Macklin Celebrini – A Different Energy And Buzz Around SAP Center This Year

Macklin Celebrini – A Different Energy And Buzz Around SAP Center This Year

one, the only what they’re saying is the future phenom in the National Hockey League. Mlin Celibbrini joining the morning roast. Joe Spedoni alongside Joe Shasky. Mlin, good morning. First off, congratulations on the win last night. Let me ask you this before we get into any, you know, on the court on the ice stuff. the expectations around you right now. I I’m hearing names like Stephen Curry, Cydney Crosby, Wayne Gretzky attached to you. Do you allow yourself to hear or process any of that? I don’t think so. I think uh I mean those guys um being a different sport, but I mean he’s probably a top three player of all time in the NBA and I mean the other than Wayne Gretzky. I think those are tall uh big big people in Hey Mlin, let me tell you what. We’re going to get you back. We’re going to get you back because you’re cutting in and out there. But he said something that’s already endearing himself to the Bay. He said Steph’s the top three player of all time. You hear that? Yeah. He said Steph’s a top three player. I mean I mean he could have said he could have been the number one thinking that he’s not wrong. I wonder whose other two are. Um Mlin Celibbrin going to be join us back here momentarily. But it’s true Joe. Like I literally saw like Steph Curry of the hockey world. Mlin Celibbrini like that. And it doesn’t sound insane. Like that’s the like that’s the other thing. He’s 19, man. 19. Just think about the few guys that have been Oh, we got him back. Sorry, M. We got you back on the air. Sounds good. Is that better? much better. Beautiful. Can I Can I ask just a like a the starter one? Your dad was a soccer player, huh? Yeah. Yeah, he was. And so you and your brother, you guys got into hockey. Never soccer though, huh? Is it just cuz you guys grow up in Canada? Yeah. I mean, we played soccer up until we were I think I was 12 when I when I stopped. I mean, it was just too hectic with hockey. And I mean, I think I love hockey a little bit more. So, what’s the age difference between you and your brother? Um, because I know you played together for a short period of time, but growing up, were you always on the same team together? Uh, we’re 18 months apart, so it kind of depended. Um, I played with them a little bit when we were younger, but then as as we got older, it kind of separated a little bit. Is that your only sibling, Mlin? No, I have a younger sister, Charlie, and a younger brother, R.J., who’s also a hockey player. Look at you being the oldest one, huh? Setting the tone early. Uh, I’m one of 10, by the way. I have three sisters and six brothers. Wow. Yeah. Yeah, it’s a lot. Um, none of us none of us very coordinated, so none of us played hockey, as you can imagine. Did a little rollerblading, a little bit little blading back in the uh the ’90s when it was very popular. But I want to ask you this, too. Like, there’s been a lot made um in the NBA right now because we’re obviously the home of the Warriors. We talk a lot about load management, right? We talk a lot about, you know, guys playing through injuries. The h like the hockey landscape and the hockey world is so much different when it comes to injuries and how we discuss them. Like you guys are known for toughness and having not, you know, calf injuries or leg injuries, but lower body lower body injuries. Hell, I saw your che your t your tooth getting chipped a couple weeks ago, just taking it like it’s nothing, scoring a goal. Like the toughness level when it comes to the NHL, do you think it’s under discussed even in the national media landscape? Um, I mean, it’s tough to kind of say. I think um it’s definitely part of the hockey culture just you always want to be available and battling out there with your teammates and to see uh you want to you want to help your team win in any way you can. I think that’s part of being just ready for every game and um unless you can’t play you just always find a way to play. Um I think it’s just part of the way way hockey players were kind of raised and I mean I think that’s just the expectation. Uh Mlin Celabbrini joining us here on the morning Rose courtesy of the River Islands guest line Shark Center. Um and obviously your father being Rick Cabrini, the director of sports medicine and performance for the Golden State Warriors. Like having your father be like so in tune when it comes to like recovery, when it comes to the body, like injury stuff like that. Were you instilled at a young young age when you started playing some of these sports about recovery about playing multiple sports so you don’t have some of these these injuries that we’ve seen when it comes to the NBA? like take me through it from like, you know, a father-son perspective, but your your dad also being, you know, one of the premier guys when it comes to sports medicine and performance in sports. Yeah. Yeah, I mean I think he uh he’s I mean I think you said it obviously very good at what he does and um he for sure has kind of taken what he’s learned from other athletes and what works and what doesn’t and um things like professional athletes were doing we were doing when we were younger just just trying to get uh he’s just trying to help us in every way he can and obviously that’s kind of his specialty and injury prevention and stuff. So, um, definitely help having him around. All right. So, at 18, I got kicked out of the house by my mom. All right. At 18, you’re you’re drafted number one overall. Now, I I I heard you’re living with Joe Thornton. Are you still living with him? I mean, you you don’t got your own spot yet? No, I uh at the end of last year, we kind of talked about it and he uh he invited me back for another year, so I had to take it. So, what are you like in the guest bedroom or like like take me through this. You got like PS5, your own room? I mean, are you able to bring chicks back over there? Like, come on, dude. What’s going on? No, none of that. None of that. I I respect the household. I don’t I don’t do any of that. So, are you taking the garbage out? No, I uh Yeah. I mean, I play with their dog a little bit just to kind of help out wherever I can. So, what like right now, take me through the life of a 19-year-old. Uh I know you’re playing with a bunch of adults and whatnot. Are you the young guy who gets to control the music, you know, before the game? Are you are you playing some of the the young guy stuff? Are you playing vids on the road? Are you going out with everybody? Cuz it must be difficult if you’ve got some guys that are, you know, in their 20s and 30s that have their own families. And you’re sitting here, you’re you’re not even old enough to drink. Yeah. I mean, it’s for sure a little bit different. And like guys are starting families with their wives and like when we get back from road trips guys are like, “Oh, I have to go take care of the kid tomorrow cuz my wife’s off. She’s taking the day.” So it’s definitely different. Um I mean it’s tough to kind of see guys away from the rank with with kids and all that they’re dealing with outside of it. And I mean like you said, I’m just a young guy who who only has hockey and then that’s was kind of my main focus. So, um, it is a little weird, but I mean, we have such a great group that it doesn’t really matter. Mine Celabbrini joining us here on the Morning Rose Shark Center. Um, Mlin, we got the Winter Olympics coming up in a few months in Milan, Italy. I mean, I’m just going to assume Celibbrini. I’m a Pisan myself. I mean, I’m assuming that’s an Italian last name. Team Canada, a lot’s being made right now. Sydney Crosby, you got Baddard, your name is mentioned. What would it mean to you to represent your country in the upcoming Winter Olympics if chosen? Yeah, I mean I think it mean everything um watching the Olympics growing up and um seeing all your favorite players represent their country and how much it it means and um I mean I think it it mean the world to me. And on top of that, I mean winning a gold medal potentially, is that is that something like you dream about as a kid? Because obviously growing up here in America, you know, it’s baseball, winning a World Series, America’s pastime for you guys in Canada. I mean, hell, even though you guys just had the Toronto Blue Jays, by the way, are you a Blue Jays fan? I am a Blue Jays fan. I’m sorry. Have you met Vlatty Jr.? No, I haven’t. Okay. Oh, now Well, now we got to get this out there. We got to meet Vlad. I mean, come on. I mean, we got to put that out there. Got to do that. So, but winning a gold medal, is that like so is that like the dream from a young like Canadian fan perspective that plays hockey is winning the gold more so than like a Stanley Cup or do you view them about the same? No, I mean I think they’re it’s a different they’re they’re so different. um like just representing your country is is something you dream of as a kid because you want to make where you’re from proud and I mean recognize your hometown and um your family and stuff like that. But I mean a Stanley Cup on the other hand is I mean why you battle all season 82 games plus playoffs and um it’s just like a kind of it’s a different kind of accomplishment but um I I view them as the same but for sure I mean a gold medal is up there. Were you able to watch what Steph Curry did last year in the Olympics in uh Paris and hitting that night night shot? Yeah, that was pretty special. I’m I’m I’m hoping the same for you in a few months here, Mlin. No pressure at all. And maybe you can throw out a night night if it is the game-winning goal. No pressure though in the in the Olympics. Um if you are selected, Joe, there you go. So, Matt, what’s your favorite burrito spot in San Jose? Because there’s a lot hard-hitting questions right you know, I’m from the mission here in the city and you know, we’re very serious about our burritos and we kind of have like a side bet going on here at the station as to what you’re going to say. Um, you’ve had a burrito before, right? Come on. I can’t say I’ve gone to a burrito spot here. What? You haven’t been to Lavix? No. No. No. Jesus, bro. If you give me a couple spots, I’ll try. Yeah. Come on. Give him some. I mean, in San Jose, you’re going to say Lav Vix like off top, right? Um, I’m a La Takaria guy here in San Francisco, so I would go with that. But what So then what are you doing? You door dashing? Is Joe Dorton the one making you meals or are we doing like a hungry man dinners from the from the freezer? Like how you eating every night? I mean, there’s plenty of other spots around town other than burritos, but um I think uh yeah, I mean Toba Jumbo’s wife makes an amazing meal every night um or whenever they’re around. So, I eat at home and then some of the guys go and grab different kind of meals like Italian’s big for for pregame meal. That’s right. So, I mean, come on, Cabrini, dude. Like, come on. He’s got to get his pasta. Let’s So, you and Will Smith, a lot of people couple you guys up. You’re on the same line last year for a lot of time together. Are you real close um off the ice? You know, you guys real tight. Is that maybe the closest buddy on the team right now? Yeah, I mean, for sure. He’s and he’s the only guy kind of around my age. I guess we have some younger guys now with Dickinson and and Misa, but um just coming in together, growing together, I think we kind of went through a lot of the same things in our first year. And um on the road and stuff or roommates. So, I think we just kind of grew grew pretty tight. And you look at the team right now, you guys are, you know, everyone’s going crazy online with this whole the the future is teal kind of hashtag. Um, what are you guys as a team right now? I mean, obviously you’re young and you’re trying to establish yourself uh in the league, but how would you describe what your guys’ strengths and weaknesses are as a team right now? I think that’s a perfect way to say it. Like we’re young, but we also got some veterans around our locker room that that are helping us kind of lead the way and learn and and learn how to win. Um, so I think we’re uh we’re definitely growing. Like last year we didn’t have a great year, but um this year we’re just taking strides and um finding ways to win games. Mlin Cbrini here on the morning rose courtesy of the River Islands Guest Line Shark Center. One more for you on your way out. Uh, Mlin, we appreciate your time this morning. We know you got practice to get through. Have you noticed a difference in the crowd’s energy? I mean, the Shark Tank is historic when they went on that Stanley Cup run. I always say I hate that it was sandwiched with the Warriors run, too, because I felt like it didn’t get the just do that it deserved, but when that place is rocking, it is special. Have you noticed a difference from the crowd from last year to this year? Um, yeah, for sure. I mean, weekend games last year were were pretty good, but I mean, this year, I think it’s a different kind of energy and buzz around the arena and um like that last night to beat LA Champs and I think we just it’s it’s a lot better energy and and um a little bit more positive around our arena. We love it. Hey, Mlin, great stuff this morning. Really appreciate it. Good luck in the future. And I got to say, unfortunately, I’m going to be rooting for USA if you do get the call for Canada. Sorry, bud. No worries. No worries. Sounds good. We’re We’re definitely pulling for you. All right, young man. Thanks a lot. I appreciate it. Have a good one. There he goes. That’s Mlin C. Young man, how old are you? Like 60. He could be my son. I know. I mean, I’m not trying to be I’m not trying to like He’s young enough to be my son, you know? I mean, I don’t know what else you need to say. Um, good kid. He’s like He’s You could just hear it. He’s He’s grounded. He’s not letting anything get to him. No, he’s chilling. He’s 19.

The future of the San Jose Sharks joins the Morning Roast! 19-year-old #1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini opens up about everything from sky-high expectations (Gretzky, Crosby comparisons don’t faze him) to his perfect living situation with Sharks legend Joe Thornton.
Celebrini immediately endears himself to Bay Area fans by calling Steph Curry “a top three player of all-time in the NBA” and explains how his father Rick Celebrini (Warriors’ Director of Sports Medicine) instilled elite recovery and injury prevention habits from a young age. The conversation covers why hockey toughness is under-discussed compared to other sports, the culture of playing through injuries, and why he plays with their dog instead of bringing girls back to Jumbo’s house.
The 19-year-old discusses his tight bond with Will Smith (they’re roommates on the road), the awkward reality of being the young guy on a team full of adults with families, and his Olympic dreams representing Team Canada alongside Sidney Crosby. He compares winning Olympic gold to a Stanley Cup, breaks down the Sharks’ growth from last season, and confirms there’s “a different kind of energy and buzz around the arena” this year.

00:00 – Opening: The Future Phenom Joins The Show
00:41 – “Steph Curry Is Top 3 All-Time” — Perfect Take
01:37 – From Soccer To Hockey: Growing Up In Canada
03:03 – Hockey Toughness Is UNDER-DISCUSSED
04:04 – Rick Celebrini’s Impact: Injury Prevention From Day One
05:17 – Living With Joe Thornton: No Girls, Just Dog Playtime
06:18 – Life As A 19-Year-Old Playing With Adults
07:14 – Olympic Dreams: Representing Team Canada
08:07 – Gold Medal vs Stanley Cup: How He Views Both
09:00 – Watching Steph’s Paris Olympics Night-Night Shot
09:32 – Favorite Burrito Spot? (Spoiler: Hasn’t Been To One)
10:46 – Tight Bond With Will Smith: Growing Together
11:27 – “The Future Is Teal” — Sharks’ Growth This Season
12:38 – Different Energy At SAP Center This Year

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