NHL draft tracker: Macklin Celebrini goes No. 1; scouting reports on first-round picks
The San Jose Sharks selected Boston University's Macklin Celebrini with the No. 1 pick of the 2024 NHL draft on Friday.
The clear-cut top talent in this draft class will be a first-line center who drives play for his team.
The 6-foot, 190-pound freshman had 32 goals and 32 assists in 38 games to lead the Terriers to the Frozen Four. He won the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey's top men's player, plus was voted Hockey East's top player and rookie.
Kyle Woodlief, the publisher and chief scout of the independent scouting service Red Line Report, provides scouting reports on the prospects drafted in the first round.
1. San Jose Sharks
C Macklin Celebrini, Boston University
He has superb hands and timing and is a highly imaginative playmaker who gets pucks to his linemates with one-touch passes. He’s a terrific goal scorer with a lightning fast catch and release - the puck explodes off his stick. His ability to anticipate developing plays puts him a step ahead of everyone else on the ice. Plays just as hard at the defensive end as he does in the offensive zone. When he doesn’t have the puck, he works to get it.
Projection: Top line two-way center who impacts game at both ends.
Style compares to: Jonathan Toews
2. Chicago Blackhawks
3. Anaheim Ducks
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
5. Montreal Canadiens
6. Utah Hockey Club
7. Ottawa Senators
8. Seattle Kraken
9. Calgary Flames
10. New Jersey Devils
11. San Jose Sharks (from Buffalo Sabres)
12. Philadelphia Flyers
13. Minnesota Wild
14. Buffalo Sabres (from Pittsburgh Penguins via Sharks)
15. Detroit Red Wings
16. St. Louis Blues
17. Washington Capitals
18. Chicago Blackhawks (from New York Islanders)
19. Vegas Golden Knights
20. New York Islanders (from Tampa Bay Lightning via Chicago Blackhawks)
21. Montreal Canadiens (from Los Angeles Kings)
22. Nashville Predators
23. Toronto Maple Leafs
24. Colorado Avalanche
25. Boston Bruins (from Bruins via Detroit Red Wings via Ottawa Senators)
26. Los Angeles Kings (from Winnipeg Jets via Montreal Canadiens)
27. Carolina Hurricanes
28. Calgary Flames (from Vancouver Canucks)
29. Dallas Stars
30. New York Rangers