and earned the Player of the Year after notching 86 points in 50 games.
After the USHL, Celebrini moved to play in the NCAA for one of the most coveted programs in college hockey, Boston University.
With the Terriers, Celebrini had continued success, making the All-Rookie team, the First All-Star team, the Player of the Year and the NCAA First All-American team.
After his freshman campaign at Boston University, racking up 64 points, he was drafted first overall by the San Jose Sharks and began his rookie campaign with this squad in the western conference.
The funny thing is, when he joined the Sharks last summer, former Boston College center Will Smith signed with the club as well.
Both players faced off against each other in college while playing in the Hockey East conference, but despite being enemies in the NCAA, their bond has evolved while playing for the Sharks, as they never leave each other’s side.
“Coming from college, you’ve got older guys on the team now who have kids instead of older guys just being a senior in college,” said Smith to NHL.com. “It’s different, so to have someone the same age is helpful. We’re always together off the ice.”
In addition, according to the NHL.com, their teammate Alex Wennberg deemed them “two peas in a pod.”
Despite suffering an injury against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the preseason, causing him to miss 12 games, Celebrini did not miss a beat when he returned to ice and is proving to be a strong contender for the 2025 Calder Trophy.
Celebrini plays a fast, Jack Hughes-esque, type of hockey, which will be crucial for the Sharks as they find themselves in another season of rebuilding with newer players of all ages. Celebrini sets a high pace for the game every time he steps out on the ice.
“Obviously, he’s a special player, an important player for us,” said Shark’s center Nico Sturm to NHL.com when Celebrini was set to return from his hip injury. “During that tough stretch that we had, there were probably a couple of situations where you’re on the power play, or 4-on-4 situations where you can use his skill and his speed.”
It’s definitely been a common theme in the latest renditions of The Puck Drop that we’ve had, but to conclude, we are in an era where the game of hockey is consistently evolving. With younger players like Celebrini just starting to make waves in professional hockey, this is the time to watch one of the best sports we have right at our fingertips.