What’s next for Sharks prospects after NHL Rookie Faceoff sweep? originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is 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.
LOS ANGELES — It’s time to look ahead for the Sharks.
The Sharks’ NHL Rookie Faceoff sweep — they walloped another team Monday, doubling up the Colorado Avalanche 6-3 — is, of course, exciting. San Jose dominated the tournament, going 3-0 and outscoring opponents a combined 16-7.
But the fruits of this labor probably won’t be obvious for a few seasons yet. Most of the Sharks prospects in this tournament aren’t close to NHL-ready.
Training camp, however, opens Thursday for the Sharks.
Which top Rookie Faceoff prospects will start the 2024-25 NHL season with the Sharks or Barracuda?
Here are our predictions, from most to least likely.
Celebrini needed only one game to show the Sharks he didn’t have to play the Rookie Faceoff anymore.
He’s only 18, but the centerman looks strong and defensively sound enough to make an NHL impact immediately.
He’s also got No. 1 overall skill.
“I thought Macklin was uber competitive,” Sharks Rookie Faceoff coach John McCarthy said. “I re-watched the game [he played]. Every loose puck, he’s inside, he’s winning.”
Celebrini is breaking camp with the Sharks.
Will Smith
Smith is noticeably more deliberate with the puck than Celebrini, but that’s not a bad thing. The No. 4 overall pick of the 2023 NHL Draft has the talent to be just as productive as Celebrini, if not more so, in the pros.
“I thought Will did a really nice job in the offensive zone, seeing the ice, letting plays develop, super poised with the puck on the stick,” McCarthy said.
Smith should break camp with the Sharks, but his off-puck play is still raw, so there will be some obvious defensive growing pains.
Ethan Cardwell
The 5-foot-11 winger keeps adding muscle, which McCarthy noted, without losing any pop in his step.
Cardwell was an impact player in this tournament, though he should be as a 21-year-old.
His NHL debut appears to be just around the corner, and his speed and complete and direct game make him a dark horse to break camp with the Sharks. More likely, Cardwell should be one of the Barracuda’s top players and perhaps earn a late-season call-up to San Jose.
Graf made his NHL debut last…