Emily Kaplan, ESPNMay 7, 2024, 08:06 AM ET
CloseEmily Kaplan is ESPN’s national NHL reporter.
On a Saturday night in January 2023, the Golden State Warriors had an off night in Chicago.
Draymond Green didn’t want to go to dinner or out on the town. He had another idea: going to the suburbs to watch junior hockey.
“How often do you get an opportunity to see Sidney Crosby at 17?” Green reasoned.
The next big thing in hockey is Macklin Celebrini, the unanimous No. 1 prospect of the 2024 NHL draft class. Celebrini is also the son of Rick Celebrini, the Warriors vice president of player health and performance.
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“I was like, really? You wanna go?” Rick Celebrini said to Green. “I mean, it’s actually not close to where we stay with the team.”
“I don’t care,” Green replied. He wanted to support the Celebrinis.
So a group of Warriors staffers and players arranged a ride to Geneva, Illinois.
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“We found out a lot of stuff that night,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “Like Macklin’s nickname was The Cheetah. We didn’t know that until the announcer said something.”
NHL scouts have been dazzled by The Cheetah for years because he is the complete package: elite hockey sense, skill, shot and, yes, his motor. The 5-foot-11 two-way center is also known for his desire to win — and ability to bring his teammates along with him, making everyone great.
But even the best athletes have off nights, and according to Macklin, that was one of them.
“It was not a good game,” Macklin said. “We didn’t play very well.”
Once again, Green didn’t care. He saw enough.
Macklin was just 16, playing against more physically mature 20-year-olds. Everyone on the ice also knew the NHL buzz…
Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40074249/boston-university-macklin-celebrini-next-big-nhl-draft-prospect
Author : Emily Kaplan
Publish date : 2024-05-08 01:42:20
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