San Jose Sharks’ rookie forward Macklin Celebrini is currently dealing with a lower-body injury, as announced by the team on Wednesday. The injury occurred during a preseason game against the Utah Hockey Club, where Celebrini took a close-range shot and tripped over an opponent’s stick, causing him to roll his left ankle and crash into the boards. Despite finishing the game, Celebrini was ultimately pulled out as a precautionary measure by Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky.
Warsofsky mentioned that while Celebrini’s status is day-to-day and he has not been ruled out for the rest of the preseason, there is uncertainty about his availability for the opening night of the regular season. The Sharks have two more preseason games scheduled before their season opener against the St. Louis Blues on October 10. Celebrini had a strong start to the preseason with a goal and an assist in his debut game against the Golden Knights.
This injury adds to a string of preseason injuries to key players in the league, including Drew Doughty of the Los Angeles Kings and Patrik Laine of the Montreal Canadiens. Celebrini, who was the top pick in the 2024 draft after his successful season at Boston University, is a crucial part of the Sharks’ rebuilding plans. Alongside Will Smith, the No. 4 pick from 2023, Celebrini is expected to spearhead a youthful movement in San Jose to revitalize the team after a tough previous season.
The Sharks finished the 2023-24 season with the NHL’s worst record and a significant goal differential of minus-150. The addition of Celebrini and Smith brings hope for a brighter future for the team, as they aim to bounce back and compete at a higher level in the upcoming season. Celebrini’s injury will be closely monitored, and his recovery progress will be crucial in determining his availability for the start of the season and his impact on the team’s performance moving forward.