Macklin Celebrini is participating in the NHL Draft Combine this weekend and told media members that he still hasn't made up his mind about turning pro with the San Jose Sharks or going back to Boston University.
Macklin Celebrini is participating in the NHL Draft Combine this weekend and told media members that he still hasn't made up his mind about turning pro with the San Jose Sharks or going back to Boston University.
Macklin Celebrini is participating in the NHL Draft Combine this weekend and told media members that he still hasn't made up his mind about turning pro with the San Jose Sharks or going back to Boston University.
While Celebrini has met with the Sharks, there is a plan for him to speak with other teams despite Mike Grier all but confirming the pick before it happens.
On today's 32 Thoughts episode, Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek debate what is best for Celebrini. While Friedman feels he's ready no matter the state of the Sharks, Marek brings up an interesting thought.
"One of the things I have been wondering about Macklin Celebrini is that Will Smith just came out. The one thing that Mike Grier has to do now is start to surround these younger players with veteran players," Marek said. "I just wonder if it is in Macklin Celebrini's best interest to go back to BU for one season while San Jose takes the next step in filling out this roster."
Marek brings up a good point. The Sharks don't have a terrific roster, and with the trades of Tomas Hertl, Timo Meier, Erik Karlsson, and maybe even eventually Logan Couture, if he can get healthy, San Jose lacks quality NHL talent.
Friedman quickly pushed back on Marek's thought process and said that Celebrini should turn pro.
"What's better for his development," Friedman asked. "I always think, the only reason you don't put a player in the NHL at that level with that guy's skill is if you think he is incapable of handling it."
Celebrini's mindset and physical ability make him NHL-ready. He's been around professional athletes for most of his life, with his father working with the Golden State Warriors.
"You would have to convince me who has been around pro athletes almost his entire life, whose father knows what it takes to be a success at the next level as well as any non-sports playing parent could be," Friedman said. "You would have to convince me that this kid is not capable of handling what is going to happen to him next year."
Fridman said that despite the team's shortcomings, there are still lessons to be learned, like travel and what it takes to become a successful NHL player.
"There are so many things that are good for you, even if you're going to lose a lot of games. The reason comes down to whether he really wants to go back to school."
Marek argued that the Sharks won't find enough players to surround Will Smith with, but adding Celebrini would be detrimental. Friedman once again pushed back.
"The question should not be, is San Jose ready for Macklin Celebrini? To me, the Sharks are almost irrelevant. We know they aren't going to be very good. The question is, will this long-term make Macklin Celebrini a better player if he is in the NHL next year," Friedman said.
Marek then asks Friedman if Celebrini could think about who he could play with if he were to turn pro next season.
"You can find players. There are going players available." Friedman said. "That doesn't matter (that Will Smith is there too). It is your job as a front office to find players. There are teams that are going to have cap trouble. There are teams that will want to move on from guys. The cap is going up $4 million, so some players are going to do well, but there are going to be other players who get squeezed. That is the job of the front office. To me, this is all loser thinking."
Marek responded: "This is protecting an asset. The NHL is not a developmental league."
Instead of debating who will be picked first overall at the NHL Draft this season, the national debate has turned to whether Celebrini should sign with the Sharks and play in the NHL right away.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FJqulp-taQ[/embed]
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