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McLean Celebrini may be the only one on the San Jose Sharks who isn't happy to talk about his remarkable season, in which the 19-year-old accomplished feats that only some of the greatest players his age have ever accomplished.
Celebrini delivered another signature performance Tuesday night when he completed his third career hat trick with a goal in overtime that gave the Sharks a 3-2 victory over the visiting Utah Mammoth and placed Celebrini in elite company.
Those three goals gave the North Vancouver, British Columbia native 30 points in his team's first 20 games of the season, a mark reached by only two other teenagers in NHL history: Wayne Gretzky in 1980-81 and Sidney Crosby in 2006-07. Mario Lemieux also did this in his first 20 games of the 1984-85 season, but he missed seven games during that time.
“It’s cool, but this is the first I’ve heard of it,” Celebrini said, quickly trying to brush off any comparison to these legends. “I really don't want to hear about it. That's not important.”
Celebrini's teammates don't hesitate to talk about the impact he's had on the franchise since his selection. first overall in the 2024 draft. As an 18-year-old rookie, Celebrini had 25 goals and 38 assists, but took his game to new heights this season with 13 goals and 17 assists.
“Special. He's special,” said guard Vincent Desharnais, who played with Connor McDavid and Crosby during his career. “I think everyone here, everyone in this building sees how special he is as a player and also as a person. [jerk] and went around saying that he was the best player.
“He always wants to get better every day. I'm sure the next time he skates, he'll be one of the first guys on the ice to work on something different. So that's impressive and inspiring for everyone.”
Celebrini gave cause for optimism for a Sharks team that had the NHL's worst record in each of the last two seasons and hasn't made the playoffs since the 2018-19 season.
Celebrini and Smith form the core of the Sharks
He is part of a young core that includes several promising players with more in the pipeline and expected to become building blocks for a contender in the coming years.
The two main pieces of this rebuild right now are Celebrini and fellow 2023 fourth overall pick Will Smith. Smith, 20, had seven goals and 11 assists, the latest of which was a deft cross-ice pass that set up Celebrini's first goal of the night less than two minutes into the game.
“These guys obviously see the chemistry,” head coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “They can succeed. Honestly, I still think there is another level they both can reach in their acting. Not just points, goals, assists. In order for us to win consistently and keep moving forward and really start building this thing, we have to understand how we need to play the game and have the skills to win and what that looks like.”
Warsofsky said what sets Celebrini apart from other young stars is his “hockey sense.” It often lacks this trait because players spend so much time practicing their skills that they neglect this aspect of the game.
This has helped Celebrini become an instant leader of the team despite his age, as he has earned the title of alternate captain this season and is soon preparing to wear the 'C' on his jersey.
His play helped the Sharks bounce back from a six-game winless streak and open the season with nine wins in their final 14 games, keeping them at least within striking distance of a playoff spot after winning just 39 games over the past two seasons.
San Jose has shown more resiliency this season, as evidenced by its overtime response after building a two-goal lead in the third period against Utah.
“Going into this year, we all want to take the next step as a team,” Celebrini said. “This is a game we probably would have lost last year. So I guess just showing the steps we're taking.”
