SAN JOSE – The San Jose Sharks started promoting Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith jerseys after every participant signed their entry-level contracts. Each gamers have been prominently featured on the workforce’s social media accounts all offseason, utilized in half to assist impress a fanbase that’s been starved for a winner.
“I’m excited. I know the fans are excited,” Sharks captain Logan Couture mentioned. “You drive around, and you feel the buzz.”
The explanations are apparent. Celebrini and Smith are the Sharks’ two greatest prospects in a technology, gifted gamers thought of future franchise cornerstones.
However they’ll additionally seemingly face some adversity of their rookie NHL seasons, particularly on a Sharks workforce that’s anticipated to complete at or close to the underside of the standings as soon as once more.
What occurs in the event that they go 5 or 6 video games with out a level, probably for the primary time of their lives? What if one in all their turnovers prices the Sharks a win, or in the event that they see their ice time in the reduction of?
The very best hockey league on the earth will be humbling at occasions for a young person, even ones as extremely touted as Celebrini and Smith — perhaps extra from a psychological standpoint than a bodily one.
“I think you’ve just got to be there for them,” Sharks ahead Luke Kunin mentioned. “You’ve got to maybe share experiences that we’ve gone through. All of us were that young guy at some point in our careers. We all battle some obstacles, a little bit of adversity.”
“It’s going to be an 82-game schedule. It’s playing against grown men every day,” mentioned Sharks ahead William Eklund, who performed NHL video games as a 19-year-old. “You’ve got to manage that and how to be prepared mentally and physically.
“But (Celebrini’s) such a great player. He knows what it’s all about.”
After the Sharks received the draft lottery, incomes the suitable to pick out Celebrini No. 1 total, basic supervisor Mike Grier talked about the necessity to usher in the suitable kind of veteran gamers to insulate the upcoming crop of prospects, each on the ice and off.
After the lottery, Rick Celebrini, Macklin’s dad, additionally talked about that he wished to listen to what the Sharks had deliberate to assist his son.
Grier responded by signing free brokers Tyler Toffoli and Alexander Wennberg to assist fill out the top-six ahead group and buying different veterans like Barclay Goodrow, Ty Dellandrea, Cody Ceci, and Jake Walman so as to add depth and make the Sharks a extra well-rounded workforce.
If he stays wholesome, Celebrini can turn into the second Sharks participant to seize the Calder Trophy because the NHL’s Rookie of the Yr after goalie Evgeni Nabokov received the award in 2001.
Celebrini has already been in comparison with Jonathan Toews, a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks and 2013 winner of the Selke Trophy as one of the best two-way ahead within the NHL.
So, how do the Sharks handle the joy and expectations for Celebrini’s rookie season whereas additionally making an attempt to set him up for long-term success?
“It’s hopefully (the media) not putting too much pressure on him, and myself and the coaches and his teammates also letting him know that he’s not in this alone,” Grier mentioned of Celebrini. “He doesn’t have to carry the team. There’s going to be ups and downs. It’s a tough league. It’s the best league in the world for a reason.
“I’m sure he’s going to have his struggles, and we’ve just got to let him know that that’s part of becoming a pro and part of the ups and downs and growing as a player. I think we’ll get through it fine. He holds himself to a high standard and expects a lot of himself.”
Smith, the fourth total decide in 2023, led all NCAA Division I gamers in scoring final season with 71 factors in 41 video games for Boston School. Celebrini wasn’t far behind with 64 factors in 38 video games for Boston College as he turned the youngest-ever winner of the Hobey Baker Award as school hockey’s prime participant.
However even one of the best school gamers can have difficulties.
Adam Fantilli had a 65-point freshman season for Michigan in 2022-23 earlier than he was chosen third total by the Columbus Blue Jackets. In a single stretch in November final season, Fantilli had one level in 9 video games and was shut out in seven of his last 9 video games earlier than he sustained a season-ending calf laceration on Jan. 28.
Celebrini and Smith have by no means performed a full 82-game season with the journey calls for a West Coast NHL workforce has to endure. Follow time will be valuable.
“There tends to be a little bit of a honeymoon period almost, where everything’s very exciting, and you feel good, and your body feels good,” mentioned Sharks heart Nico Sturm, who performed three years at Clarkson College earlier than turning professional in 2019. “Then maybe December, January, February rolls around, you’re 50, 60 games in … and sometimes you tend to hit a wall in your first pro hockey year.
“And we’ll be there. We have plenty of (veterans) to help those guys. I think that’s more what we’re here for. The stuff on the ice, they’ll be fine.”
Off the ice, Celebrini and Smith have discovered splendid dwelling quarters. Celebrini is about to maneuver in with Joe Thornton, and Smith plans to maneuver in with Patrick Marleau.
Apart from being Sharks legends, Marleau and Thornton have been by way of the identical conditions as Celebrini and Smith, having damaged into the NHL effectively earlier than their twentieth birthdays.
For now, there’s each motive for the Sharks — and their followers — to be excited.
“It’s the same game I’ve played ever since I was a kid, just having fun, enjoying it,” Celebrini mentioned. “I think the expectations are there. I have those for myself, and you can’t really focus too much on them.”
