NHL

Breaking: San Jose Sharks Rookie’s NHL Debut Turned Into a Massive Injury

Nero Scofield

On Thursday, October 10th, the San Jose Sharks greeted rookies Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith as they skated their four laps around the Shark Tank. They made their first appearance in front of a packed house at the SAP Center against the St. Louis Blues. However, we can confirm today, through Elliotte Friedman, that Macklin Celebrini has indeed suffered an injury that will keep him sidelined for a minimum of a week starting from Thursday.

Macklin Celebrini Suffers an Injury

Macklin Celebrini entered the season following a brief absence due to a lower-body injury, which had been bothering him during training camp and preseason. It’s unclear whether this latest injury originated from the October 1st game against the Utah Hockey Club. During that game, he took a tumble near the opponent’s net and collided with the boards. Although he played a few more shifts, he left at the end of the second period and did not return, missing the remainder of the preseason. While it’s not definitively known if this is the same injury that’s been aggravated, it is confirmed he will be sidelined.

Who Could Step in for Celebrini?

The Sharks are set to face the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday, October 12th, marking their first meeting of the regular season. In the preseason, the Sharks had one victory against the Ducks but also two losses. With Celebrini out for this game, Will Smith emerges as a strong candidate to fill in. A fourth-round pick in the 2023 draft, Smith began his NHL career alongside Celebrini and is regarded as another top prospect for the team. He has previously played with Mikael Granlund and Fabian Zetterlund, recording two shots on goal but no points, and averaging 13:41 of ice time.

Celebrini’s Impressive Journey

Celebrini comes into the season boasting impressive stats from his year at Boston College, where he recorded 64 points (32 goals and 32 assists) over 38 games. He became the youngest player to win the Hobey Baker Award and was named Rookie of the Year. In the USHL, he received both the Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year awards, and he was part of the USHL First All-Star Team in 2023. Additionally, he earned a place on the 2024 NCAA Hockey First All-American Team. Macklin was selected by the San Jose Sharks as their first-round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft in Las Vegas, NV.

Star Rookie Showing His Value on the Ice

Celebrini is the youngest player in San Jose Sharks history to score on the night of his NHL debut. He also became the second-fastest first-round pick to find the net in his first game. The match began with him winning a face-off against Robert Thomas of the St. Louis Blues.

Just seven minutes into the first period, Celebrini netted the first goal of his career. While celebrating with his teammates, he discovered he was the one who had put the Sharks on the scoreboard, having initially thought that Eklund had scored. Shortly after his goal, he assisted Tyler Toffoli for his first goal of the season. Celebrini logged 17:35 of ice time, playing alongside Tyler Toffoli and William Eklund. However, he did not participate in the last 3:42 of the third period but returned for overtime.

Celebrini has become an essential factor in the Sharks’ success. He has an excellent understanding of the game, scoring during both the preseason and regular season, while also contributing to his teammates’ achievements. His commitment to the sport is evident, and if he needs to take time off, his absence could significantly impact the team’s performance.

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