The ping-pong balls fell within the Sharks’ favor within the 2024 NHL Draft lottery Tuesday night time, awarding the No. 1 total decide to San Jose for the primary time in franchise historical past.
The Sharks, who’ve one other first-round decide at No. 14 from the Erik Karlsson trade to the Pittsburgh Penguins, are anticipated to draft Macklin Celebrini, the draft’s top-rated prospect. The 17-year-old middle is a particular expertise, as he registered 32 objectives and 32 assists in simply 37 video games at Boston College this season.
Even higher for San Jose: Celebrini has local ties, as he performed for the Jr. Sharks through the 2019-20 season, scoring 49 objectives and racking up 45 assists in simply 54 video games for the 14-and-under squad. Additionally, his father, Rick, is the Golden State Warriors’ director of sports activities drugs and efficiency, and the Celebrini household relies in Livermore, simply 34 miles north of the Sharks’ SAP Middle dwelling.
After the Sharks received the lottery, Celebrini shared his ideas on the group with ESPN’s John Buccigross
“I’ve lived there for a little bit bit rising up, clearly with my dad with the Warriors,” Celebrini advised Buccigross. “… If I am lucky to get drafted there, I might be very fortunate.”
The Sharks, who completed final within the 2023-24 NHL standings (19-54-9), had a 18.5 p.c likelihood of successful the No. 1 decide.
The Chicago Blackhawks have been awarded the No. 2 total decide, with the Anaheim Geese at No. 3 and Columbus Blue Jackets at No. 4.
San Jose Sharks
Heading into the lottery, the Blackhawks trailed the Sharks with the second-best odds at 13.5 p.c after ending thirty first within the total NHL standings (23-53-6) final season. The Geese, thirtieth within the standings, had the third-best odds at 11.5 p.c.
The 2024 NHL Draft might be held on June 28-29 at Sphere in Las Vegas. San Jose at the moment is scheduled to have 9 picks: two first-rounders and two second-rounders, then one within the third, one within the fourth, two within the fifth and one within the seventh spherical.
