Sharks' Macklin Celebrini Earns High Praise From Stanley Cup Champion Head Coach
Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice gave San Jose Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini some high praise ahead of their first matchup tonight.
Florida Panthers head coach Paul Maurice gave San Jose Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini some high praise ahead of their first matchup tonight.
When asked how they will gameplan against the high-flying rookie, Maurice said the Panthers need to "remove the birth certificate" and treat him like a seasoned vet because that is what he's playing like.
Maurice has coached 1,876 regular-season games in the NHL and has led the Panthers to the Stanley Cup Final each of the past two seasons. He is 4th in NHL history with 885 career wins. His Hall of Fame pedigree was completed with his first Stanley Cup last season.
The Panthers' bench boss compared Celebrini to his captain, Aleksander Barkov.
"[Celebrini] is interested in playing the game the right way, and I love those young guys that come in [that way]," Maurice said. "They're going to be good. You get one of those, you get a Barkov, and you can build your team around him."
Barkov is widely considered one of, if not the best, two-way centers in the NHL. Celebrini's work ethic is evident every game, and his attention to the defensive side of the ice is excellent, especially at 18 years old.
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