May 08, 2024 - BY Admin

NHL Draft lottery: San Jose Sharks earn No. 1 pick, right to select top-ranked prospect Macklin Celebrini

The San Jose Sharks will select first overall in June's NHL Draft after winning Tuesday night's draft lottery.


The Sharks, who had an 18.5% chance to win the lottery and a 25.5% chance to win the No. 1 overall pick, will now have the opportunity to add Boston University forward Macklin Celebrini, the top-ranked North American skater on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking, to their roster after a season where they finished 32nd in the league with a 19-54-9 record.


This is the first time in Sharks franchise history they will own the No. 1 overall draft pick. They have drafted second overall three times and not since 1997 when they chose Patrick Marleau.


Celebrini, who will turn 18 in June, was second in NCAA scoring this past season with 32 goals and third overall with 64 points in 38 games for the Terriers. He won Hockey East Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year. The Vancouver native topped his year off by becoming the youngest player to win the Hobey Baker Award as the top men's player.


While Celebrini, who played for the San Jose Junior Sharks as a 14-year-old in 2019-20, now has a new fan base in San Jose, he's had the support of the NBA's Golden State Warriors for years. His father, Rick, has been the team's vice president of player health and performance since 2018. According to ESPN's Emily Kaplan, in January 2023, while the younger Celebrini was playing junior hockey in Chicago, members of the Warriors, including Draymond Green and head coach Steve Kerr, spent an off night watching the highly touted prospect play.


"​​How often do you get an opportunity to see Sidney Crosby at 17?" Green said.


The 2024 NHL Draft will take place June 28-29 at The Sphere in Las Vegas.


2024 NHL Draft order

1. San Jose Sharks

2. Chicago Blackhawks

3. Anaheim Ducks

4. Columbus Blue Jackets

5. Montreal Canadiens

6. Utah (formerly Arizona Coyotes)

7. Ottawa Senators

8. Seattle Kraken

9. Calgary Flames

10. New Jersey Devils

11. Buffalo Sabres

12. Philadelphia Flyers

13. Minnesota Wild

14. San Jose Sharks (via Pittsburgh Penguins)

15. Detroit Red Wings

16. St. Louis Blues

17. Washington Capitals

18. New York Islanders

19. Vegas Golden Knights

20. Chicago Blackhawks (via Tampa Bay Lightning)

21. Los Angeles Kings

22. Nashville Predators

23. Toronto Maple Leafs

24. Montreal Canadiens (via Winnipeg Jets)


The 25th through 32nd picks are determined after the Stanley Cup Playoffs end.


2024 NHL top prospects

• Macklin Celebrini, C, Boston University (NCAA)

• Artyom Levshunov, D, Michigan State (NCAA)

• Cayden Lindstrom, C, Medicine Hat (WHL)

• Zeev Buium, D, Denver (NCAA)

• Trevor Connelly, LW, Tri-City (USHL)

• Ivan Demidov, F, SKA St. Petersburg (KHL-MHL)

• Sam Dickinson, D, London Knights (OHL)

• Cole Eiserman, LW, USA U18 (NTDP)

• Anton Silayev, D, Novgorod (KHL)

• Zayne Parekh, D, Saginaw (OHL)

• Berkly Catton, C, Spokane (WHL)

• Konsta Helenius, C, Jukurit (Fin-Liiga)

• Tij Iginla, C, Kelowna (WHL)