San Jose Sharks sign 2024 first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini to entry-level contract
The San Jose Sharks have landed their big fish.
The team announced on Saturday they have come to terms with 2024 first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini on a three-year entry-level contract. Celebrini, 18, appeared in 38 NCAA games for Boston University this past season, and as a freshman, recorded 32 goals and 32 assists.
Sharks fans, we (officially) got him 🔏 pic.twitter.com/VnCbaGbvD4
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) July 6, 2024According to PuckPedia, Celebrini’s deal includes a $975,000 average annual value and including bonuses, is worth $4.47 million throughout the three years.
Celebrini’s collegiate season was full of accolades including winning the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s top player, becoming only the fourth freshman in NCAA history to take home the award, and the youngest ever to win.
Before joining BU, Celebrini played one season in the United States Hockey League for the Chicago Steel, where he tallied 86 points in just 50 games. Joining the Sharks organization is somewhat of a full circle moment for Celebrini as he played for the San Jose Jr. Sharks back in 2019-20, where once again he posted impressive numbers, collecting 94 points in 54 games.
The 6-foot 190-pound native of Vancouver, British Columbia appears all but set to join the Sharks next season. Celebrini is known for being a complete 200-foot player who doesn’t cheat on defense, despite owning elite offensive instincts. He tailors his game after Sidney Crosby, someone he idolized growing up.
Daily Faceoff’s prospect guru Steven Ellis had this to say about Celebrini before the 2024 NHL Draft:
“The undisputed No. 1 prospect is as complete as it gets, putting up great numbers while still backchecking like his life depends on it. Celebrini is good in the draw, with his pure strength allowing him to win so many faceoffs even against older competition. He’ll be San Jose’s No. 1 for a while, finding ways to make himself valuable even if he isn’t producing much on the scoresheet. As a middleman, he’s better than Bedard. Skill-wise, not on par, but still quite amazing on his own. First overall picks always get significant attention and sometimes even get overhyped. With Celebrini, you can see all the translatable skills, plus how well he handled playing against older competition at only 17. Just think where he’ll be in five more years.”
The Sharks may have been the NHL’s worst team last season but their future is very bright. Celebrini joins a prospect pool that includes the likes of Will Smith, William Eklund, Quentin Musty, David Edstrom, among many others.