Sharks pick Macklin Celebrini with No. 1 pick in NHL draft

LAS VEGAS — Even when everyone within the constructing knows who’s going first overall, there is frequently at the very least a pseudo-suspense when Gary Bettman first steps as much as the microphone to announce the highest pick.

Even that, nevertheless, was ruled out over six weeks ahead of time when Sharks general manager Mike Grier was asked whether Boston University’s Macklin Celebrini could be his selection after winning the lottery initially of May.

“I might say, I might think so,” Grier said. “Yeah.”

And so there was not even a cursory sheen of nerves on Friday when franchise great Joe Thornton announced that the Sharks would, indeed, kick off the draft by taking Celebrini, who won the Hobey Baker Award last yr as the highest player in college hockey. 

Celebrini joins a franchise whose junior team he played for as recently as 2018 when his father, Rick, joined the Golden State Warriors as director of sports medicine and performance.

“It’s crazy,” Celebrini said on Sportsnet. “Truthfully it’s surreal that life got here full circle and I’m back to where I used to be.”

Celebrini’s ascension to No. 1 was followed by Chicago taking Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov second overall and Anaheim taking OHL forward Beckett Sennecke third.

The Blue Jackets then took WHL center Cayden Lindstrom fourth, followed by Celine Dion announcing Montreal would choose Russian defenseman Ivan Demidov fifth.

It’s not yet clear whether Celebrini, who played his freshman yr of school at age 17 before becoming a legal adult a mere two weeks ago, will sign with the Sharks or return to BU for one more season. 

After scoring 32 goals with 32 assists in a mere 38 games, leading the Terriers to the Frozen 4, there’s an argument to be made that Celebrini outgrew college hockey before even attending to the age when most children step on campus.

However the Sharks, within the midst of a painful rebuild, will likely be cognizant about ensuring that Celebrini will not be exposed if he starts the yr within the NHL.

At this early juncture of the offseason — San Jose has just nine forwards under contract with roughly $30.4 million of salary cap space, per CapFriendly — it’s not clear who would play alongside the left-handed center if he makes the jump.

If he does, the Sharks would likely must attempt to add more talent than they featured last season, if only to assist the rookie develop as he adjusts to playing against adults.

Whether he goes to the league immediately or not, Celebrini marks a badly-needed stroke of luck for a franchise that has not made the playoffs since 2019.

He will not be considered the type of generational prospect that Connor Bedard was a yr ago, but Celebrini has earned plaudits for his all-around ability and two-way play — and was the no-doubt No. 1 pick on this draft.

The Vancouver native is already used to the Bay Area, and since of his father’s job, counts the likes of Steve Nash and Ryan Kesler — Rick Celebrini also worked for the Canucks — as peers.

Now, he’ll start forging his own legacy on the south end of the Bay.

LAS VEGAS — Even when everyone within the constructing knows who’s going first overall, there is frequently at the very least a pseudo-suspense when Gary Bettman first steps as much as the microphone to announce the highest pick.

Even that, nevertheless, was ruled out over six weeks ahead of time when Sharks general manager Mike Grier was asked whether Boston University’s Macklin Celebrini could be his selection after winning the lottery initially of May.

“I might say, I might think so,” Grier said. “Yeah.”

And so there was not even a cursory sheen of nerves on Friday when franchise great Joe Thornton announced that the Sharks would, indeed, kick off the draft by taking Celebrini, who won the Hobey Baker Award last yr as the highest player in college hockey. 

Celebrini joins a franchise whose junior team he played for as recently as 2018 when his father, Rick, joined the Golden State Warriors as director of sports medicine and performance.

“It’s crazy,” Celebrini said on Sportsnet. “Truthfully it’s surreal that life got here full circle and I’m back to where I used to be.”

Celebrini’s ascension to No. 1 was followed by Chicago taking Michigan State defenseman Artyom Levshunov second overall and Anaheim taking OHL forward Beckett Sennecke third.

The Blue Jackets then took WHL center Cayden Lindstrom fourth, followed by Celine Dion announcing Montreal would choose Russian defenseman Ivan Demidov fifth.

It’s not yet clear whether Celebrini, who played his freshman yr of school at age 17 before becoming a legal adult a mere two weeks ago, will sign with the Sharks or return to BU for one more season. 

After scoring 32 goals with 32 assists in a mere 38 games, leading the Terriers to the Frozen 4, there’s an argument to be made that Celebrini outgrew college hockey before even attending to the age when most children step on campus.

However the Sharks, within the midst of a painful rebuild, will likely be cognizant about ensuring that Celebrini will not be exposed if he starts the yr within the NHL.

At this early juncture of the offseason — San Jose has just nine forwards under contract with roughly $30.4 million of salary cap space, per CapFriendly — it’s not clear who would play alongside the left-handed center if he makes the jump.

If he does, the Sharks would likely must attempt to add more talent than they featured last season, if only to assist the rookie develop as he adjusts to playing against adults.

Whether he goes to the league immediately or not, Celebrini marks a badly-needed stroke of luck for a franchise that has not made the playoffs since 2019.

He will not be considered the type of generational prospect that Connor Bedard was a yr ago, but Celebrini has earned plaudits for his all-around ability and two-way play — and was the no-doubt No. 1 pick on this draft.

The Vancouver native is already used to the Bay Area, and since of his father’s job, counts the likes of Steve Nash and Ryan Kesler — Rick Celebrini also worked for the Canucks — as peers.

Now, he’ll start forging his own legacy on the south end of the Bay.