Macklin Celebrini Is Already Experiencing the Highs and Lows of the NHL
Image Credit: NHLPA
On October 10, the first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, Macklin Celebrini, made his league debut against the St. Louis Blues. While the San Jose Sharks would go on to lose the game 5-4 in overtime, Celebrini showcased exactly why he was picked before everyone else in the draft.
Within the first seven minutes of the game, Celebrini scored the first goal of his NHL career. While it was an intended pass that took a lucky bounce off the skate of Matthew Kessel, it is still one of the best debut goals in recent memory.
Later in the first period, he recorded his first assist in the NHL as well. As he controlled the puck behind the goal, Celebrini was able to spin around and find newcomer Tyler Toffoli right in front of the net.
As mentioned before, the Sharks were not able to come away with a win, but Celebrini showed a lot of promise (recording two points in the process). He is now the most recent number one overall pick to record multiple points in a debut game since Auston Matthews back in 2016.
However, with highs come lows in the NHL as it was reported on October 12, that Celebrini would be heading to the injured reserved list with a hip injury. Less than two weeks ago, the 18-year-old injured his hip after sliding into the boards during a preseason game against the Utah Hockey Club. He played through the injury during his debut, but reaggravated sometime during the game.
With his name being put on IR, he will miss a minimum of seven days from his last game, meaning that he is eligible to return on October 18 according to the NHL. This doesn’t seem like a major injury as he is only considered “week to week”, but the Sharks will be missing him immensely. In their first game without their star player, they lost 2-0 against the Anaheim Ducks. With a difficult schedule over the next week consisting of the Dallas Stars, Chicago Blackhawks, Winnipeg Jets, and Colorado Avalanche, other players are going to have to step up.
As far as Sharks Head Coach, Ryan Warsofky, is concerned when asked about the injury:
“Life’s unfair at times, but I think mentally, he’s good.”