The Sharks didn’t play Celebrini in Sunday’s rookie game contest against Anaheim, and there’s a strong possibility that he won’t suit up in another game until sometime during the preseason. Friday’s showing was enough for club officials to readily see that he’s already at a notch about his peers.

It did not take long for Macklin Celebrini to make an impact in his first competitive game in a San Jose Sharks uniform on Friday. Playing for the first time in nearly four months, the 18-year-old Celebrini scored a third-period power-play goal and finished with five shots in the Sharks’ 3-2 win over the Utah Hockey Club to start the Rookie Faceoff in El Segundo.

He looks like a kid. He sounds like a kid. He is a kid. But Macklin Celebrini does not carry himself like a kid. To be clear, he still has that youthful pep in his step.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – Since 2018, the Rookie Faceoff has emerged as a top showcase for prospects of western-based NHL organizations ahead of their main training camps. It’s become a competition for top draft picks to show why they were deserving of a high standing by teams and for lesser-known players to leave a strong impression.

Thornton is a beloved figure by Sharks fans, having played 15 of his 24 NHL seasons in San Jose. He was on stage to announce the pick when the organization selected Celebrini first overall in this year's draft, and now he'll offer his guidance to the young skater as he embarks on his journey in the pros.

Acting San Jose Sharks head coach for the Rookie Faceoff, John McCarthy, said he isn't sure if Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini will play again at the tournament.

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