San Jose Sharks star rookie Macklin Celebrini is having quite the week of hockey moments.
On Monday, the 18-year-old center was named a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy for the NHL’s Rookie of the Year. Fellow Boston University alumnus and Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson and Los Gatos, CA native Dustin Wolf are the other nominees.
Celebrini was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, and according to Sharks GM Mike Grier, surpassed everyone’s expectations.
“He had a great year. He exceeded my expectations for him, and probably some of his teammates,” Grier said. “I thought he carried the load for us, which is tough for an 18-year-old. He drove the group forward and had to play tough matchups every night, especially after [Mikael Granlund] got traded. That wasn’t easy for him. But I think he handled everything well, the scrutiny, the media attention, and everything. I am really proud of him and how he competed every night. I am happy he was able to be nominated for the award.”
Celebrini will pay with hockey idols at Worlds
Macklin Celebrini will play for Team Canada at the 2025 IIHF World Championship. Other Sharks to play at Worlds include Will Smith, Alexander Wennberg, and formerly William Eklund (out due to injury). Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky is also the head coach of Team USA.
With the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs over, countries can invite players from NHL clubs that are no longer in the running for the Stanley Cup.
That includes the 2024 NHL MVP Nathan MacKinnon. The Colorado Avalanche forward was eliminated by the Dallas Stars in game seven via heartbreak by Mikko Rantanen.
It is also well known that MacKinnon is good friends with Pittsburgh Penguins legend Sidney Crosby. Crosby announced this week that he will play for Canada at Worlds for the first time since 2015.
Celebrini told San Jose Sharks media members throughout the season that he looks up to Crosby.
“He’s been the face of the League for so long that it doesn’t even feel real,” the Sharks center said the morning before facing Crosby for the first time on November 16, 2024.
Crosby will also reunite with his long-time Penguins teammate Marc-Andre Fleury on Canada. Like Celebrini, this is Fleury’s first time playing for Team Canada at the World Championship. Fleury was expected to retire following the Minnesota Wild’s first-round exit, but is delaying that to play with Crosby one last time.
The San Jose Sharks’ rookie center gets to be around the NHL’s best and greatest legends of recent history. Not only that, but Celebrini is expected to take on a top role for Canada. He scored a goal in Canada’s pre-tournament 5-1 win over Austria.
Celebrini is wearing No. 96 and is playing on the top line for Canada in their final pre-tournament game against Hungary.
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