MAJOR | Top 2024 Draft Prospect has a message for the Canucks heading into his draft year

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Felip Gosselin
April 29, 2023 (6:48 PM)

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The Canucks' fate regarding the 2023 Draft will be decided on May 8th. We will then find out whether or not their 3% chance will be enough to win the Connor Bedard lottery.

While the Canucks have playoff hopes heading into the 2023-2024 season, one of the top prospects for the 2024 Draft had a very special message to send to the Canucks and it's definitely a good sign for Vancouver.

Macklin Celebrini, yet another top-end prospect from Vancouver, BC. not only revealed that he was a huge fan of his hometown team but also made quite the statement regarding his draft eligibility:

''Well, I think they should be in a rebuild phase. I love the team''

Standing at 5'11'' and 180 pounds at only 16 years of age, he just registered the best-ever 16-year-old USHL season. He collected nothing less than 86 points in only 50 games and he's coming up big for Canada at the U18, tourney in which he has 12 points in 6 games.

Adam Fantilli, who everybody sees as the clear 2nd overall pick behind Bedard, had 36 points as a 16-year-old and 74 at 17. Fair to say that Celebrini is a heck of a hockey player, he's already committed himself to Boston University for the upcoming season.

It's not a done deal yet, but there is a 97% that the Canucks will have missed their shot on Bedard, Celebrini sent a clear message to the Canucks' management saying that they should rebuild in order to draft him. This obviously comes as good news, since it shows that prospects want to come and play in Vancouver, as the team tries and sign more NCAA prospects and free agents, it's positive.