Macklin Celebrini Selected First Overall in 2024 NHL Draft by San Jose Sharks

Macklin Celebrini, a Vancouver native, has been selected as the first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft by the San Jose Sharks. Celebrini, who finished third in NCAA scoring with 64 points in 38 games, is considered one of the best draft-year college prospects with franchise center potential.

The Sharks have rebuilt a previously empty prospect pool under general manager Mike Grier, but Celebrini is considered one of the favorites for next year’s Calder Trophy. If he doesn’t return to Boston University for his sophomore season, he is expected to sign his rookie deal this summer and join the Sharks in October.

2024 NHL Draft Overview

The 2024 NHL Draft is set to begin in Las Vegas, with several high-profile players up for grabs. The San Jose Sharks have chosen Macklin Celebrini with the No. 1 overall pick, following his win in the draft lottery last month. Celebrini, the youngest player in college hockey at 17, became the youngest player to win the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in Division I. He racked up 64 points in 38 games during his freshman season at Boston University, making him the only player to tally 30+ goals and 30+ assists in Division I.

The Chicago Blackhawks followed with Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov, who tallied 35 points in 38 games for the Spartans this season. The Anaheim Ducks took Oshawa winger Beckett Sennecke, while the Columbus Blue Jackets selected Medicine Hat forward Cayden Lindstrom. The Montreal Canadiens rounded out the top five with SKA St. Petersburg Jr. winger Ivan Demidov at No. 5. The Utah Hockey Club took Kelowna center Tij Iginla, while the Ottawa Senators chose Calgary defenseman Carter Yakemchuk. The Calgary Flames took Saginaw defenseman Zayne Parekh with the No. 9 pick, and the New Jersey Devils took KHL defenseman Anton Silayev at No. 10.

Celebrini Achievements and Potential

Macklin Celebrini, the 18-year-old center, was a lock to be San Jose’s No. 1 overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft on Friday. He was the youngest winner of a Hobey Baker Award as the NCAA’s top skater at 17 years old and produced 32 goals and 64 points in 38 games for the Terriers. Celebrini was second overall in college scoring that same season and was the Hockey East Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, and scoring champion. Celebrini is a quintessential two-way skater with excellent speed and a lethal shot that has made him a dominant threat at every level of his career. Celebrini played with the Chicago Steel of the USHL in 2022–23 before going to college. He helped the team to the Eastern Conference Finals with 46 and 86 points in 50 games.

San Jose would have been hard pressed to find a more complete skater to take with the franchise’s first-ever No. 1 selection. The Sharks even had former centre Joe Thornton selecting their Celebrini decision live at the Sphere, which was an unexpected twist on draft day. Celebrini will be a gigantic part of San Jose’s ongoing rebuild process and give fans something to root for as it rolls along. The newest Shark also already has ties to the Bay area and San Jose’s organization, making for a seamless transition.

Celebrini Impact on San Jose Sharks

The San Jose Sharks have selected Boston University forward Macklin Celebrini as the first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. Celebrini, who turned 18, was second in NCAA scoring this season with 32 goals and third overall with 64 points in 38 games for the Terriers. He was named Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year in the Hockey East. Celebrini became the youngest player in history to be named the best NCAA men’s player and receive the Hobey Baker Award. The Sharks, who are still rebuilding under Mike Grier, have not advanced to the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the 2018–19 NHL season. Now, they have added another player. Since 2006, just two No. 1 overall picks—Erik Johnson, taken by the St. Louis Blues in Minnesota in 2006, and Buffalo Sabres defenseman Owen Power (Michigan, 2021)—have not immediately entered the NHL following their drafts.

As the team continues to rebuild under Grier, the Sharks have not qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the 2018–19 season. Now, they have added another player. The San Jose Sharks have officially selected Macklin Celebrini as the first overall pick of the 2024 NHL draft. Celebrini, an 18-year-old two-way center, is expected to re-energize the franchise and put the Sharks back on the map after a poor season. His acquisition is arguably the most anticipated event in the club’s recent history, and his acquisition puts the Sharks back on the map after a record crowd at the draft lottery as well as a significant increase in 2024–25 season ticket sales.

Celebrini Background and Future

Macklin Celebrini is expected to be the No. 1 selection at the 2024 NHL Draft. Celebrini has lived up to the hype in his draft year, with a standout performance for Team Canada at the world juniors and a dominant season in the NCAA as a 17-year-old. His blue-chip skill set stands out, with a notable and rare completeness to his game. Celebrini’s mature two-way game and understanding of winning hockey leaps off the ice. As Celebrini gets set to begin his NHL career, four anecdotes from coaches, teammates, and family testify to the competitiveness, skill, and force of will that have set him apart.

For players aged ten, the most competitive youth competition in North America is the yearly Brick Invitational competition, held in Edmonton. Celebrini had a similar star turn at the tournament, representing the BC Junior Canucks, winning the tournament as a 10-year-old and being named tournament MVP. Celebrini had played defense before, with his father, Rick Celebrini, thinking that he would play forward for a couple of years before his bantam draft in the WHL. However, he moved back to forward a year after the tournament, loving being a defenseman. Celebrini’s two-way game and defensive awareness benefited from his experience moving around the lineup positionally. He moved back to forward a year after the Brick tournament, learning how to see the ice and how to see plays develop.

Early Signs of Leadership

The Brick Select team, a group of talented 10-year-old hockey players from British Columbia, is preparing for the annual Edmonton showcase. Before the most important games of their young life, they develop collaboration in the early stages of the competition. Macklin, a young player, shows signs of leadership by stating that there is only one rule in the dressing room: no swearing. This breaks the ice and makes everyone talk, breaking the ice and causing a positive atmosphere. The coach, Rick Celebrini, was surprised by Macklin’s compliments. The team’s early success is attributed to Macklin’s leadership skills and his ability to build chemistry with his teammates.

Sibling Chemistry and Future in NHL

Macklin and his older brother, Aiden Celebrini, were regulars at the North Shore Winter Club’s open ice sessions as young hockey players. At these sessions, young players work on drills in an unstructured environment, with no set drills or coaches. Three future top-five NHL draft picks, including Macklin and Connor Bedard, were bound to be selected No. 1 in back-to-back years. Growing up around competitive environments had a significant impact on Macklin, who watched Bedard dominate at his minor hockey association. Macklin and Aiden are extremely close, playing up an age group throughout most of their hockey-playing lives. They have been one other’s strongest supporters as well as frequent teammates and rivals.

They were one of three sets of brothers who played together for the Boston University Terriers last season. Playing the occasional shift together, there is an immediate chemistry between Macklin and Aiden, which is the product of a lifetime spent on the ice with one another. Aiden says that Macklin sets him up for nice looks and it’s on Macklin to bury some of those and get that real brotherly connection going. On the night Macklin crushed Merrimack, he only had one goal and two points but had seven shots on goal. Aiden says that this is just Macklin, and he does it every time. He is proud of his ability to skate through the opposition as a 17-year-old at the Division 1 level. In summary, Macklin and Aiden have a strong chemistry and chemistry on the ice, with Macklin excelling in shooting and puck skills.