The San Jose Sharks made a bold move in the 2024 NHL Draft, selecting highly touted center Macklin Celebrini with the No. 1 overall pick. Celebrini, a freshman standout at Boston University, is a dynamic scorer and playmaker who has drawn comparisons to some of the NHL's brightest stars.
The San Jose Sharks took a significant step towards rebuilding their franchise on Friday night, selecting Macklin Celebrini with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Celebrini, an 18-year-old center from Boston University, is a highly skilled offensive player who has been compared to the likes of Jack Eichel and Auston Matthews.
Celebrini had a remarkable freshman season at Boston University, scoring 34 goals and adding 30 assists in just 38 games. He became only the fourth freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's top player and did so as the nation's youngest player.
Sharks Select Macklin Celebrini with No. 1 Pick in NHL Draft, Aiming for Renaissance
The Sharks, who have struggled in recent years, are hoping that Celebrini can be a cornerstone of their future success. The team has not made the playoffs since 2019 and has not won a playoff series since 2014.
Celebrini is a skilled skater with excellent speed and agility. He is also a dangerous scorer with a quick release and a knack for finding the open ice. NHL Central Scouting described him as "a strong skater with fluid stride, elusive speed and quickness... The go-to for one-timers on the power play. Plays a heads-up complete game."
Sharks Select Macklin Celebrini with No. 1 Pick in NHL Draft, Aiming for Renaissance
Celebrini is still undecided on whether he will return to Boston University for his sophomore season. He has two years of NCAA eligibility remaining if he chooses to return, but he could also opt to sign a contract with the Sharks and begin his NHL career immediately.
The Sharks have high hopes for Celebrini, and they believe that he can be a franchise-changing player. General manager Mike Grier said that selecting Celebrini was a "big moment" for the organization and that he hopes Celebrini will be a "big part of our core for a long, long time."
Sharks Select Macklin Celebrini with No. 1 Pick in NHL Draft, Aiming for Renaissance
The draft took place at the Sphere in Las Vegas for the first time. The Chicago Blackhawks chose defenseman Artyom Levshunov with the No. 2 pick, while the Anaheim Ducks surprised many by taking right winger Beckett Sennecke at No. 3.
The Columbus Blue Jackets chose center Cayden Lindstrom with the fourth pick, and the Montreal Canadiens rounded out the top five by selecting right winger Ivan Demidov.
The Sharks are hoping that Celebrini can help them return to prominence in the NHL. The team has not won a Stanley Cup since joining the league in 1991, but they believe that Celebrini can help them reach the pinnacle of hockey success.
