F Macklin Celebrini (2024, 1st, SJS)

[William H Bonney]

He didn't grow up in San Jose. Golden State hired his dad as their director of sports medicine and performance in 2018. He spent 1 season there playing with the San Jose Jr. Sharks before moving on to Shattuck.

 

[I am toxic]

Agreed. Not even remotely true. He played from novice to U13 at North Shore Winter Club in North Vancouver. Not sure about this summer, but the past few summers he was on the ice at NSWC with other NSWC alum Connor Bedard and Kent Johnson regularly. His little brother JJ is also apparently quite the player.

Yeah, I mean he grew up playing with/against the likes of Jordan, Tomas, Dryden (fun story there), William, Diego, Carson etc etc.

It may be that Macklin would have just naturally developed anywhere, but again I don't see how the Bay Area was much of a factor.

 

[BKarchitect]

First USHL game, already off the mark with the PP game winner. He had SEVEN shots on goal. Chicago is gonna be talented again (Moldenhauer had a goal as well) and Celebrini sure looks like he's going to pick up where Fantilli left off.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

First USHL game, already off the mark with the PP game winner. He had SEVEN shots on goal. Chicago is gonna be talented again (Moldenhauer had a goal as well) and Celebrini sure looks like he's going to pick up where Fantilli left off.

I was halfway through that video realizing Mark Citron was on the call, and instantly thought about what he’s going to nickname him.

He didn’t fail to deliver, Easy Mack.

 

[Lavar Ball]

Nice feed from Perron here

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Nice feed from Perron here

Who is the new guy ruining the broadcast? He can’t keep up.

 

[Lavar Ball]

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Woulda been so cool to have seen him go the WHL route with Seattle. Man it's crazy with the insane talent that Seattle currently has that they could have potentially still added Celebrini AND Brad Lambert.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

 

[BKarchitect]

Mack now has 9 goals and 14 points in 9 games. Chicago is once again a strong roster but not quite as strong as last year (1.50 P/GP and 4.9 Goals/GP last year versus 1.20 P/GP and 4.5 Goals/GP this year).

This puts Mack's PPG at 1.55 (first on the team, slightly above Perron and Moldenhauser) - last year Fantilli had 1.37 PPG to lead the team. Mack is doing this while a full 7 months younger than Fantilli (was last year). The last true 16 year-old to put up numbers even close to this in the USHL (non-USNTDP) was Andrei Svechnikov who had a 1.21 PPG rate at 16 for Muskegon 6 years ago, There's nobody else even in the same zip code in the last decade+.

This just continues his trend of amazing production...last year with SSM's 18U prep team Mack put up crazy numbers...here's a ranking of top 15 year-old prep season at SSM (PPG):
1. Sidney Crosby - 2.84
2. Mack Celebrini - 2.13 PPG
3. Jonathan Toews - 1.68 PPG
4. Clayton Keller - 1.50 PPG
5. Cole Esierman - 1.50 PPG

All this to say - (and sorry for going all "George" with the stats - but they are truly pretty special) - this kid probably needs a lot more hype soon.

 

[Dominance]

 

[Vasilevskiy]

What a goal!

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I see a little current Sidney Crosby in his game. Patrice Bergeron could be another comparison.

He's not someone that makes a lot of visibly exciting plays, but he seems to have an impact both ways on every shift. His skating could use a little work, but I actually thought he was smaller than his listing. If he's 6'0 with that skating, it's enough to be a very good NHL'er.

I prefer Catton to him as of now and maybe a few others, but likely he'll be a top 5 pick in 2024.

 

[G2P]

Headed to a Steel game tonight. Will post pictures and some thoughts.

Always like when someone comes through the area. Last I remember would be Galchenyuk(?)

 

[TheGreenTBer]

I see a little current Sidney Crosby in his game. Patrice Bergeron could be another comparison.

He's not someone that makes a lot of visibly exciting plays, but he seems to have an impact both ways on every shift. His skating could use a little work, but I actually thought he was smaller than his listing. If he's 6'0 with that skating, it's enough to be a very good NHL'er.

I prefer Catton to him as of now and maybe a few others, but likely he'll be a top 5 pick in 2024.

This is an interesting point because NHL coaches can be notoriously slow to play a young player they don't "trust", and if this guy can make an impact on and off the scoresheet without putting his team at serious risk he's going to earn a coach's trust early on IMO.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Mack now has 9 goals and 14 points in 9 games. Chicago is once again a strong roster but not quite as strong as last year (1.50 P/GP and 4.9 Goals/GP last year versus 1.20 P/GP and 4.5 Goals/GP this year).

This puts Mack's PPG at 1.55 (first on the team, slightly above Perron and Moldenhauser) - last year Fantilli had 1.37 PPG to lead the team. Mack is doing this while a full 7 months younger than Fantilli (was last year). The last true 16 year-old to put up numbers even close to this in the USHL (non-USNTDP) was Andrei Svechnikov who had a 1.21 PPG rate at 16 for Muskegon 6 years ago, There's nobody else even in the same zip code in the last decade+.

This just continues his trend of amazing production...last year with SSM's 18U prep team Mack put up crazy numbers...here's a ranking of top 15 year-old prep season at SSM (PPG):
1. Sidney Crosby - 2.84
2. Mack Celebrini - 2.13 PPG
3. Jonathan Toews - 1.68 PPG
4. Clayton Keller - 1.50 PPG
5. Cole Esierman - 1.50 PPG

All this to say - (and sorry for going all "George" with the stats - but they are truly pretty special) - this kid probably needs a lot more hype soon.

Any particular reason you're leaving out the ntdp kids? Are they just too good (as a team) for the USHL?
I think some of the hype for the upcoming draft classes has been dimmed, or overwhelmed, by the Bedard/Michkov 2023 hype. The u18's World's should be fun when a bunch of these guys start getting real widespread recognition.

Elite Prospects - USHL Stats All-time season

All-time/historical regular season stats and leaders per season for USHL, including top goal scorers, most games played, PPG leaders and more.

www.eliteprospects.com

 

[Lavar Ball]

Had a 5 point game last week. Up to 14 goals and 10 assists in 17 games. Him and Perron are dominant together

 

[superdeluxe]

Woulda been so cool to have seen him go the WHL route with Seattle. Man it's crazy with the insane talent that Seattle currently has that they could have potentially still added Celebrini AND Brad Lambert.

I’m gonna dare to dream he still comes to juniors next year. Hopefully Sawchyn gives him a ring

 

[MichaelFarrell]

I was watching the Steel play recently and I completely forgot this guy is a rookie in the USHL. He just has the look of a top 5 pick. Phenomenal skill and offensive instincts.

 

[Mathieukferland]

I was watching the Steel play recently and I completely forgot this guy is a rookie in the USHL. He just has the look of a top 5 pick. Phenomenal skill and offensive instincts.

Bit of a weaker year next year so I think he can challenge Kiviharju and and Eisermann if he keeps up his pace next year at Boston

 

[Lavar Ball]

Kid keeps on producing... outpacing Fantilli's numbers with the Steel last year

 

[Postulates]

Bit of a weaker year next year so I think he can challenge Kiviharju and and Eisermann if he keeps up his pace next year at Boston

He will be with Chicago next year as he is committed to Boston University for 2024-2025

The highest player drafted from a non-USNTDP USHL squad directly potentially.

 

[prongertheman9]

He will be with Chicago next year as he is committed to Boston University for 2024-2025

The highest player drafted from a non-USNTDP USHL squad directly potentially.

I heard he might be at BU next year

 

[BlueBull]

I think Celebrini is going to go number one in 2024.

He looks to be right around the Adam Fantilli, and arguably Jack Hughes level as a USHL prospect, and he is a good bit ahead of Eiserman and Kiviharju in the race for top prospect.

 

[thomast]

I think Celebrini is going to go number one in 2024.

He looks to be right around the Adam Fantilli, and arguably Jack Hughes level as a USHL prospect, and he is a good bit ahead of Eiserman and Kiviharju in the race for top prospect.

Kiviharju is most likely the best player out of the bunch right now by good margin. His numbers are record breaking for any defenseman ever in international play or in Finnish leagues.

I actually still agree Celebrini and Eiserman might be better prospects if we think about NHL projection. I still think Jack Hughes was clearly a better prospect at same age, he simply had more world class tools.