When will Macklin Celebrini play his first NHL game?

All eyes will be on Macklin Celebrini as the No. 1 overall pick of this year’s Entry draft makes his NHL debut. The former Boston University center was chosen as the first overall pick by the San Jose Sharks and his first game is expected to be their home opener at SAP center.

October 10 will see the Sharks play their first home game of the season and per the club’s official X account, rookies Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith will make their NHL debut on the occasion.

“The countdown to October 10 is officially ON! ⏰ Be at the Sharks Home Opener to see Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith debut in Teal!”, tweeted the San Jose Sharks’ official X account.

That would make it clear as day that Celebrini has indeed decided to turn pro. While speaking to the media on Saturday, the former Boston University center shared when he decided to take the leap of faith. Speaking to The Hockey News, he said:

"I've been thinking about it since the draft. Throughout the week, meeting everyone. I think over this week, I knew the decision I had to make," he said. "It was a quick turn between the draft and camp. The guys I'm growing with through this process it's really exciting. There's a lot of potential for our group."

Celebrini mentioned that it was after the development camp exit meetings that he decided to end his NCAA career and start his pro journey.

---

GM Mike Grier’s offseason efforts helped Macklin Celebrini take his decision

In the same interview, when asked what had prompted him to decide to start his professional career immediately, Macklin Celebrini revealed that it had to do with Sharks general manager Mike Grier’s efforts to bring in the necessary players for a winning project at San Jose. He said:

"They did an amazing job. [The Sharks] brought in some veteran guys. Some guys that have played in the league a long time. They already had some guys, some key pieces that are really important to the culture if you want to win. That was a big factor, for sure."

The youngster credited the fans as another reason that helped make his decision. Celebrini hailed them as one of the best fanbases in the league.

“It’s nice to be wanted,” Celebrini said. “They [Sharks fans] were out there supporting today. From everything I’ve heard, they’re some of the best fans in the league. So, I’m excited to start playing in front of them.”

Earlier in a team statement, Will Grier expressed his admiration for Celebrini and shared the team's excitement about having Macklin officially join the Sharks for the 2024-25 season. He also praised the youngster’s combination of ‘skill’ and ‘hockey sense’ and expressed his confidence that Macklin is ready to become an NHLer.