SAN JOSE – Maybe nobody contained in the San Jose Sharks group is extra desperate to play a hockey sport proper now than prime prospect Macklin Celebrini.
After a seemingly infinite however memorable offseason full of journey and varied obligations — together with ones simply within the final week in each Arlington, Va. and Las Vegas — Celebrini was again in San Jose on Wednesday, becoming a member of different Sharks roster hopefuls for an up-tempo follow forward of the upcoming Rookie Faceoff occasion in Southern California.
“There’s been a lot buildup to the season, and I’m simply excited to play my first sport,” Celebrini, the 2024 first-overall draft decide, stated afterward, “and eventually put the jersey on and really begin to play.”
The Sharks are clearly wanting ahead to that as properly.
Common supervisor Mike Grier and a number of other different Sharks’ entrance workplace members intently watched Wednesday’s hour-long skate, desperate to see Celebrini, the 2023-24 Hobey Baker Award winner, mesh along with his teammates on the ice and successfully begin his professional profession.
Celebrini’s very first aggressive sport since Might, when he and Crew Canada performed Austria in a pre-World Championships exhibition, will probably be Friday on the Toyota Efficiency Middle in El Segundo. The Sharks prospects open the occasion that day in opposition to Utah at 1 p.m., adopted by video games in opposition to Anaheim on Sunday and Colorado on Monday.
Even in an occasion full of gifted younger gamers, all eyes determine to be on Celebrini, who is anticipated to develop into the primary 18-year-old to make the Sharks’ opening-day roster since Patrick Marleau joined the crew in 1997, simply months after he was taken second general.
Wednesday, he displayed the skating, passing and capturing traits that made him the highest participant within the draft.
“There’s big pleasure,” stated Barracuda coach John McCarthy, San Jose’s bench boss for the occasion. “We didn’t do a complete lot in the present day, however you’ll be able to see the expertise, and it’s also possible to see the work ethic. He doesn’t need to get off the ice. He’s sort of hungry that means.
“It’s a very thrilling time for the group.”
Following the entire hoopla main as much as the NHL Draft, Celebrini obtained an opportunity to take pleasure in some downtime earlier this summer season after he signed his entry-level contract with the Sharks in early July.
Celebrini can be again within the public eye quickly sufficient, as he and fellow prospects Will Smith and Shakir Mukhamadullin started this month in Arlington, Va., doing interviews and posing for his or her first hockey playing cards as a part of the NHL Gamers’ Affiliation’s Rookie Showcase.
Earlier this week, Celebrini was in Las Vegas, the place he spoke briefly and posed for a photograph with Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby and fulfilled extra media obligations with American and Canadian reporters.
It is perhaps the tip of the iceberg for Celebrini, who begins his rookie season as the brand new face of the Sharks franchise.
Together with enjoying an 82-game schedule and the eye he’ll obtain domestically, Celebrini will little question have extra calls for on his time when the Sharks start the common season and journey to hockey-mad markets in Canada and the U.S.
Even for a mature-beyond-his-years teenager like Celebrini, it’s lots to digest as a first-year skilled. However Connor Bedard, the No. 1 general decide in 2023, had some recommendation for CelebrinI for the beginning of his professional profession.
“Simply play the sport, have enjoyable. That’s sort of the principle factor,” Bedard informed reporters in San Jose in March when requested about Celebrini. “There’s a lot that goes on outdoors that’s nice, however truthfully, a few of it isn’t that a lot enjoyable.
“If you truly get on the ice and also you’re simply doing what you like, that’s the perfect a part of your day. That’s sort of how I approached it.”
Celebrini is surrounding himself with the proper individuals to assist him with the transition to professional hockey. He introduced on the NHLPA occasion that he’ll be dwelling this season with Sharks icon Joe Thornton.
Thornton, who Grier jokingly known as the Sharks’ “director of vibes,” was picked first general by the Boston Bruins in 1997.
“Residing with him, I believe it’s the proper state of affairs for me coming into this yr, as a result of he just about handled the identical factor a short time again,” Celebrini stated Monday in Las Vegas. “Simply to study from his recommendation, his classes and his knowledge is tremendous vital for me.”
Celebrini’s dad and mom additionally dwell within the East Bay, and the Sharks have individuals in place to assist all NHL gamers with their every day lives. Celebrini talked about Rosemary Tebaldi, the Sharks’ vice chairman, hockey administration, as somebody invaluable to him.
“I’ve so many individuals round me that sort of have helped me with journey, schedule-wise,” Celebrini stated. “So I’m very fortunate, or else I’d be misplaced.”
With Celebrini set to maneuver in with Thornton quickly, Smith, 19, might be dwelling with Marleau this yr.
“None of us have been the primary general decide. We don’t know what it’s like,” McCarthy stated. “So for these guys who know what it’s like and to have gone by means of it’s a big useful resource for these youngsters.”
After the Rookie Faceoff, the Sharks will start predominant camp on Sept. 19 and play their first preseason sport on Sept. 22 at residence in opposition to the Vegas Golden Knights. Their regular-season opener is on Oct. 10 at residence in opposition to the St. Louis Blues.
However for Celebrini, the thrill begins this weekend.
“I haven’t performed a sport in three and a half months,” Celebrini stated. “So in all probability simply attempt to play one other sport, have some enjoyable, sort of construct relationships with my new teammates, and simply take pleasure in going to L.A. for a pair video games.”
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