Three NHL scouts explain how likely No. 1 pick Celebrini improves Sharks originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Editor’s Note: Sheng Peng will be a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
“The Sharks have never had a player and leader of this caliber, ever.”
Per one NHL scout who spoke to San Jose Hockey Now, that’s what winning Tuesday’s 2024 NHL Draft Lottery – and making Macklin Celebrini the No. 1 overall pick in June – could mean to the Sharks.
So, could Celebrini have more of an impact on the franchise than, say, even Joe Thornton?
That scout doesn’t project Celebrini to put up points as Thornton did — Jumbo’s 1,539 points are the 14th most in NHL history — but Thornton, the No. 1 pick by the Boston Bruins in the 1997 draft, had to grow into a better two-way center and as a leader over his Hall of Fame-worthy career.
There appears to be a lesser learning curve for the Boston University pivot, according to three NHL scouts from outside the Sharks organization who spoke to San Jose Hockey Now.
“Off the ice, his leadership and work ethic will set a championship-caliber tone,” NHL scout No. 1 said. “He’s a No. 1 center that will drive scoring and winning.”
“He’ll be more of a lead-by-example guy, from what I understand,” NHL scout No. 2 said. “Plays and leads with his effort on the ice, and that carries weight on the bench and in the locker room.”
NHL scout No. 3 echoed that: “[The Sharks will] be getting a true No. 1 two-way NHL center. He’s a really good person, and his teammates gravitate to him.”
“Celebrini is the complete package on the ice,” NHL scout No. 2 said. “This draft class is a little on the weak side, but I think even in other years, he’s going to stack up well with other first overall picks, if not better. High skill and IQ, skating, full attention to detail. 200-foot player. Plays hard.
“Hard to find any true faults in his game, other than that he is on the smaller side, although he’s pretty robust, listed at 189 pounds.”
Former Sharks coach David Quinn summed up the 6-foot centerman’s potential value after the team locked up the best odds in the draft lottery last month.
“[He’s] what [the Sharks] want to be as an organization, what the sport demands. He’s got high, high skill, but he’s got a hardness…