Macklin Celebrini Picked No. 1 By Sharks in 2024 NHL Draft as Fans Hype Rising Star

The San Jose Sharks' rebuild got a major boost Friday night with the top pick of the 2024 NHL draft.

The Sharks selected Boston University standout Macklin Celebrini:

Celebrini's selection was expected since the Sharks finished the 2023-24 season with an NHL-low 19 wins.

The Sharks will enter a new era with Celebrini, who has been billed as a two-way prospect comparable to Sidney Crosby since his Hobey Baker-winning college debut season.

Celebrini recorded 32 goals and 32 assists in just 38 games for the Terriers last season.

Prior to establishing himself as a Boston University star, Celebrini was named the 2022-23 USHL Forward of the Year after leading the league with 46 goals and 86 points in 50 games for the Chicago Steel.

In both the NCAA and USHL, Celebrini stood out not for just his scoring abilities, but his passing and defensive strengths as well.

Those qualities will help the Sharks forget about a dismal 2023-24 campaign that included a record-tying 11-game season-opening winless streak.

Celebrini will now join former Boston College standout Will Smith and 2021 first-rounder William Eklund to form the Sharks' new offensive core.

The Sharks had more than $30 million in projected cap space available heading into the draft, per CapFriendly.

That will leave the franchise with more than enough room to begin building a new roster around Celebrini, Smith, Eklund and the Sharks' upcoming No. 11 pick as San Jose looks to climb back toward playoff contention.