The San Jose Sharks took Boston University star forward Macklin Celebrini with the first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft on Friday.

Celebrini went wire to wire as the consensus top prospect in the class. He dominated the NCAA at just 17 years old, becoming the youngest to win the Hobey Baker Award as men's collegiate hockey's top player.

Though scouts don't consider the Vancouver native a generational prospect like Chicago Blackhawks phenom Connor Bedard, Celebrini's success at every level and his complete game make him a future No. 1 center and star for the Sharks.

San Jose legend Joe Thornton announced the pick.

Celebrini said he hasn't yet decided if he's going to return to Boston University or join the Sharks next season.

"I've still gotta talk to (general manager) Mike Grier and the San Jose organization and my coaches back at BU," he said. "But I'll make a decision soon."

"We obviously think he's ready to play in the NHL and would love to have him," Grier said. "But those are discussions we'll have with him and his family."

Macklin Celebrini

Celebrini is no stranger to the Bay Area. His father, Rick Celebrini, has worked for the NBA's Golden State Warriors since 2018. Macklin even played a season with the San Jose Jr. Sharks at the Under-14 level.

"It's crazy," Celebrini said after being drafted. "It's surreal that life came full circle and that I'm back to where I was."

He began cementing his place as the best prospect in the 2024 class with the USHL's Chicago Steel. At 16 years old, Celebrini led the league in goals (46) and points (86) in only 50 games. He became the first player to win Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year in the same campaign since the USHL became a Tier 1 junior league in 2001.

He backed up that impressive campaign at the 2023 World Under-18 Championship. Celebrini led Team Canada with 15 points in the seven-game tournament, the most ever by a 16-year-old Canadian at the time (Gavin McKenna broke the record this spring). Connor McDavid, Connor Bedard, and Shane Wright had the previous mark with 14 points.

The huge USHL campaign and U18s put pressure on Celebrini to perform immediately as the youngest player in college hockey. And he more than delivered.

We've seen draft-eligible players like Jack Eichel and Adam Fantilli dominate college hockey. What differentiates Celebrini's season is how young he was.

Both Eichel and Fantilli turned 18 in October of their draft year. Celebrini didn't celebrate his 18th birthday until June 13. The last 17-year-old to score like Celebrini did was Craig Simpson in 1985.

Though Canada disappointed at the world juniors, Celebrini was easily the team's best player despite being its youngest.

It's rare for someone as young as Celebrini to play in the NCAA, let alone become the league's best player. He's crushed the competition at each stage, both at the club level and internationally. Next up is the NHL.

What they're saying

"(Celebrini) checks every box you want in a top prospect and is one of the few players I've scouted where it's hard to see any noticeable weakness," The Athletic's Corey Pronman wrote.

"An all-around center with commitment to defensive play and playing on the interior, Celebrini has skill, competitiveness, work ethic, and hockey sense that is consistent with a top-line center in the NHL," wrote FloHockey's Chris Peters.

"He has shown again and again that he has … everything you look for in the mold of a center and has looked like a true star-forward prospect domestically and internationally," The Athletic's Scott Wheeler wrote.

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Ohhh soo close to July 1st free agency, and the Canucks continue to make news before they get there. Matt and Blake go over all the details of the Tyler Myers contract. We hear from the Canucks defence man as well, and then they tackle the decision to walk away from negotiations with Nikita Zadorov, with comments from Patrick Allvin as well. Plus, they start to drill down on where the remaining free agent dollars could be spent, more on the wing or more on defence?

The Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli stops by with his latest on all the signings and rumoured landing spots, including Jake Guentzel and the possibility of Sam Reinhart getting to market. Plus, what's up with these rumours around the Canucks' goaltending situation?

Then Rink Wide: Vancouver host Jeff Paterson stops by to give his report card on all the Canucks move from the past week, and his predictions on what’s to come. Follow us on social. Thank you to our sponsors:

bet365 | Whatever the moment, it's Never Ordinary at bet365. Download the App today & use Promo Code VANBONUS

Great Clips | It’s Gonna Be Great

GRETA Bar Vancouver | Our Home For Food, Drinks & Watching The Game

Northlands Golf Course | 6-90 Day Reservations - Jump The Queue & Lock In Your Dates For $10 Per Player Booking Fee

Sleep Douglas | Named Canada's Best Mattress

Vancouver Canadians | Get your tickets HERE

Whistler Golf Club | Book Your Tee Times At The Arnold Palmer-Designed Course!

Yellow Dog Brewing | Located in Port Moody (2817 Murray Street)

Watch Sekeres & Price LIVE on YouTube

Visit CanucksArmy.com for the latest on the Canucks!

Follow host Matt Sekeres

Follow host Blake Price

Follow producer Grady Sas

Powered by The Nation Network. Reach out to sales@nationnetwork.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Edmonton Oilers signed backup goaltender Calvin Pickard to a two-year contract extension worth $1 million per season, the club announced Friday.

Pickard grabbed the Oilers' No. 2 netminding job and played well amid Jack Campbell's struggles this past season. Pickard went 12-7-1 with a .909 save percentage in 23 games (20 starts) in the regular season.

The 32-year-old also played three games and started two during Edmonton's second-round series against the Vancouver Canucks, which his club won in seven. Pickard went 1-1 with a .915 save percentage in those contests, prevailing in Game 4 but losing Game 5.

Pickard spent the 2022-23 campaign with the Oilers' AHL affiliate, the Bakersfield Condors. He signed a two-year, two-way pact with Edmonton in July 2022. That deal carried a cap hit of $762,500, according to CapFriendly.

The journeyman puck-stopper spent time with five other organizations before landing in Edmonton. He played parts of three seasons with the Detroit Red Wings, parts of one campaign apiece with the Arizona Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, and Toronto Maple Leafs, and three with the Colorado Avalanche to begin his career.

Pickard suited up for a career-high 50 games with the Avalanche in 2016-17. He went 15-31-2 with a .904 save percentage that season.

Colorado drafted Pickard 49th overall in 2010.

Copyright © 2024 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.