© Jessi Pierce

LAKE ELMO, Minn. — Macklin Celebrini is finding it difficult to wait for his first NHL training camp with the San Jose Sharks next month.

“The level of my excitement couldn’t be higher,” expressed the 18-year-old center and No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft at the Hobey Baker Memorial Tournament at Royal Golf Club on Thursday. “I was contemplating their prospect pool and the significant additions they’ve made. The caliber of those players is impressive. Coupled with the competent front office team, my excitement is at its peak.”

The winner of the 2024 Hobey Baker Memorial Award for the top player in NCAA men’s hockey, Celebrini, signed his entry-level contract with the Sharks on July 6, bypassing his sophomore season at Boston University. Following the development camp in San Jose from July 2-4, he has been training in his hometown of North Vancouver, British Columbia.

“He expressed his excitement for the future of his new team, stating that he believes they’re heading in the right direction.”

The Sharks are focused on flipping the script after finishing last in the NHL (19-54-9) in 2023-24 and failing to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the fifth straight season. Besides Celebrini, they made several significant additions, signing forwards Tyler Toffoli (four-year contract) and Alex Wennberg (two years) on July 1 and claiming two-time Stanley Cup winning forward Barclay Goodrow off waivers from the New York Rangers on June 24.

Will Smith, a 19-year-old center prospect, was chosen as the No. 4 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft. As a freshman at Boston College, Smith broke the program record for a first-year player scoring 71 points (25 goals, 46 assists) in 41 games, leading the NCAA. His performance was instrumental in leading the Eagles to the national title game, where they were defeated 2-0 by the University of Denver.

“Celebrini spoke highly of Smith, whom he met at a development camp. “He’s a wonderful person and we had a good rapport,” he said. “Working together will be enjoyable. We share the objective of propelling this team and organization to the greatest possible heights, which is absolutely fantastic.”

Last season, Celebrini scored 64 points from 32 goals and 32 assists in 38 games. He made history by becoming the youngest player ever to win the Hobey Baker Award at the age of 17. In the NCAA, he ranked second in terms of points per game (1.68) and goals, and was the third highest scorer in points.

He mentioned that he continues to refine his 200-foot game and wall play, following his time at the development camp. He is well aware of the immense pressure that comes with trying to improve the Sharks’ performance, but insists that he couldn’t be more prepared.

“Celebrini stated, “The thought of failure doesn’t usually cross your mind before you’ve even begun. Our aim is to secure as many victories as we can. The idea of starting a season with the expectation of losing games is not something we entertain. That’s the mindset we’re setting. We have the right team for it, and our offseason moves have been impressive.”

This is my initial training camp, hence I am experiencing a mix of nervousness and anticipation. However, I believe it’s essential not to allow these emotions to overwhelm you, but rather use them as motivation. Ultimately, it’s crucial to focus on the aspects within your control, and the rest will naturally fall into place. That’s my current focus.