Celebrini signs contract with Sharks and will be professional next season Originally appeared in NBC Bay Area Sports
Get excited, Sharks fans!
Macklin Celebrini has signed an NHL entry-level contract with San Jose, general manager Mike Grier announced Saturday.
That means the 18-year-old phenom will play in the NHL through the 2024-25 season. Officially turning pro after it was unclear if Celebrini would return for another season at Boston University after the Sharks He selected him as the number one overall in it 2024 NHL Draft.
Sheng Peng of San Jose Hockey Now was First to report the news.
After a difficult five-year stretch for San Jose capped by a dismal 2023-24 season, Celebrini’s arrival generates palpable excitement for The future of hockey in Northern California.
Celebrini dominated the college game as a 17-year-old, taking home Hobey Baker Memorial Award honors as the NCAA’s top player after a solid campaign at BU.
The number one general election He got his first taste of the Sharks’ passionate fan base during this week’s development camp in San Jose, praising the support he and his teammates received from fans in the stands.
“It’s nice that they love you,” Celebrini said. “They (Sharks fans) were there today supporting us. From everything I’ve heard, they’re some of the best fans in the league. So I’m excited to start playing in front of them.”
With Celebrini officially signed to an NHL contract, San Jose will now have its Two outstanding prospects with the Sharks next season, as the 4th overall pick in 2023 Will Smith made its transition to professionals official in May.
After the youth centers showed a solid performance During Thursday’s prospects scrimmage, there was plenty of reason to be optimistic about the long-term outlook for San Jose as the proud franchise looked to regain its foothold among the NHL’s elite.
There is still a long way to go before the Sharks complete their ambitious rebuild, but Celebrini’s arrival signals new hope and, more importantly, justified expectation of an exciting product on the ice as San Jose begins a new era led by the young phenom.
