San Jose Sharks Are Big Winners In 2024 NHL Lottery

Tuesday night was a big one for the San Jose Sharks. While they aren’t partaking in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the NHL held their lottery, which could change the outlook for them and other teams around the league.

Coming into the lottery, the San Jose Sharks had an 18.5 percent chance to win and a 25.5 percent chance to pick first. Those odds came courtesy of having the worst record in the NHL this season, as they went 19-54-9.

Of course, the team wishes they would have played better during the season, but at least one reward is a chance to select a star prospect. That is what has happened for the Sharks, as they won the 2024 NHL Lottery.

That puts them in a position to select Macklin Celebrini, who is considered the No. 1 prospect in this year’s draft class. Mike Grier, San Jose’s general manager, wasted no time in revealing the team’s draft plans, which is selecting Celebrini first overall.

“I would think so,” he said. “It wasn’t an easy year, but this was a real nice prize for us.”

A Vancouver native, Calabrini does have ties to the Bay Area. His father, Rick Celebrini works with the Golden State Warriors as their director of sports medicine and performance.

The 17-year-old revealed just how he was feeling when NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly was flipping over the cards to reveal who would land the first overall pick. It was emotional to see, knowing he would be landing in the same area where his father works.

“My heart was beating. You can’t really prepare for it. It’s so unique, so special,” said Celebrini. “It was excitement and, really, a little anxious.”

A freshman at Boston University last season, Celebrini won the Hobey Baker award as the NCAA’s best college hockey player. Should be remain in the NHL Draft, he would become the first player to take home that award and then be the first overall pick in the NHL Draft.

Discussions will be had between the San Jose Sharks and the Celebrini family to see what his future will hold. But, the team believes that he has what it takes to play in the NHL right away.

The 2024 NHL Draft is set to take place in The Sphere in Las Vegas in June. The Chicago Blackhawks will be picking second, while the Anaheim Ducks are third, as there was no shake-up in this year’s lottery projected order.