In his highly anticipated National Hockey League debut, Macklin Celebrini lived up to the hype and then some. The young phenom, who was selected first overall in the 2024 draft, wasted no time making an impact on the ice.
Just 7:01 into his NHL career, Celebrini found the back of the net, igniting a frenzy among San Jose Sharks fans and his teammates. However, the North Vancouver native was oblivious to the fact that he had scored his first NHL goal.
“I was like, ‘Nice goal,’ and [Eklund] was like, ‘I didn’t score, you did,'” Celebrini recounted after the game. “I mean, I thought he was just super excited that he scored, but I guess he was happy for me.”
Not only did Celebrini find the back of the net, but he also tallied an assist on the night, becoming the first No. 1 overall pick to record multiple points in his NHL debut since Auston Matthews’ historic four-goal performance in 2016 for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
At just 18 years old, Celebrini etched his name in the record books as the sixth-youngest player in NHL history to score in his debut. He also became the fastest player to score a goal in his first game since Mario Lemieux accomplished the feat in 1984 with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Teammate Tyler Toffoli praised Celebrini’s performance, stating, “He did what everyone expected him to do. He made some really good plays. I think at the end of the day, he’s obviously got to be pumped personally for himself, but he wants to win and he’s like everybody else in here.”
Despite Celebrini’s standout debut, the Sharks were unable to secure the win, surrendering a 4-1 lead in the third period to the St. Louis Blues, ultimately falling 5-4 in overtime. The loss served as a valuable learning experience for the young Sharks team, which also saw top prospect Will Smith make his NHL debut and head coach Ryan Warsofsky step behind the bench for the first time in the NHL.
From the thrill of scoring his first NHL goal to the disappointment of a tough loss, Macklin Celebrini’s debut was a rollercoaster of emotions for the young forward and the Sharks organization. As he continues to make his mark in the NHL, all eyes will be on Celebrini to see what he does next.