His father worked for the Golden State Warriors and his uncle is former NBA star Steve Nash, the college hockey player of the year. NHL No. 1 draft pick Macklin CelebrinI think I'm good at games.
“I think it's pretty good,” Celebrini said of his basketball ability, acknowledging that his father, Rick, might have a better sense of judgment. “Whenever he watches me play, he always says, 'I'm a hockey player playing basketball.'”
When asked how he would fare against Stephen Curry, Celebrini shook his head and replied, “No, I don't think it would work very well,” and is happy to admit his own shortcomings.
Curry, Draymond Green and the rest of the NBA can rest easy.
Celebrini, who stands just under 6 feet tall and weighs nearly 200 pounds, has no plans to quit a successful and potentially lucrative career in professional ice hockey as he prepares for the next step when the first round of the NHL Draft begins Friday at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
The San Jose Sharks hold the No. 1 pick and have already signaled their intention to select a center, and Celebrini is the team's next big foundational player. Five straight seasons without a playoff appearanceThere's also the added bonus of it being a homecoming of sorts.
Celebrini is originally from North Vancouver, British Columbia, but spent time in the Bay Area and played for the Junior Sharks after his father moved with the family in 2018 when he became the Warriors' vice president of player health and performance.
It's the same position Rick Celebrini previously held with Vancouver for the NHL's Canucks and MLS's Whitecaps, giving his son a rare glimpse behind the scenes of professional sports. Though Celebrini hoped his son would follow in his footsteps and play soccer, he knew early on how important hockey was to Macklin.
“He showed an affinity for hockey from a very early age,” Celebrini said. “From the age of 4 or 5, he just had the determination and the love and the passion for the game. As I've said many times before, I could tell he was born to be a hockey player.”
Freshmen thrive at Boston University
Celebrini just finished his freshman season at Boston University, where as the youngest player in college hockey (he turned 18 earlier this month), he finished second in the nation with 32 goals and third in points with 64 in 38 games last season. He became just the fourth freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's MVP and also won Hockey East's Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards.
“I had a hunch he was going to be pretty good,” Terriers coach and former NHL forward Jay Pandolfo said.
“It's not easy to actually handle that pressure and continue to get better,” Pandolfo added. “From the first day he stepped on campus and stepped on the ice, it was clear he was going to do what he needed to do as a player. That's very impressive. There was no intimidation about him at all.”
Celebrini failed to record a single point in just six games, but his production accelerated in the second half of the season, totaling 22 goals and 39 points in the final 17 games to help the Terriers advance to the Frozen Four, where they lost to eventual champion Denver in the semifinals.
“I don't like to say generational players or put labels on them,” NHL Central scouting director Dan Maher said of Celebrini, “but you see with these elite players, they have a unique and rare ability to thrive while competing with consistency and a passion for every challenge. It brings their skill and their smarts to the table, and he's done that again.”
Decisions, decisions
The only question that remains is whether Celebrini will turn pro or return to BU for his sophomore season.
“I think he's ready to play at the National Hockey League level. He's mature both physically and mentally,” said Pandoforfo, who serves as the player's consultant.
“You can argue either way and, honestly, I don't think he'll make the wrong decision,” Pandolfo said, before laughing and adding that he wouldn't turn Celebrini away if he chose to stay.
Celebrini said he's in no rush to make a decision and wants to enjoy the pre-draft process, and while he's excited about the possibility of going to San Jose, he said he would be happy to join any team that selects him.
Sharks general manager Mike Grier (formerly of the Terriers) was quick to imagine how Celebrini would fit into the lineup. The NHL revealed that San Jose won the draft lottery..
“It's nice that he knows the area so well. His family has a house 30 minutes from here,” Greer said. “Today is a big day for the team. It's been a tough year for the fans and for the team. … So this is a great award for what we've been through this year.”
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AP Sports Writer Josh Dubow contributed to this report.
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