Checking in on Sharks Rookies Macklin Celebrini & Will Smith at American Thanksgiving – The Hockey Writers – San Jose Sharks

While American Thanksgiving is a checkpoint during the NHL schedule, that’s not a major concern for the San Jose Sharks this season. They are near the bottom of the standings and are focused on improving from last season and seeing positive results from their young players. No one draws more focus than the Sharks’ last two top selections, Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. These two forwards are part of the core of the team’s future success, and their early play offers some indication of strengths, weaknesses and next steps. With Thanksgiving now passed, here’s a look at where Smith and Celebrini stand.

Celebrini Emerging as Skilled Two-Way Forward

After shaking off an injury that caused him to miss 12 games, Celebrini is showing exactly what the Sharks hoped he would contribute when they drafted him first overall this summer. He is scoring at nearly a point-per-game rate, demonstrating both a lethal shot and control of the puck that allows him to create space for his teammates.

Celebrini’s talent isn’t just limited to his goal contributions. He has been among the NHL’s best at winning puck battles and executing zone entries, both areas where the Sharks have struggled in recent seasons. He is proving to be a strong defender with superb back-checking and a high hockey IQ, which allows him to constantly find the right spot on the ice. Add that he’s just 18 years old, and he becomes perhaps the main source of optimism for the future of the franchise.

Celebrini will need to maintain this level of play for an entire season, but he’s never played an 82-game campaign before. However, just over the quarter mark, he’s off to an ideal start.

Smith Gradually Making Progress

Smith’s time in the NHL got off to a slow start. He didn’t score a goal until his ninth game and didn’t manage an assist until his 11th. He had plenty of stretches of making good players and others where he wasn’t impacting the game much at all. The coaching staff tried plenty of ways to get him going, from shifting his role on the power play to changing his linemates to moving him to the wing, as his lack of scoring was negatively impacting the team and harmed Smith’s confidence as well.

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