Preview/Lines #49: Celebrini Meets Chara, Warsofsky Welcomes Prep Team to Sharks Practice

BOSTON — Sunday at TD Garden was one of the most eventful practices that I’ve ever attended.

One of the most eventful practices that I've been to in a while.

Zdeno Chara was here, visiting old coach Doug Houda. Chara & Celebrini also chatted for a while.

Warsofsky's prep school team Cushing Academy visited, they got a locker room tour & pics with Smith/Celebrini.

Real… pic.twitter.com/9wnkWVlrSE

— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 19, 2025

Local son Ryan Warsofsky, then 18, played for nearby Cushing Academy and defensive coach (and Hall of Famer) Ray Bourque in 2006-07. Warsofsky’s good friend and Ray’s son, Ryan Bourque, is the current head coach of Cushing Academy. Hopefully, it was a day that the Cushing hockey team will never forget.

“Growing up in this area, came to a couple morning skates when Mike Sullivan was coaching, I look back, it was probably, those [were] the greatest days of my life,” Warsofsky said. “These guys got to meet Will Smith and Mack and [Mikael Granlund]. That’s something that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives.”

Warsofsky has cited these visits with family friend and current Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan, who coached the Bruins from 2003 to 2006, as instrumental toward him getting the “coaching bug” at a young age.

Speaking of Mack, Macklin Celebrini spent some time after practice chatting with Boston Bruins legend Zdeno Chara.

The future Hall of Fame defenseman was visiting his ex-Bruins defensive and penalty-killing coach Doug Houda, who currently holds both roles with the San Jose Sharks.

Celebrini reported that this was his first time meeting Chara. Chara also gave Celebrini some advice, which Celebrini kept to himself.

The 18-year-old is well aware of how great Chara was though, even though he was just a child when Chara and Houda won the Stanley Cup in 2011.

“He’s obviously someone that, very rare to be so big and move so well and move the puck so well, handle it. I’ve heard a couple people call him a unicorn,” Celebrini said of the dominating 6-foot-9 blueliner. “That’s perfectly described.”

San Jose Sharks (14-28-6)

Yaroslav Askarov will start.

Tyler Toffoli has already been ruled out. Marc-Edouard Vlasic and Nikolai Kovalenko (activated off IR) won’t play too.

Per Warsofsky, all the Boston kids will play.

Will Smith will still play with Mikael Granlund.

Collin Graf will be on a line with Luke Kunin and Carl Grundstrom.

Henry Thrun will start with Cody Ceci.

Also, Timothy Liljegren will return to the line-up.

I would guess that Alex Wennberg moves to wing then, maybe with Macklin Celebrini and William Eklund? Or could he slide next to Granlund, put Zetterlund with Celebrini?

That leaves a fourth line of Barclay Goodrow-Nico Sturm-Ty Dellandrea?

And if Liljegren plays with typical partner Mario Ferraro, then maybe Jake Walman starts with Jan Rutta?

Boston Bruins (22-19-6)

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Where To Watch

Puck drop between the San Jose Sharks and Boston Bruins is 10 AM PT at TD Garden. Watch it live on NBC Sports California. Listen to it on the Sharks Audio Network.