F Macklin Celebrini (2024, 1st, SJS)

matt trick

Registered User
Jun 12, 2007
10,288
2,507
Very good player but not understanding the high load he's getting as a 19-year-old while the team has a pitch count of sorts for Will Smith.

Apparently they’re using some analytics which track recovery. I wouldn’t be surprised if Macklin’s fitness is at another level, allowing him to recover faster. I do know that Grier said he’d like them both to play the last 30-40 games straight to get used to the grind of the second half. I’d be surprised if Mack gets a rest tbh, but there are some upcoming away games that don’t include elite centers, dmen, or other top young centers (I think Mack will most want and will learn the most in those games).
 
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karltonian

Registered User
Jan 1, 2023
2,522
3,047
Very good player but not understanding the high load he's getting as a 19-year-old while the team has a pitch count of sorts for Will Smith.
FYI he is 18 and won't be 19 until after the season is over.
He is absolutely crushing the minutes as if he has been in the league for years. The kid is READY. It's quite possible they see him challenging for the calder and/or having one of the top rookie seasons in league history as a good motivational goal for him. You can tell he wants to achieve and it seems right for his development to let him eat, in the parlance of our times.

Will Smith on the other hand is literally not NHL ready physically or mentally. You do have to worry he might get damaged physically or mentally over the course of the long season.
 

Star Platinum

Registered User
May 11, 2024
1,193
1,841
Very good player but not understanding the high load he's getting as a 19-year-old while the team has a pitch count of sorts for Will Smith.
Celebrini is good right off the bat in all phases while Smith is an all-offense player that struggles with physicality, so Warsofsky is doing that old-school bullshit coach thing where you put your skill players on checking lines to make them do things they will never be above average at instead of putting them with other skill players to build their confidence while they adjust to the increased speed and physicality of the NHL.
 

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