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Projected No. 1 pick Macklin Celebrini opens up about support from Connor Bedard regarding dealing with draft hype
Macklin Celebrini is likely to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming 2024 NHL draft. While the hype surrounding the draft can get to one's head, Celebrini recently mentioned that he had some help in that matter from the 2023 No. 1 pick, Connor Bedard.
The Boston University center opened up on his exchange with the Chicago Blackhawks star and shared that Bedard had reached out to Celebrini. The youngster mentioned that the former No. 1 pick asked him to “call anytime” if he needed any help dealing with the hype surrounding his draft.
It is needless to say that Connor Bedard had managed the draft hype surrounding him last year quite well and had an impressive rookie season despite missing over a month due to injury. He led all rookies with 22 goals, 61 points, 39 even-strength points, 7 game-opening goals, and 47 takeaways in 67 games.
Bedard also topped first-year forwards in average ice time per game and power-play points (21). He broke the Blackhawks' franchise record for most opening goals in a season and set a new rookie record with 205 shots on goal.
This year, the San Jose Sharks have the first pick for the 2024 NHL Draft. Macklin Celebrini shared during the same interview that he had an enjoyable dinner with San Jose Sharks General Manager, Mike Grier. Celebrini appreciated Grier's great personality and described him as “awesome.”
"He was awesome. We went out to dinner one night," Celebrini said. "He has a great personality and we had a lot of jokes. It was cool."
Macklin Celebrini opens up on final year at Boston
While speaking of his last year at Boston University, Celebrini mentioned that he thoroughly enjoyed his time in college. He praised his teammates, calling them special players and said it was enjoyable to watch them succeed.
"I loved my year in college," he said. "It was amazing and I had a lot of fun. [My teammates] are pretty special players as well, so it was fun to watch them all year and watch them have the success that they've had.”
Celebrini added that he's not trying to predict the future or get ahead of himself. Instead, he is focused on enjoying the last few days of the NHL combine.
"At the end of the day, you never know what's going to happen, and I don't think I'm getting too ahead of myself," Macklin Celebrini said. "So, for right now, I'm just going to enjoy the last couple days of the combine and enjoy this experience."
Fresh off an exceptional collegiate career at Boston, Celebrini will be looking to make an instant impact for whichever team he gets drafted.
In his freshman season, the center won the Hobey Baker Award, recording 64 points with 32 goals and 32 assists in just 38 games. It remains to be seen if the San Jose Sharks will scoop up the projected No. 1 pick in the coming draft or if Macklin Celebrini will start his NHL journey in a different city.
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