NHL Central Scouting released the mid-season draft rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft, and with the San Jose Sharks in last place, they are projected to land a superstar.

NHL Central Scouting released the mid-season draft rankings for the 2024 NHL Draft, and with the San Jose Sharks in last place, they are projected to land a superstar.

It is no secret who the projected No. 1 overall pick is, Macklin Celebrini. Celebrini, who plays for Boston University, has been highly scouted this season. In 16 games for BU, Celebrini leads the team in goals with 11 and assists with 16. 

Sharks GM Mike Grier joked with media members about Celebrini back in November.

"Anytime you can get a BU Terrier, it is always good," Grier said. "We're definitely watching those games, and our development guys who have been out there already [have] seen him a couple of times. I think he's had a good start." 

Celebrini played for Team Canada at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship and had four goals and four assists in five games. 

Celebrini is 17 years old and won't turn 18 until June. That didn't stop him from displaying his elite talent. His hands and passing are off the charts. 

Celebrini was ranked first among North American skaters in the NHL's Central Scouting rankings. 

With the Sharks in last place, they currently have a 25.5% chance of winning the draft lottery. With the new rules of the lottery put into place last season, if San Jose finishes last in the NHL, they will pick no later than third overall. 

If, for some reason, the Sharks drop to the No. 2 overall pick, they could be looking at Finnish-born center Konsta Helenius. The centerman is the NHL Central Scouting's No. 1 international skater. 

Helenius is playing for Jukurit in Finland's top men's league. Helenius has 20 points (8 goals, 12 assists) in 29 games. He has the most points by an under-19 player in Liiga this season and the second most points among any teenager in the league.

He didn't have the most dominant World Junior tournament, but his ability to score in Finland's top men's league is plenty encouraging. 

Celebrini is the obvious No. 1 pick per the NHL Central Scouting, and if the Sharks land him, it could change the franchise's direction for years to come. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's San Jose Sharks site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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