NHL: Macklin Celebrini will be able to count on the support of his teammates

The regular season has not yet started in the NHL and the first choice in the last draft, Macklin Celebrini, “already has a target on his back.”

In the San Jose Sharks’ young sensation’s first preseason game against the Vegas Golden Knights, Celebrini was hit hard on the boards by defenseman Kaeden Korczak.

It’s something the Sharks expect to see during the 2024-25 campaign. Winger Givani Smith came up to Korczak and threw the gloves. Smith was assessed a four-minute roughing penalty and a 10-minute misconduct, however.

“He’s not 19 yet and the opponent crossed a good part of the ice to tackle him. These kinds of moves are going to happen all year long, he’s going to be a target,” Smith admitted to reporter Sheng Peng of SJHockeyNow. If we let them know from the start that we are not joking, the players will know the consequences of their actions.”

Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky liked Smith’s response, even though the Sharks had to play with a man down for four minutes.

“I liked what he did. It’s going to be a big thing for us this season. We’re going to be a tight team and we’re going to defend each other,” Warsofsky said.

Celebrini finished the game, which ended in a 4-2 victory for the Knights, with a goal and an assist.