The first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, Macklin Celebrini, has signed his entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks.
There had been speculation regarding if he would spend another season in college or sign his rookie deal. Celebrini steps into an organization that desperately needs his arrival. There are building blocks for the Sharks to take a step forward, but Celebrini will certainly be the most important piece.
The 2024 Sharks will look to improve upon their record of 19-54-9. They’ve made several additions to the roster this offseason to help with improving that record, including signing 2023 top draft pick Will Smith. They’re hoping the infusion of youth will lead to success next season.
How Does Macklin Celebrini Fit On The San Jose Sharks?
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Adding Celebrini to the Sharks roster doesn’t automatically make them playoff contenders. It helps that he’s going to a Sharks team that took this offseason seriously and added more talent to a rough roster.
Celebrini will likely be the second-line center, depending on the health of captain Logan Couture. He’s got work to do on his physicality, but he’s masterful with the puck. He’s going to be expected to contribute immediately. I expect him to end up on the top powerplay line, which will help his point totals during his rookie season.
Keep Expectations Realistic For Celebrini
After Connor Bedard had an impressive rookie season, it’s important to keep things in perspective. Macklin is still an 18-year-old heading into his rookie year and isn’t going to set the league on fire in the same way as Bedard did. On a second line and as a member of the top powerplay unit, he will hopefully produce a lot of points.
It’s not reasonable to expect every top pick to produce out of the gate like Bedard. Bedard’s 61 points were impressive as a rookie. I think Celebrini will likely fall somewhere in the 45-55-point range as the Calder winner.
A Great Offseason Somehow Keeps Improving
The Sharks hit the ground running this offseason by adding a big player with Tyler Toffoli. Signing Adam Wennberg was also a smart signing for the forward depth. They also traded for defenseman Jake Walman, a second-round pick from the Detroit Red Wings before the draft, a player who can be a top-line defenseman.
General Manager Mike Grier has not been shy about the fact the team is rebuilding. At the same time, the San Jose Sharks are not looking to sit at the bottom of the standings. They want to start the climb back up from the bottom.
They Aren’t Playoff Contenders Yet
The main thing to remember about the San Jose Sharks is they aren’t quite a playoff team yet. They are due to return to the playoff picture at some point in the future. But the 2024-25 season likely will not be that season.
There are still a lot of holes on this roster. While adding Celebrini helps a great deal, it doesn’t fix everything. In terms of reasons to be positive, the prospect pool is much deeper. Grier did a great job drafting and adding more picks. It will enable the team to continue their strenuous rebuild back to playoff contention.
Smith and Celebrini Are the Future
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The San Jose Sharks signing their 2023 and 2024 first-round picks in the same offseason will give fans hope. After suffering through a rough teardown, there is finally hope. SAP Center in San Jose might finally start feeling electric again.
New Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky has to be hyped to see the organization make strides. It’s his first offseason with the team, and the roster looks much improved. Smith and Celebrini have limitless potential together.
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