Local Vancouver product & 1st overall pick, Macklin Celebrini scores gorgeous first goal in NHL debut
Thursday night was a special one for local Vancouver product Macklin Celebrini as he made his highly anticipated debut with the San Jose Sharks.
The 2024 NHL Draft's slam-dunk number-one overall pick lived up to the hype from the moment he stepped on the ice. At just 17 years old, Celebrini dominated the NCAA with Boston University, tallying an incredible 64 points in 38 games and earning the prestigious Hobey Baker Award as the nation's best player.
Though his draft hype didn't quite reach the stratospheric levels of Connor Bedard, Connor McDavid, or Sidney Crosby, Celebrini wasn't far behind. He solidified his spot as the clear-cut top pick after a standout performance at the World Juniors, where, despite being two years underage, he was hands down Canada's best player.
Celebrini wasted no time making an impact in his first NHL game, scoring his debut goal just 7:01 into the contest. After joining fellow college hockey standout Will Smith for the traditional rookie lap with no buckets on, their hair flapping in the breeze, the nerves seemed to fade.
His goal came from a smart play, where he spun off a defender and looked to make a backhand pass to teammate William Eklund. Instead, the puck deflected off a St. Louis Blues defenseman's skate and into the net. Though it might have been a lucky bounce, the setup was pure skill-a fitting start for a player whose vision and hockey IQ on the ice have already made waves.
Celebrini is already proving why he's poised to be a franchise cornerstone for the Sharks, and fans in Vancouver and across the league are eager (and nervous) to see what the young phenom does in his career.
