F Macklin Celebrini (2024, 1st, SJS)

[ponder]

Celebrini now is not on the level of Hughes in his draft year? I don't remember Hughes being considered a can't miss and feel like he has outplayed his status as a prospect that year. I know it's comical to say right now but I feel like Lafreniere had more hype than him.

I mostly agree, though I’ll say Jack Hughes was a very divisive prospect. The skill level was obviously elite, insane skating and hands especially, but he was also small, skinny, and played a pretty “junior” game at the time, did a lot of things he clearly wouldn’t get away with in the NHL. He was setting NTDP scoring records, but opinions on him as a prospect were quite mixed.

Some people loved him, thought he was a high end 1OA, but many had significant doubts. Overall he wasn’t seen as a “can’t miss” prospect, more a guy with very high upside, but quite a bit more risk than you normally have with a 1OA. Agreed that Laf was more hyped, he wasn’t as fast but seemed to have a more well rounded game, seemed like a safer bet with also high upside. Obviously not how it turned out, but I think that’s an accurate reflection of pre-draft hype about both players.

Celebrini has the elite production, a pro style game, and excellent tools. No doubt he’s a terrific prospect, and I would say a better prospect at the same age than Jack Hughes. Of course things don’t always pan out that way, Jack has developed beautifully, Celebrini could as well but could also be more like Laf, only time will tell.

 

[CycloneSweep]

Gonna be a great winger for McDavid

 

[WarriorofTime]

I just hope he opts to go back to BU next year. At his young age, one and done NCAA career is not a good development strategy.

He will play in the NHL next year. One and done NCAA is pretty common, Fantilli and Cooley last season for instance.

 

[Rogie21]

Both Cooley and Fantilli are 19. Celebrini will be a few months past his 18th birthday next September. Will the arrival at BU of his close friend and former linemate at Shattuck, Cole Eiserman, be a factor?

Fun fact: Celebrini is tied for the NCAA points lead with a Lake Superior St. forward who is seven years older.

 

[therealdeal]

I mostly agree, though I’ll say Jack Hughes was a very divisive prospect. The skill level was obviously elite, insane skating and hands especially, but he was also small, skinny, and played a pretty “junior” game all the time, did a lot of things he clearly wouldn’t get away with in the NHL. He was setting NTDP scoring records, but opinions on him as a prospect were quite mixed.

Some people loved him, thought he was a high end 1OA, but many had significant doubts. Overall he wasn’t seen as a “can’t miss” prospect, more a guy with very high upside, but quite a bit more risk than you normally have with a 1OA. Agreed that Laf was more hyped, he wasn’t as fast but seemed to have a more well rounded game, seemed like a safer bet with also high upside. Obviously not how it turned out, but I think that’s an accurate reflection of pre-draft hype about both players.

Celebrini has the elite production, a pro style game, and excellent tools. No doubt he’s a terrific prospect, and I would say a better prospect at the same age than Jack Hughes. Of course things don’t always pan out that way, Jack has developed beautifully, Celebrini could as well but could also be more like Laf, only time will tell.

This post seems far too reasonable for an HF post, I came away calm and informed. could you put in something to rile up the crowd a little more on your next post?

 

[PizzaAndPucks]

He's playing lights out at 17 and doesn't turn 18 till June. Pretty crazy. Another year in NCAA wouldn't be out of the question but him playing in the AHL wouldn't be a bad move either. It would be a great test for him at 18 but it seems like 1st overallls always go to the NHL right away. Owen Power is the only one who didn't in my recent memory but that extra year helped him out because Buffalo really struggled that year before he made his debut late in the season.

Kinda crazy 2 Vancouvr kids will most likely be the back to back 1st overall picks in the draft. According to Elite Prospects he played for the Sharks Jr team before a season at Shattuck St. Mary and than 1 year in the USHL for the Chicago Steel. The Steel have become a powerhouse at getting top tier players to pass through there.

 

[Breakers]

He will play in the NHL next year. One and done NCAA is pretty common, Fantilli and Cooley last season for instance.

That doesnt mean it’s common

 

[WarriorofTime]

That doesnt mean it’s common

For top prospects, it is.

 

[Marshmont63]

As a BC fan, I definitely don’t want Celebrini back at BU next year. While there’s certainly a chance he comes back, I honestly don’t see it tbh. And that’s not wishful thinking either. He’s currently tied for the lead in points in college hockey right …as a 17 year old. He’s on a better pace than Eichel was when he was at BU. After this season, what does he have left to prove at the collegiate level? Frankly, I think coming back would stunt his development a bit. He’d be wayyyyyyy too good for college hockey next year.

 

[Breakers]

For top prospects, it is.

Because the two recent prospects you listed did it?
The rate at which prospects stay in university for another year is more common on average than one and done

 

[Jovavic]

Going to look great playing next to Fantilli next season

 

[Crede777]

Going to look great playing next to Fantilli next season

Doesn't he project as a center?

 

[mistaclick]

Doesn't he project as a center?

In my mind he’s one of the easiest top prospects to project as a center in the last couple drafts. Complete package. Reminds me of Mackinnon, maybe a bit less dynamic while being a bit more complete overall.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Because two recent prospects did it?
The rate at which prospects stay show it isn’t common, not common.

Those aren’t the only two to ever do it.

 

[Breakers]

Those aren’t the only two to ever do it.

Yeah you have guys like Mittelstadt keller etc etc
But on average it is more common for another year development at ones program than one and done for prospects

 

[Boonk]

He is not doing another year at BU after hes drafted. Guy is 2PPG and leading college scoring as a U18 NCAA player. One and done is certainly the route he’s going.

 

[luiginb]

A few reasons for this perhaps being that he comes the year after perhaps the most hyped prospect ever. In addition, played in a league that is somewhat obscure to the main hockey media in Canada and didn’t make Canada WJC in his d-1 like other top end players have

Aka the reason Makar only went fourth.

 

[TLEH]

Aka the reason Makar only went fourth.

I think its a decent point. There were legit questions about his play style coming from the Bandits. Maybe WJC would have assuaged those.

On Macklin, as of right now, I don't see any chance, like 0%, that he goes back to college. Pretty unique player. Its rare to see a player his age be that talented but play that engaged. He's a dog out there.

 

[Jovavic]

Doesn't he project as a center?

Yes, but there are times when teams put out their best players together even if they're centers like Sakic/Forsberg, Yzerman/Fedorov, and Malkin/Crosby

 

[Beukeboom]

I've watched 2-3 Celebrini games now and he's an interesting prospect for sure. I've always liked the way players like Eichel control the pace of the game when they're on the ice and I see the same quality in Celebrini. The added bonus is that while Eichel tends to slow down play, Celebrini keeps things fast.

Another quality I like is that he possesses so many skills you never really know what comes next. McDavid's speed and Matthews' shot are amazing, but I'm a fan of the old school all around greatness game (not saying he's at their level).

I also get Mackinnon vibes, minus some intensity but with an added touch of hockey IQ (once again, stylewise, not necessarily the same level of prospect)

Regarding the Fantilli comparison, Celebrini has outperformed him by a wide margin in both the USHL and WJC 18 despite being one year younger. NCAA looks like it could head the same way.

Anyway, gut feeling says the upside is Mackinnon level. So at times he could be the best player in the world. But this is somewhat based on a trajectory that keeps pointing upwards. Surprised that there's a lack of hype, but like someone mentioned it might be due to trailing the Bedard draft.

 

[Faceboner]

I've watched 2-3 Celebrini games now and he's an interesting prospect for sure. I've always liked the way players like Eichel control the pace of the game when yhey're on the ice and I see the same quality in Celebrini. The added bonus is that while Eichel tends to slow down play, Celebrini keeps things fast.

Another quality I like is that he possesses so many skills you never really know what comes next. McDavid's speed and Matthews' shot are amazing, but I'm a fan of the old school all around greatness game (not saying he's at their level).

I also get Mackinnon vibes, minus some intensity but with an added touch of hockey IQ (once again, stylewise, not necessarily the same level of prospect)

Regarding the Fantilli comparison, Celebrini has outperformed him by a wide margin in both the USHL and WJC 18 despite being one year younger. NCAA looks like it could head the same way.

Anyway, gut feeling says the upside is Mackinnon level. So at times he could be the best player in the world. But this is somewhat based on a trajectory that keeps pointing upwards.

Yeah his aggressive break neck style with the hunger to get to the middle with the puck is very Mackinnon esque

 

[Faceboner]

I also think the idea that he will get underhyped as 1oa due to not being quite Bedard level like mattews to McDavid is true as well at this moment in time I think he would go no.2 overall in 2023 franchise level prospect with a slight edge over Carlsson and fantilli

 

[Obvious Fabertism]

Mackinnon was a bull in a china shop, as a prospect and NHL player frankly. Tremendous physical gifts, but not a lot of creativity.

Celebrini appears more like a laser guided missile to me.

Bedard is a state of the art Marksman rifle with all the fancy attachments.

Rookie Ovechkin was Megalodon in an aquarium.

And that’s your daily dose of random musings and player anthropomorphizing.

 

[HaveKnifeWillButcher]

I mostly agree, though I’ll say Jack Hughes was a very divisive prospect. The skill level was obviously elite, insane skating and hands especially, but he was also small, skinny, and played a pretty “junior” game at the time, did a lot of things he clearly wouldn’t get away with in the NHL. He was setting NTDP scoring records, but opinions on him as a prospect were quite mixed.

Some people loved him, thought he was a high end 1OA, but many had significant doubts. Overall he wasn’t seen as a “can’t miss” prospect, more a guy with very high upside, but quite a bit more risk than you normally have with a 1OA. Agreed that Laf was more hyped, he wasn’t as fast but seemed to have a more well rounded game, seemed like a safer bet with also high upside. Obviously not how it turned out, but I think that’s an accurate reflection of pre-draft hype about both players.

Celebrini has the elite production, a pro style game, and excellent tools. No doubt he’s a terrific prospect, and I would say a better prospect at the same age than Jack Hughes. Of course things don’t always pan out that way, Jack has developed beautifully, Celebrini could as well but could also be more like Laf, only time will tell.

Hughes lost a lot of his cachet as a prospect (especially on this site) when that little Canadian flag next to the little American flag on Elite Prospects magically disappeared one day.

 

[MrCreamm]

As much as he's underhyped relative to what the hype probably should be, it's still early in the season, and once he goes to the WJC where the spotlight is on him, I think the hype will grow. While Celebrini obviously isn't Bedard, it seemed like Bedard while many of us avid watchers knew he was the next great talent since McDavid, it took till the World Juniors before he really became known as the next sensation for more casual fans. I expect Celebrini will be hyped up, and for good reason, not just because he's gonna go first overall, he's a franchise calibre talent IMO, like Mackinnon, Draisaitl, Matthews are to their franchises. Fantilli had a great year as a freshman, but Celebrini is doing it a whole year younger, and had a better USHL season than Fantilli did on the Steel.