StanleyCup2035
Registered User
- Oct 1, 2017
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Beyond the scoring, vision, defense, his compete is 2nd to none. Looking forward to this being the first one of many awards for #71
I watch an absolute metric ton of hockey at all levels and there simply isn't a hockey player more fun than Macklin Celebrini right now. He's quite simply what you get if you took five NHL GMs, locked them in a room for eight hours, and told them to cook up their perfect hockey player. The only thing he's "missing" is being 6'4", but he obviously doesn't even need that to out-battle grown men.
We're so f***ing lucky.
But have you heard of our lord and savior Matvei Michkov, the greatest and most talented Russian winger of all time?
Absolutely. You watch Smith, and even guys like Fantilli and Carlsson who have bigger frames, and they're all kids out there. Celebrini is already so strong.I mentioned this in the game thread but it’s wild comparing him physically to Will Smith. They’re roughly the same size but Will obviously REALLY needs to add a bunch of muscle still to be competing in the NHL. Macklin, who is younger, wins battles and knocks guys over. Really helps to have Rick Celebrini as your dad, I guess. It’s crazy to think what a force he’ll be in a few years when he’s fully grown into his body.
One thing I didn’t expect with Mack is how fun he is to watch. A lot of the scouting reports talked about him as a non-flashy player but like, he’s wildly entertaining. He’s everywhere, his shot is insane, he’s got great hands — he’s a total blast to watch.
One thing about his game that is flashy in person but doesn't come thru quite as strongly for me on TV is the zone entry play. He enters with speed and players are already respecting him and backing off ever so slightly. He takes the risky, small area space between the blue line and the defenders and relies on incredibly tight stickhandling to find just enough space to make a clean pass, often through at least one defender."Non-flashy" is basically just because he doesn't dangle through five guys at once.
I think what’s even crazier is that even when teams stack 4 players on the blue line like LA did last night he’s still gaining the zone. The amount of respect he is getting already is something to behold honestly.One thing about his game that is flashy in person but doesn't come thru quite as strongly for me on TV is the zone entry play. He enters with speed and players are already respecting him and backing off ever so slightly. He takes the risky, small area space between the blue line and the defenders and relies on incredibly tight stickhandling to find just enough space to make a clean pass, often through at least one defender.
This also leads to at least one high turnover a game which he really needs to clean up, but the skill required to stickhandle in a phone booth to make the controlled entry and clean pass is so impressive. Hopefully we see teams counteract and try to close him down sooner, leaving an opening to go through or around them or find the open teammate. As it is today, his teammates have to be ready for the pass and also have to be ready for the turnover going the other way.
I don't think it'll change much. He might miss a couple games here and there but if he hits 65ish games, thatll probably be enough. It's unlikely the field will have many more games than he will by the end of the season.I hate the fact that his injury to start the year might cost him even consideration for the calder. It's not his fault he got injured. I also hope there aren't other injuries, even though anything is possible with 60+ games left.
Matvei Michkov? Never heard of him. But there was one guy who was drafted the same year as Bedard who will easily be the best Russian goalscorer of all time.But have you heard of our lord and savior Matvei Michkov, the greatest and most talented Russian winger of all time?
You’re not wrong thereBut have you heard of our lord and savior Matvei Michkov, the greatest and most talented Russian winger of all time?
I don’t think it will, he’s almost a PPG pace and Michkov only has a 7pnt lead with 8 more games played. Stank is only 5 ahead and on a much better team you’d think his production would be betterI hate the fact that his injury to start the year might cost him even consideration for the calder. It's not his fault he got injured. I also hope there aren't other injuries, even though anything is possible with 60+ games left.
Too low, the disrespect. . .Where does Celebrini rank all time? 8th?