San Jose Sharks
Sharks Locker Room: How Are Celebrini, Smith Getting Better?
How are Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith getting better?
There are the more obvious ways: Macklin Celebrini had his first-ever hat trick and five-point night, and Smith his first four-pointer in the San Jose Sharks’ 8-7 OT loss to the Minnesota Wild.
Since Jan. 20, Celebrini is No. 1 (30) and Smith is No. 2 (29) in Points among all NHL rookies.
Head coach Ryan Warsofsky gave insight as to why they’ve been so productive.
“Mack’s first goal there, he gets to the middle,” he said. “Earlier in the year, he probably fans out to the weak side.”
The kid's 22nd on the year. 😤#TheFutureIsTeal pic.twitter.com/fzT7nzOxsP
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) April 10, 2025
This might be Celebrini (71) understanding more and more how strong he is: The 18-year-old holds off Brock Faber (7), one of the better defensemen in the NHL, and doesn’t hurry with the finish.
HIS FIRST NHL HATTY! 🔥#Calderbrini pic.twitter.com/7cwXvsJJ0V
— San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) April 10, 2025
“Will slashes through to get Mack the hat trick goal, wins the race on the icing, fights off Bogosian,” Warsofsky said. “Those are things he probably wasn’t doing earlier in the year.”
This looks like Smith (2) getting acclimated to NHL pace: Once overwhelmed by it, he appears to be stronger and quicker, and more comfortable with it.
“They’re more confident in being able to make plays in tight areas. They’re playing more on the inside the ice,” Warsofsky said. “You can just tell [that they’ve gotten] more and more comfortable…the game [has slowed] down.”
There are also the less obvious ways.
“Mack’s really grown here through the season, 6-on-5, and has an understanding of playing pucks behind teams when they’re up on him, as has Will,” Warsofsky said.
Three Wild converge on Celebrini, and the rookie, instead of taking them all on himself, fires it in deep, and trusts his teammates, who have numbers, to get the puck back, which they do.
“They’re starting to learn the game within the game,” Warsofsky said.
All said, the San Jose Sharks still lost, and they gave up eight goals to boot.
“There’s been real growth in both their games,” Warsofsky said. “But we’re going to continue to preach the other side of the puck, because if we’re going to start winning hockey games in the future, we have to be a group that defends.”
Macklin Celebrini
Celebrini, on Luke Schumann being here for his 1st-ever hat trick: "That's great. He had a great trip out & we had a lot of fun together on the ice & getting to know him & his family was a great experience, something I'll remember for a very long time. For him to be here tonight,…
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 10, 2025
Celebrini, on what Nikolai Kovalenko has added to his line:
He’s a really smart player. He’s always talking to us, seeing our tendencies, and what we want him to do with the puck. I think you can see he wants to make plays, and that’s what we want to do as well…he’s worked well with us.
See the full interview here
Ryan Warsofsky
Warsofsky, on how the San Jose Sharks need to improve defensively:
We’re gotta protect the middle of the ice. It was our second biggest key today…defending the middle with urgency. And we’re there, but we’re not really there.
Warsofsky, on Kovalenko:
Really stepped up. We know he has skill and he can make plays, and now he’s getting more confident with the puck. He’s making plays. He gets to the dirty areas. He’s really complemented that line really well, and he’s done some really good things.
No update on Ferraro.
Rutta and Desharnais are traveling, but Warsofsky hasn't said if either are very close to game action yet
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 10, 2025
Warsofsky: "We just got a good look at our future there."
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 10, 2025
See the full interview here
Will Smith
Smith, on his late game-tying goal:
I saw it kind of developing, so I came up behind the zone, and then [William Eklund] made a great screen. So that’s what caused the goal.
Smith, on knowing where Celebrini is, on his 2 primary assists to him: "He's obviously talking to me when we're out there, and I think that's a huge part of it."
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 10, 2025
Smith, on if his off-the-ice chemistry with best friend Celebrini helps their on-the-ice rapport:
I think it’s big. Everyone knows how much we hang out, and we’re obviously together a lot, so on the ice, it kind of helps.
It makes it a lot more fun.
Tyler Toffoli
Toffoli, on essentially two teenagers carrying the load for the San Jose Sharks:
We really relied on them…There’s obviously a lot of pressure on them, but they’re relied on already to be the cornerstones of the franchise. Really proud of them, the way they handled themselves tonight. They’re gonna have to do that for the rest of my time here, especially.
Toffoli couldn't help but laugh, when I asked if this was the kind of game, you throw away the tape: "I mean, we gave up 8 goals, so I'm pretty sure we're gonna have to look at the tape."
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) April 10, 2025
That’s a great quote from Toffoli.
I said it on a different site, but I honestly cannot recall a player improving so much within a single year like Smith did this year. He’s far more physically involved now than he was at the start. His skill is shining through. He looks like a future star when 7 months ago he looked like he didn’t belong near the NHL ice.
Cautiously optimistic on Smith. He still plays a ton on the perimeter and since 03/01/25:
6 of his last 7 goals were assisted by Celebrini
5 of his last 10 assists were on Celebrini goals
Come on. Now you’re just looking for reasons to doubt Smith. The kid was chosen #4 overall and was an outstanding collegiate player. He’s an elite talent, not some hang-around riding Celebrini’s coattails.
Good players make each other better. That’s how it works.
He outscored Celly in college.
Maybe because he’s playing with Celly? Most of his assists to Celly are elite plays.
He would have had about 10 more assists if Celebrini could have finished a few more of his alley oops, too. He has just been incredibly creative around the net the last 15 games
hahaha – I 100% agree, there’s no way someone like Ostapchuk can gain time and space like Celebrini does for Smith, just sharing the data I collected.
Still not giving Smith the credit he deserves…
fine. he’s an accomplice to the assault on Sharkie . There. Credit given 😀
Data!
First 1/2 of the season (through game 41), 6 goals, 7 assists, avg TOI: 14:51
So far, 2nd half of the season, 10 goals, 21 assists, avg TOI: 16:29
Yes, a nice increase in production, and it certainly helps that he’s playing in the top 6 vs. the bottom 6 where he started the season.
I wonder if the notoriously slushy and chippy ice at the shark tank is a factor for skilled players.
Always is. Sutter used to have the guys make soft ice to give his less talented teams a chance against the Redwings and the Avs.
Remember when the Barracuda would play prior to the Sharks at SAP… by the time the Sharks played the ice was horrible.
They’ve made a lot of improvements to the sheet over the years but I think it comes down to the day and conditions. There are definitely times where the ice is just a disaster. Sure seemed that way against Seattle.
That’s a common problem in warmer weather arenas, and ones that get used a lot for non-ice events. The Sharks are supposed to be doing some renovations to SAP center, is improving the AC and refrigeration part of them?
Okay I’m ready to defend my ongoing Georgiev gripe. Just to set some context, I know that most of the goals Georgiev gives up can be attributed to bad team defense in front of him. But one must be willfully obtuse to ignore the pattern, which extends beyond his tenure as a Shark. Even in New York, he had a reputation for giving up bad goals at the worst possible times. He had a reputation for giving up bad goals when his team was playing well, too. It led to a conflict in practice between Georgiev and Tony DeAngelo, who… Read more »
Ok, you’ve converted me to the ‘Fourgiev must Go!’ movement. At least it’s almost over, right?
Love the over the top critique!!
He was actually the better goalie last night, though neither team seemed to have figured out defense.
Still, I’m not sure who is actually defending him beyond offering faint praise. Including comments like “He was actually the better goalie last night.”
I think I’ve just reached the point where even faint praise is too much for me to handle vis a vis Georgiev.
He hasn’t been good, I haven’t been too eager to pile on because Matthew Schaefer is skating around in my dreams. But next year, Askarov will hopefully be backstopping a much stronger defense most nights, and if there’s a real shot at the playoffs, maybe the team goes out and gets a quality backup. But otherwise I could even stomach 20 more games of him at the right low price. Its just about keeping the cap sheet clean for the future
Hoping Askarov gets 40 or so games as a rookie. Which means will need a higher end back-up.
With Georgiev, the biggest issue is that he hasn’t responded to the coaching of Thomas Speer, who comes across as a goalie whisperer sort. I could imagine a respectable goalie having some recent difficulties coming the San Jose to work with Speer and get his game back.
I can’t say Georgiev has popped the “Speer” bubble, but he sure hasn’t helped.
The UFA market is crap so it’ll take a trade, and I’m not sure we want to use assets on a backup goalie this year
Backup goalies don’t take much. And it won’t take much to get one less nauseating than Georgiev.
There are a couple decent options. Hell I think Vanechek even made some progress at the end.
There are plenty of better options in FA. I’d go after someone like Jake Allen. Could give him 2 years to entice him to come here.
Beautiful. But if it gets the 1OA then I’m ok with it.
Agreed. It’s basically Smith and Macklin vs Georgiev in the battle for Schaefer.
He’s so bad. I posted this on another site, but he has the worst low-danger save % in the NHL per Natural Stat Trick. He just lets in so many weak goals. His side to side movement, positioning, puck tracking, and glove hand are all fringe NHL at best. I’d be completely flabbergasted if he gets an NHL contract this offseason.
Hah yeah he’s been brutal, and like you said the timing is also a big part of it. And when that happens again and again and again it soul crushing for a team. You can’t trust your goalie to make even basic saves it really screws with how you play overall, it’s no surprise the offense has been drying up as a result. And it’s just a massive dagger to morale when your goalie lets in softies over and over and over. Isn’t he a UFA after this though? I can’t imagine a world where we sign him. Askarov is… Read more »
“Now we have him wasting a nine point performance from Celebrini and Smith in a road game during a six game losing streak…” Wasting the performance, or saving the team from floating above Chicago? I still remember how angry some fans got when Sharks ended up drafting 4th in the Bedard year because of a April hot run… I’m not going to pretend Georgiev is a good goalie. He is not. But he has also put in some good OT and shootout performances. Toronto, for example, dominated OT but Georgiev picked a good time to turn it on. Georgiev then… Read more »
Said it earlier this season, Celebrini is one of the most deceptive players I’ve ever seen. Great example of this on the hat trick goal. He’s coming down the middle of the ice and Erickson Ek is defending him — and in good position. As Smith goes behind the net, Celebrini leans towards the side Smith is heading towards. So Erickson Ek pivots towards that side. And as soon as Erickson Ek starts to pivot in that direction, Celebrini changes direction and goes to the far side. Erickson Ek is in a spin cycle which, mercifully, doesn’t last long because… Read more »
Did a similar thing to Faber on the first goal too
On the upcoming draft, Sheng interviews Brock Otten, director of scouting with McKeen, a couple days ago. For the 3rd overall spot, he likes Anton Frondell. In March 22, McKeen released its draft rankings with Frondell 8th. There’s a lot of fluidity after Schaffer and Misa!! Hopefully something the Sharks won’t have to deal with. Also, he seems to think this is a better draft class than most of the rest of what I’ve heard, which seems to think this is pretty weak. On that front. good news for the Sharks given they have two rd 1 picks and two… Read more »
Tbf I think he said that it’s a great class in the top 24 or so?
Saw Scouch say after the top 2, there were good players but he wasn’t seeing a lot of All Stars.
Just go Avalanche in the first round
I fear Boston and Chicago getting unusually lucky, in that order, and the Sharks getting that 3rd pick. Any other result will surprise me.
And if you think it’s not rigged, I just don’t know what to tell you.
There’s far more evidence against it being rigged than for it. Not sure what to tell you or any other conspiracy theorist.
From a PR perspective, the financial downside of rigging the draft and having that information found out far exceeds the business value of strategically placing certain prospects in optimal markets.
Yeah they definitely rigged the draft so the Sharks won the lottery draw three times in a row last year.
And to make sure McDavid went to the major media market of…Edmonton
Yup. If it were rigged he would have gone to somewhere big or somewhere struggling.
You’re normally well reasoned but this is dumb. They literally post the actual ball selection part of the lottery in a single shot. So unless you think it ILM or Ai…