First-Overall Pick Macklin Celebrini Makes His Decision, Signs With Sharks

Well, one of the bigger questions following the NHL Draft has officially been answered: first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini is headed to the National Hockey League.

The 18-year-old reigning Hobey Baker Award winner as the best player in college hockey was the consensus No. 1 in this year's draft, and as soon as the San Jose Sharks won the draft lottery, it was essentially written in stone that they'd take Celebrini.

However, given that he just recently turned 18 and only had one collegiate season under his belt, there were some questions about whether Celebrini would sign with the Sharks or return to college for his sophomore season with Boston University.

First-overall draft pick Macklin Celebrini plans for next season have been decided. (Getty Images)

Celebrini was fairly non-committal about his future in the lead-up to the draft but teased that a decision was underway soon after the Sharks wrapped up their development camp on Thursday.

On Saturday, it was officially announced that the decision had been made, and Celebrini will be in a Sharks jersey come this fall.

"Macklin is not only a special player on the ice, but he is a poised, confident and intelligent young man off of it," Sharks GM Mike Grier said in a team statement. 

"His combination of skills and hockey sense is rare, and we are extremely confident that he is ready to make the transition to being a full-time NHL player. We could not be more excited to have Macklin locked in to formally join the Sharks organization for the 2024-25 season." 

The Sharks are very much in a rebuild, but they're off to a good start with the additions of Celebrini and fellow high-end prospect Will Smith.

They probably won't have much to play for this season as far as a playoff spot, but getting Celebrini some NHL reps ASAP after he dominated in college last season is going to be the best way to develop his game.