LAS VEGAS – Macklin Celebrini never wanted to state the obvious, never wanted to come out and say he would be the No. 1 overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft and that he would soon be a part of the San Jose Sharks organization.
The destination is official now, as Celebrini, under the dazzling lights of the Sphere just off Las Vegas Boulevard, was drafted first overall by the Sharks on Friday, making him a cornerstone piece of the franchise’s new era.
“I’m so excited to join this organization,” Celebrini said.
“It was an amazing feeling (to hear my name called). Just to get selected in the NHL was a huge dream of mine, and to go to an organization like that is the only word I can use to describe it is special.”
Sharks icon Joe Thornton announced the pick for the Sharks. Thornton was selected first overall by the Boston Bruins in 1997.
There was little question about whether the Sharks would select the 18-year-old Celebrini, this year’s Hobey Baker Award winner, as college hockey’s top player after they won the NHL draft lottery on May 7.
— Curtis Pashelka (@CurtisPashelka) June 28, 2024
Celebrini, the youngest player in the NCAA this past season as a 17-year-old, had 64 points, including 32 goals, in 38 games as Boston University’s No. 1 center, making him the second-highest scoring freshman in Division I behind Sharks’ prospect Will Smith.
Celebrini, the second-oldest son of Dr. Rick Celebrini, the Warriors vice-president of player health and performance, was equally adept at goal-scoring and distributing, all at a lightning-fast pace.
But what separates Celebrini from other prospects his age and caliber is his unwavering commitment to playing a two-way game. His relentless motor helped drive Boston University as he led the Terriers to a spot in the NCAA’s Frozen Four and a 28-10-2 record.
“He’s already a complete hockey player,” Boston University coach Jay Pandolfo said Friday of Celebrini on Daily Faceoff. “Obviously, he’s going to improve in all sorts of areas because he’s so young. But I’ve never seen a kid that young have that good of details in all three zones and care that much about the details in all three zones.
“He’s obviously off-the-charts talent-wise offensively, but he values every part of the game, and that’s why he’s so good. He’s so driven, so passionate about the game, and he’s passionate about getting better, and that’s how he’s wired.”
Celebrini is now the crown jewel of the Sharks’ prospect pool. At just under 6 feet and nearly 200 pounds, Celebrini already has an NHL-ready frame, and indications are that he’ll turn pro and sign an entry-level contract with the Sharks.
Now, the biggest question is whether Celebrini will turn or return to Boston University for his sophom*ore season.
Sharks general manager Mike Grier and director of amateur scouting Chris Morehouse have said they want what’s best for Celebrini and all their draft picks.
Celebrini said he doesn’t have a timeline for finalizing his decision to turn pro or return to school.
“I feel like it’s just more of a conversation of whether I’m ready and just talking to the organization,” Celebrini said. “Seeing what they’re feeling and thinking and also talking to my family and the coaches at BU, just to really get an understanding of both opportunities before making a decision.”
It’s easy to see why Grier might want to get the North Vancouver native to sign now.
The Sharks are coming off a 19-54-9 season for a .287 points percentage, their worst as a team since 1995-96. Their average attendancethis past season was 13,559, or 77.8% of SAP Center’s 17,435 seating capacity for hockey. That percentage was the lowest in the NHL, as the Sharks sold approximately 8,200 full-season equivalent ticket packages for 2023-24.
For 13 Sharks home dates, paid attendance ranged between 10,000 and 11,000, although the actual number of spectators in the buildingwas far smaller.
But since the Sharks won the draft lottery, Jonathan Becher, president of Sharks Sports & Entertainment, said last season ticket renewals have been at their highest pace since the Sharks made the Stanley Cup Final in 2016. New sales are also trending briskly.
Beche posted on social media Friday morning that the team gave out over 17,000 free tickets for their draft watch party that night at SAP Center.
“The mood around the franchise substantially changed after the number one pick went our way,” Becher said.
