If the Sharks are able to secure the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft Lottery, they will have a rare opportunity to choose top prospect Macklin Celebrini, the son of Rick Celebrini who serves as the Warriors’ director of sports medicine and performance. This addition to the Sharks team not only represents a franchise-altering talent on the ice but also brings a locker room presence with a good sense of humor.
In January 2023, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan shared an amusing story about Warriors player Draymond Green leading a group of players and coaches to watch Macklin play for the Chicago Steel in Geneva, Illinois. Despite leaving early after the second period, Green and his teammates missed seeing Celebrini score a goal in the third period. Afterward, Macklin joked with his father that he found his games boring and had never left early. The comment was passed along to the Warriors locker room and resulted in laughter among the team.
Despite their tough loss to the Bulls after their Saturday night game in Geneva, Green’s interest in hockey’s rising star remained unwavering. For the Sharks, acquiring Celebrini as their top pick would fulfill their quest for a game-changing talent. The potential addition of this talented soon-to-be 18-year-old player along with Green’s continued presence in San Francisco promises exciting times ahead for both teams.