2024 NHL Draft: WE DID IT, CELEBRINI IS OURS!!!

[DrFeelgood]

It's strange to feel hopeful about hockey again, it's been a few years

 

[matt trick]

Hallelujah!

Was great to see the update around 1am last night! There have been better players who went number 1, but to get the guy who is a junior shark is really, really cool! Number 1 C identified, 2 C in the pipe. Franchise C? I think he will be.

We need at least one top 6 wing, and two top 4 d-men. With number 14th hopefully we can get a future 2/3 d-man or a long-term top 6 wing. I'd trade up using one or both seconds for anybody the scouts see as going from 'good player' to star.

No matter who we add to Celebrini and Smith, we're still likely to be a pretty bad team, but we got the franchise cornerstone and centers sorted. Being bottom 5 next year, and bottom 10 still means will be able to add key players. Most of all, hopefully Vegas sucks next year.

Need to also draft d-men like crazy. Need to steal a Duncan Keith/Shea Weber/MEV type 2nd rounder. Aside from Muk, I'm not sure there's a D I am reasonable confident will be here through Celebrini's ELC.

Let's go!

 

[NiWa]

Parekh has the profile of EK in that he's a highly offensively minded and skilled defenseman, but he doesn't have EK's skating.

I already wouldn't build a team around an EK profile (or EK himself) so I'm not particularly excited about trading up for Parekh.

For me it's either the lucky unlikely scenario that Yakemchuk falls far enough to try to trade for him, or we pick Sennecke/Chernyshov/MBN/Eiserman (currently in that order for me).

If we didn't have such a dire D pipeline I'd be quite happy with any of those 3 first mentioned wingers.

MBN in particular could be the perfect complimentary winger for Smith. While lacking the puck skills that Sennecke has, he's got a great shot and unlike Sennecke he's already got a great 200 foot game, and an already NHL-ready body.
Chernyshov is also really intriguing.

Realistically, we just have to hope that two of those wingers go in the top 12 to push one of the top 6 Ds down to us (or someone like Helenius, Catton or Iginla).


For the trade scenarios, we may able work with Philly. They have #12 and #51, we would offer #14 and #42. Philly would win that on the draft pick value charts, but the Sharks would get a player up one tier from those wingers you mentioned.

Depending on who is left (e.g. the Ds and Cs avail aren't who they want), Flyers might do that.

Another option could be the Devils at #10, they may be happy to take a winger at #14 that screams NHL ready, over a prospect that will take 3-5 years to get there.

 

[Le Rosbeef]

I just came here to this thread to cry.

What a beautiful, beautiful day.

 

[mogambomoroo]

What about trading the 14th to CBJ for Jiricek?

This type of move is interesting, If I was MG I would look around the league for this type of deal just in case there is not the player we need or want at #14 spot. Getting a young defencemen with that #14 one way or another, could help the rebuild massively now that we got the #1 overall secured.
Very very interesting times Sharks fans, it's going to be a crazy summer and even more fun season next year. Excited to see the next step. I trust in MG, he has a very good track record already and it seems to get better and better.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

I have a legitimate question. The Sharks have Luca Cagnoni who just put up a similarly incredible offensive defensive year in the WHL. Besides for the age difference and couple inches in height, how does Zanye compare to Luca?

Parekh is younger and way better. Parekh is much better than Tyson Barrie was at the same age and, while unlikely that he reaches Karlsson's ceiling in the league, he can be compared to EK for sure.

 

[mogambomoroo]

The thing with Celebrini that will be interesting to follow is if his playstyle is more winning type of playstyle compared to Bedard. We all know Bedard is a generational talent, but I feel like Celebrini could easily be one of the best all around centers in the next 15 years. I haven't done any scouting on Celebrini, but the key word I hear from the internet is that he has a very complete playstyle both ways and that's all you can ask from your 1C.

 

[STL Shark]

What about trading the 14th to CBJ for Jiricek?

This is what a deal for 14th overall would need to look like as opposed to the Cernak debacle of the other roster thread (not to restart that discussion). Maybe add another piece to it as I doubt 14th alone is enough for Jiricek, but 14th overall + Cagnoni + TB 3rd would be interesting if that was a package that could get a deal done.

Assuming the more likely option where we stay put, I really want MBN at 14th overall to pair with Celebrini and Eklund. That's a top line that you know what you're going to get from an effort, hockey sense, 2 way game, and also highly skilled. Then put Musty with Smith and let them eat up OZ starts and churn out points without as heavy of a defensive load.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

10 of the last 15 cup winners had a 1st overall pick on their team. Obviously we still have a long long way to go, but that lottery win puts us ahead of alot of other rebuilding teams. We're very deep down the middle with guys who are good at different things. Honestly we really only need a pure goal scorer (maybe Eiserman at 14) and our forward prospects moving forward pretty much have everything you'd want.

 

[CanadienShark]

What about trading the 14th to CBJ for Jiricek?

If they accept, then f*** yes. Yes please.

 

[pappaf2]

I don’t know much about Jiricek but in the jackets forum they seem pretty unimpressed with him.

I like the idea of moving the 14th (+?) for a young d prospect though.

 

[dmcccdmn]

Jiricek is possibly the 2nd best player in his draft. Why would they give him up for a 14th even if you add? It's enticing from our POV but not a chance they'll even consider it. Elite prospects are even harder to trade for than high draft picks. When was the last time a high profile prospect get traded unless he wanted out?

 

[Jargon]

Still so psyched but have a slight concern that both Celebrini and Smith elect to go back to college for one more year. Objectively it’s fine, but boy it would be hard to watch the Sharks be awful another season without any of our shiny prospects on the team.

Hopefully at least Celebrini makes the jump… though I selfishly want him, Smith and Musty on the team next year, God that’d be fun.

 

[one2gamble]

Still so psyched but have a slight concern that both Celebrini and Smith elect to go back to college for one more year. Objectively it’s fine, but boy it would be hard to watch the Sharks be awful another season without any of our shiny prospects on the team.

Hopefully at least Celebrini makes the jump… though I selfishly want him, Smith and Musty on the team next year, God that’d be fun.

I think it ends up being all of them or none of them and I honestly dont expect a decision soon

 

[Jargon]

I think it ends up being all of them or none of them and I honestly dont expect a decision soon

I suspect you’re right (though Musty I think is sort of separate of Smith/Celebrini). I do think Smith is going to see how he does at the tournament against a lot of NHL players to see if he’s ready. I think if he keeps performing like he did in his first game + knowing we’ve got Macklin, he may decide he’s ready sooner than later.

I am greedy and want them all.

 

[ChompChomp]

Still so psyched but have a slight concern that both Celebrini and Smith elect to go back to college for one more year. Objectively it’s fine, but boy it would be hard to watch the Sharks be awful another season without any of our shiny prospects on the team.

Hopefully at least Celebrini makes the jump… though I selfishly want him, Smith and Musty on the team next year, God that’d be fun.

I still think there's no way that Smith and Celebrini don't sign ELC's this summer. There's absolutely no need to have any injury risk or whatever in the NCAA when your first NHL contract is right there to sign, which brings you closer to your second contract, and third contract, and UFA contracts, etc. Especially for the NCAA leader in points as a freshman (Smith), and 17-year old Hobey Baker award winner (Celebrini).

Looking back in the past 15 years at NCAA points leaders as Freshman (or those who had 60+ points in a season as a Freshman), prior this season:

2022-23 (Fantilli, Cooley) both straight to NHL
2015-16 (Kyle Connor, Brock Boeser) Connor straight to NHL, Boeser returned for one more season
2014-15 (Eichel) straight to NHL

This is the company we are talking about for Smith and Celebrini, and only Brock Boeser returned to the NCAA for one more year. Everyone else was smart enough (for their own career protection and earnings) to go to the NHL right away.

 

[Jargon]

I still think there's no way that Smith and Celebrini don't sign ELC's this summer. There's absolutely no need to have any injury risk or whatever in the NCAA when your first NHL contract is right there to sign, which brings you closer to your second contract, and third contract, and UFA contracts, etc. Especially for the NCAA leader in points as a freshman (Smith), and 17-year old Hobey Baker award winner (Celebrini).

Looking back in the past 15 years at NCAA points leaders as Freshman (or those who had 60+ points in a season as a Freshman), prior this season:

2022-23 (Fantilli, Cooley) both straight to NHL
2015-16 (Kyle Connor, Brock Boeser) Connor straight to NHL, Boeser returned for one more season
2014-15 (Eichel) straight to NHL

This is the company we are talking about for Smith and Celebrini, and only Brock Boeser returned to the NCAA for one more year. Everyone else was smart enough (for their own career protection and earnings) to go to the NHL right away.

I hope you’re right! I just want them to make a decision soon.

 

[ChompChomp]

I hope you’re right! I just want them to make a decision soon.

I'm hoping Smith signs an ELC this month. Obviously Celebrini wouldn't be until July, but Grier said he'd be talking to his family, so I'm sure they will already have a plan even prior to Celebrini being drafted.

 

[one2gamble]

I think the College landscape has a changed a bit now that they can and do earn money. I expect the high caliber talent listed here and that the Sharks have drafted are going to put a lot more pressure on their NHL teams to present more concrete plans. I wouldn't stay just because of injury concerns but I think it adds some complexity.

 

[Bonin21]

Insane.

 

[Jargon]

Insane.
View attachment 867168

Having these two on a power play with William Eklund is going to be f***ing insane.

 

[pappaf2]

Insane.
View attachment 867168

So is this sorted on point per game for all NCAA players?

 

[knu]

I hope Cole Hutson is there at #33 I think hes being underrated. I wouldn't be surprised if he moves into the mid-late first

 

[STL Shark]

I hope you’re right! I just want them to make a decision soon.

I can see Celebrini coming and Smith staying an extra year. Would probably be a good thing for us in the long run too as it spaces out their ELC expirations.

Celebrini was a one man band at BU and probably ready to move home and play in the NHL. Smith is a Boston kid playing college hockey at home with some of his best friends (Perreault and Leonard) on what will be the unanimous #1 team in the country. I can see him coming back to win a natty and the Hobey Baker before embarking on the professional game. I think it's more likely that he turns pro, but I see a much more logical reason for Smith to stay than Celebrini (who has no reason).

 

[Jargon]

I can see Celebrini coming and Smith staying an extra year. Would probably be a good thing for us in the long run too as it spaces out their ELC expirations.

Celebrini was a one man band at BU and probably ready to move home and play in the NHL. Smith is a Boston kid playing college hockey at home with some of his best friends (Perreault and Leonard) on what will be the unanimous #1 team in the country. I can see him coming back to win a natty and the Hobey Baker before embarking on the professional game. I think it's more likely that he turns pro, but I see a much more logical reason for Smith to stay than Celebrini (who has no reason).

Yeah I can see that. I do think if Will does well at this tournament (as a 3rd line center no less) AND Celebrini signs, it’s likely he turns pro too. Feels like a great opportunity to be part of the New Sharks.