Sharks' 'special' No. 1 pick to debut against Blues

The Macklin Celebrini era begins Thursday when the San Jose Sharks host the St. Louis Blues.

Celebrini, the first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, will make his regular season debut for the Sharks in their season opener.

He is the key component in the Sharks' ongoing rebuild, which also includes promising forwards Will Smith and William Eklund. San Jose won the draft lottery after finishing 19-54-9 last season.

Celebrini, 18, is expected to center the top line with Tyler Toffoli and Fabian Zetterlund on his flanks. Celebrini scored 32 goals and had 32 assists as a freshman at Boston University last season.

"He just has this driven mindset," first-year Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky told The Athletic. "He cares about his teammates. He cares about the organization, which is obviously step No. 1. He's ultra-competitive. It's what we need.

"But we're going to have to support him. There's going to be ups and downs in his season. He's a special player. He's a special person. There's things we're going to do as an organization to protect him."

Sharks general manager Mike Grier signed Toffoli to give Celebrini a seasoned linemate and Alexander Wennberg to provide depth at center. Former Blues and Detroit Red Wings defenseman Jake Walman was another key addition.

"I think Mike did a good job of bringing in the veterans to help surround (Celebrini) with some guys that are good character players, that have won Stanley Cups," Warsofsky said.

The Blues opened their season with a 3-2 victory over the Kraken on Tuesday in Seattle. They rallied from a 2-0 deficit with two goals by winger Jordan Kyrou and one by defenseman Philip Broberg, who came to St. Louis as a free-agent for a two-year, $9.16 million deal.

Defenseman Justin Faulk, who was slowed by injuries much of last season, had two assists -- including one in his new role as quarterback of the top power-play unit with Torey Krug sidelined for the season after ankle surgery.

Last year Kyrou scored just two goals in his first 13 games. This season he scored two in his first 13 shifts of the season -- and he also fired another shot off the crossbar.

"Fresh start to the year, new season," Kyrou said. "So feeling good."

Last season, Kyrou spent a lot of time playing on the team's top even-strength line with center Robert Thomas and winger Pavel Buchnevich. But to open this season, Blues coach Drew Bannister is trying to balance his top two lines.

He put Buchnevich at center with Kyrou and newcomer Alexandre Texier on the wings when playing 5-on-5. Kyrou's speed helped make that line click.

Kyrou scored an even-strength goal on a clean break-in triggered by Texier's outlet pass.

"He took advantage of his opportunities," Bannister said of Kyrou. "There was a couple more opportunities where I'd like to see him really bear down. He's finding areas, guys were finding him. He's using his speed, he's competing and good things happen when he's doing that."

--Field Level Media