The San Jose Sharks have been one of many NHL’s worst groups the previous couple of years, however they’ve some long-term hope after deciding on ahead Macklin Celebrini with the No. 1 total choose within the 2024 NHL Draft.
On Thursday, Celebrini made his NHL debut and wasted no time in making an influence.
He scored his first NHL purpose lower than seven minutes into the sport, and it was a fairly weird play.
As Celebrini made a spinning, backhand move towards the middle of the ice, it bounced off the skate of a St. Louis Blues defender and went into the web to present the Sharks — and Celebrini — the purpose.
Celebrini doesn’t venture to be a star on the Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin or Connor McDavid degree, however he may find yourself being on the tier beneath that and be a real franchise-changing, cornerstone participant.
That’s precisely what the Sharks want.
San Jose was one of the crucial constant contenders within the league for the higher a part of 20 years between 1997 and 2019. They’ve since missed the playoffs in every of the previous 5 seasons (the longest playoff drought in franchise historical past) and just lately began an enormous rebuild. Celebrini is the focus of that rebuild, and he gave Sharks followers a glimpse of their future on Thursday evening.