Future Watch Weekly: Macklin Celebrini and the Gift of 'GAF'

The time is nigh, folks. Draft Preview is available now and already flying off the shelves (both physically and digitally). 

Naturally, our cover story for 2024 is Macklin Celebrini, the ultra-talented center from Boston University who will in all likelihood go first overall to the San Jose Sharks when the NHL draft commences in Las Vegas in late June. But who is Macklin Celebrini?

In writing the cover story, I had the opportunity to talk to those who know him best and some great quotes didn't fit into the final product. So here's some bonus Celebrini coverage to kick things off.

One of my favorite stories from the article came from Celebrini's parents, Rick and Robyn, who recalled a game when Mack was four years old. In the magazine, I relay how Celebrini had lost the puck in front of the opponent's net. A kid from the other team was already at the blueline with possession when Celebrini gave chase, eventually tracking him down and diving on his belly to swipe the puck away at the last second. What I didn't have room for in the magazine was what Celebrini's parents learned after the game.

"His coach came up to us after and said 'I haven't seen that kind of GAF in a four-year-old forever,' " Rick said. "I had no idea what 'GAF' was and he said 'Give a...fudge.' That was the first indication (of how competitive Mack was)."

Celebrini's competitive streak was also a boon for older brother Aiden, who is now a Vancouver Canucks pick and was Mack's teammate this season with Boston U.

"Aiden and Mack are only about 19 months apart," Robyn said. "So it was great because they had each other to play with and compete against."

That closeness helped both of them, growing up.

"Having Aiden as an older brother and Mack's personality - it really pushed Aiden and was challenging to Mack," Rick said. "We had a little synthetic ice rink in the basement and they'd be down there for hours, playing hockey and getting into scraps."

And of course throughout the piece there are testimonials of how talented Celebrini is, but here's another quote that didn't make the final edit to pile on.

"It's been a pleasure to coach Macklin," said BU bench boss Jay Pandolfo. "From day one, his maturity, his preparation, his passion for the game. He comes to the rink every day, and you can tell he loves playing the game, and he wants to get better. Forget the talent he has – his talent is off the charts. But his competitiveness is second to none."

As of June 1, a slew of NHL draft picks will find themselves unsigned and back on the market/draft floor. While franchises get plenty of time to assess whether or not a player has developed enough to earn that entry-level contract, there are always some interesting names out there. Here are three that caught my eye:

Reid Dyck, G, Swift Current (WHL): Drafted in the sixth round by Boston, Dyck has great size at nearly 6-foot-5, and his numbers improved in every WHL season. Finally playing on a good team this year, he went 25-7-2 with the Broncos. Now, the Bruins have a bit of a logjam in net - even if you believe Linus Ullmark will be traded, Jeremy Swayman is The Man for now and the future, while Brandon Bussi could easily step up into an NHL backup role next season if need be. Mikey DiPietro is already a solid AHL netminder with NHL experience. Plus, they don't need to make a decision yet on 2021 pick Philip Svedeback yet because he's still in the NCAA with nearby Providence College.

Liam Arnsby, C, North Bay (OHL): Voted Eastern Conference best defensive forward by OHL coaches two years in a row (and ranking second the year before that), Arnsby has a clearly defined role, which I always appreciate in a prospect. He's a character kid and a leader drafted in the seventh round by Florida in 2022, and while his offensive numbers have never blossomed, he's also playing on a team with some big-time producers who already fill that role.

Tnias Mathurin, D, North Bay (OHL): Another member of the Battalion, Mathurin missed almost the entire 2022-23 campaign due to a shoulder injury. Drafted by Detroit in 2022, that meant Mathurin surrendered a crucial year of development before returning to the fold this season. The size and physical package here were always intriguing; I once heard Mathurin compared to Zach Bogosian, and that always stuck with me. Maybe he's a bottom-pairing guy at best, but if he's a free one...

I really like the Dan Byslma hiring in Seattle because you're getting a Stanley Cup champion who already knows your organization. 

Bylsma has been the coach of the Kraken's AHL affiliate, the Coachella Valley Firebirds, for the first two seasons of their existence. In Year 1, they went to the Calder Cup final, losing a heartbreaking Game 7 - in overtime - to Hershey. This season, they're back in the conference final, currently taking on Milwaukee.

And while the Firebirds have a lot of veterans, they also have key Kraken prospects such as Shane Wright and Ryker Evans making solid contributions again (not to mention other kids such as Jacob Melanson, Ryan Winterton and Jani Nyman getting reps). Personally, I didn't like Seattle's lack of movement at the NHL trade deadline - I thought they should have packed it in and sold some vets to open up spots for kids - but maybe Bylsma's familiarity with Seattle's prospects will change that philosophy next season.

Edmonton may be concentrating on its Stanley Cup run right now, but management is also looking towards the future: The Oilers just hired former USHL Dubuque GM Kalle Larsson to their hockey ops department. 

Larsson is now Edmonton's senior director of player development, and if you need some examples of his previous handiwork, consider some of the names who played for the Fighting Saints during his tenure: Matthew Savoie, Wyatt Kaiser, Stephen Halliday and perhaps most impressively, Matias Maccelli - who was a completely unknown quantity when he left Finland to play for Dubuque. The Swedish Larsson has a tremendous eye for talent and his insights will be a boon for the Oilers in the coming years.