Macklin Celebrini, the first player selected in the last National Hockey League (NHL) draft, signed his entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks on Saturday.
The 18-year-old center, winner of the recent Hobey-Baker Trophy, was hesitant to return to the Boston University team but ultimately chose the Californian team. Celebrini made rain and shine in his only season in the NCAA, scoring 32 goals and 64 points in 38 games.
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“Macklin is not only a special player on the ice, but he is a poised, confident and intelligent young man off the ice as well,” General Manager Mike Grier said in a press release. “He is talented and has an excellent feel for the game. We are extremely confident that he is ready to make the transition to being a full-time NHL player. We are excited to have him with us.”
For his part, Celebrini made it clear after his selection that he was keen to play in front of the San Jose fans, who “are among the best in the league”.
“It’s nice to be wanted. […] We are on the right track. “There are so many great players preparing for their debut.”
Number 2 and 3 also
The player was also announced on Saturday, shortly after Celebrini signed his contract to join the team. The Chicago Blackhawks wasted no time in signing defenseman Artyom Levshunov.
The Belarusian native receives the maximum annual salary allowed for a recruit, namely $975,000. The young man played for Michigan State University last season and collected 35 points in 38 games.
“Offering this contract to Artyom gives us the opportunity to continue his development within our system and allow him to take the next step in professional hockey. He is a strong two-way defenseman who has all the tools to become a great NHL player and we are excited to see his development at the professional level,” General Manager Kyle Davidson said in a press release.
The day before, the Anaheim Ducks had reached an agreement with the man drafted third overall, forward Bennett Sennecke.
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