IS MACKLIN CELEBRINI A SUPERSTAR? | San Jose Sharks Updates

IS MACKLIN CELEBRINI A SUPERSTAR? | San Jose Sharks Updates

The San Jose Sharks may be sitting second to last in the entire Western Conference, but that’s not to say that there hasn’t been excitement with this team. On today’s show, we’re breaking down Mlin Celibri taking the step to elite status in the National Hockey League and Michael Misa catching steam. You are locked on NHL prospects, part of the Locked On podcast network. [Music] Your team every day. Hello and welcome back to Locked On NHL Prospects, part of the Locked On podcast network. Your team every day. On this show, we break down everything prospects related for you 5 days a week, Monday through Friday. I’m your host, Sebastian Hy, the USA scout over at Elite Prospects. And on today’s episode, we’ll be breaking down the very exciting news here with the San Jose Sharks of Mlin Cellabrini taking a massive leap forward this season, playing fantastically over the course of the last week and a half, especially putting points up like they’re nothing, like it’s candy on Halloween. And uh Michael Misa looking really good in limited minutes since uh making the team uh and and coming off the the rafters where he was a healthy scratch for four games to start off the season. Uh racking up three points here in the last three games. And we’ll also be talking about the goalending and Yaros Ascarov with numbers that would indicate a rocky start, but also reasons for optimism with this player with the defensive core in front of him being relatively leaky so far to put it lightly. Uh so the Sharks have a bunch of exciting things coming up through the pipeline and a lot of those players already on the NHL team here today. But before we dive into the show and talk about Mlin Celibbrini here in the first segment, today’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Download the FanDuel app right now by visiting fanuel.com and win $300 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins. So, the San Jose Sharks are quite clearly at this point Mlin Celabbrini’s team. the first overall pick from just over a year ago in the 2024 NHL entry draft. Had a fantastic rookie campaign last year and was a true Calder candidate if it weren’t for Lane Hudson and his ridiculous 66 points from the blue line leading the Montreal offense from the back end. Celabbrini would have won that award by a country mile. I mean, Dustin Wolf had a good case as well, but Celabbrini putting up 25 goals and 63 points in just 70 games played on uh one of the worst teams in the National Hockey League, if not the worst team last season is beyond impressive. And yet, this season has been an even hotter start for this player as he’s racked up six goals, nine assists, and 15 points in just nine games played here to start off the campaign. And a whole bunch of this, 10 of these points have come in the last four games against the Islanders, Rangers, Devils, and Minnesota Wild. So, some decent competition there overall that he’s been facing, and he has been the best player on the ice on either team in most of those games. So, Celabbrini really taking strides in his development and cementing himself as a franchise piece here in San Jose. If there were any doubts coming into the season, which there shouldn’t have been, I think that they are uh certainly being quelled rather rapidly here at the start of the 2526 season and Celabbrini truly is a special talent. I think that he’s decently well surrounded in a rebuilding environment here in San Jose. I think that Tyler Toofi has really separated him separated himself in the last five or six years as one of the best NHL veterans at enabling, facilitating, and elevating young players coming into the league. He did it with the Montreal Canadians with guys like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caulfield. He’s certainly showing that now in San Jose, playing a really big role at shephering Min Celibbrini into NHL stardom. And uh yeah, I think that with Celabbrini, he’s he’s certainly catching steam here as an NHL star and uh he’s finding himself a like right near the top of the NHL in terms of production here early in the season. And for a team that hasn’t been scoring all that many goals here to start the year, they have 29 goals scored relative to 42 goals against, which we will certainly be talking about in the third segment here today. Uh the Sharks have uh been needing a player like Celebrating to step up and for him to be involved on over 50% of the goals they’ve scored so far this season goes to show how special this player truly is. And uh definitely a guy that I mean in terms of NHL scoring currently sits in fourth behind only Nick Schmaltz of the Utah Mammoth, Jack Eel of the Vegas Golden Knights, and you have Genny Malcin of the Pittsburgh Penguins. And in terms of points per game, he’s all the way up at fourth among players who have actually been playing games here so far this season. We’re not going to count Shakir Mukamadullan or Marshall Warren here who’ve only played a single game and logged two assists a piece in that game, but guys like Mark Stone, uh Jack Eel, and William Knander are the only ones ahead of him, even if you’re just looking at point per game uh production so far this campaign. So Cabbrini on the score sheet is certainly making himself known, but his impact goes so far beyond just the production on the ice. and Sharks fans, you guys know this. Like, let me know in the comments down below what to to you the most valuable assets in his toolkit are, what he brings to the ice that makes the biggest difference because uh from what I’ve seen so far in his NHL career and what I remember from his draft eligible campaign, the motor, the defensive intelligence, the overall understanding of his teammates positioning and roots and habits in all three zones of the ice is something that separates him from players uh that that have similar levels of puck skills. And yeah, Celbrini’s shot, his playmaking, his handling ability are all very clearly elite level tools in the National Hockey League already, but it really is. I mean, the speed as well, of course, the skating ability is fantastic, but it’s the reading of the game, the mature habits, the details on both sides of the puck. That’s why he’s playing massive minutes already as a 19year-old in this league. I mean, just as a reminder, he’s logged over 21 minutes and 45 seconds of ice time in each of the last four games played where his production has just skyrocketed. And he only turned 19 years old on the 13th of June. So, just before the most recent draft and uh definitely a player that is among the NHL elite, I think in terms of centers and in offensive versatility and adaptability already. And while the defensive intelligence and habits are, I think, still adjusting to being as effective in the National Hockey League as they were in the college ranks, he’s going to get there. The details, the intelligence, everything is there to be a two-way force in this league. And yeah, I’ve seen a couple clips of like uh overtime back checks that were a bit lackluster, but they also came at the end of like a minute 30 shifts. So, give him a little bit of leeway here. Uh but overall a player that has everything. The sniping ability, the playmaking, he improves every player that’s on the ice with him. And I think that that’s such a valuable tool for a player in today’s hockey national hockey league. And uh Stella Brun is already embodying so many of the these these valuable assets as such a young player. And I mean, looking back at that 2024 draft, it’s certainly very exciting to me uh from a scouting perspective to see the two players that to me were like miles ahead of the competition in terms of quality and upside. Uh and that being Celibbriny and Yvon Deita of the Montreal Canadians making such quick starts in the National Hockey League and finding their comfort, flourishing both with their creativity and details. Uh and and overall I think Sharks fans uh yeah you got a real special talent on your hands here with your first overall pick. But in the next segment we’ll be talking about Michael Misa the player that uh in terms of style is very similar to Minel Bruni in so many ways finding his offensive footing here through his first five NHL games in his career and uh showing the Sharks management and coaching staff that he does not belong in the rafters. This is an NHLER today already uh playing some really effective minutes at both ends of the ice and uh really getting rewarded with a goal in his most recent game against the Minnesota Wild and a pair of assists against both New York-based teams. So, uh a lot to look forward to here on today’s show. But before we dive into all of that, we got a quick message from our sponsor at Locked On NHL Prospects. The NFL season is here and FanDuel has an offer that you do not want to miss. Right now, new customers can bet just $5 and get $30 in bonus bets if you win. That’s right. Pick a bet. Put down five bucks. And if it hits, you’ll unlock $300 in bonus bets to use across the entire app. I love how FanDuel gives me so many different ways to play. I’ve built parlays, tried player props, and even followed the live lines during the games as the action is unfolding right in front of me to really take my swings as I see fit. My favorite of the bunch have to be the parlays, though, because they allow me to combine bets from multiple different games, different leagues, different sports, whatever I want to put into it to maximize my potential returns at the end of the day and make the action all the more exciting. So, what are you waiting for? Visit fanduel.com to download the FanDuel app right now to get started. Alrighty. So, Michael Misa, uh, San Jose Sharks fans, he’s got another very exciting two-way center here in the pipeline already showing you at the NHL level that he’s got a whole bunch of tools in his back pocket. And this is a guy that I loved the entirety of last year’s draft cycle. a player that is constantly creating offense through his speed, his anticipation, the high-end skill he has both as a shooter and a passer. And above all, it’s the two-way details, the uh buyin in all three zones, and the intelligence that pervades every single aspect of his game that makes him so special. And I think that he was a slam dunk selection there at second overall. To me, I would have been running up to the podium to select him in that slot. and the Sharks did just that. I think they swung on the right guy there at second overall. He’s got one of the highest floors among draft eligibles from the most recent draft and he’s got so much potential in terms of topline NHL upside uh that he was just a shoein for me. I mean, he led the entire CHL in scoring last season with 62 goals and 134 points in 65 games. And so far in his young NHL career, he’s logged a goal and two assists for three points through five games here so far. And that first NHL point came in a losing effort against the New York Islanders. But it was a really pretty primary assist right down near the goal mouth, retrieving the puck and passing it cross seam almost through the crease onto a teammate’s stick for a very easy tapin goal. and his ability to corral a puck and so quickly torque his upper body to change the angle of his passing release to just lay beautiful passes onto the tape of teammates is one of his biggest strengths uh as an offensive creator. But it’s the anticipation that led to his first NHL goal there against the Minnesota Wild uh where there was a a a rush to the net. uh his teammates would bring the puck, crashing the goalmouth uh to right there out to the left side uh of the offensive zone and what he did was just really really intelligent. Rush the back post. There’s always a need for a guy there and the puck bounced his way. It got it got onto his stick and he just potted it out out into the back of the net and uh got his first NHL goal with a a pretty calm reaction for a first National Hockey League uh um goal. And overall, I think that Michael Misa, even though he hasn’t been getting big minutes so far in his career, he’s been really averaging about 12 to 13 minutes a night here so far in the National Hockey League, he’s really showing his quality in every single minute he’s on the ice. And I think that uh with another couple weeks, a couple months of adaptation to the National Hockey League, could really be a top six contributor on this team this season. and uh really showing also that he has so much maturity both on and off the ice. It’s easy to see why he was the captain in Sagena in the OHL last season and a player that just has so much going for him. Uh a guy that I will be cheering for his entire career and very easy player to fall in love with with the way he approaches the game of hockey. constantly scanning the ice, looking for ways to support his teammates, be in the right place at the right time, and make quick decisions under pressure to put the puck in a better place than where he receives it. And that combination of tools paired with really great playmaking ability, as I mentioned, and a shot that he hasn’t fully been able to show yet with the Sharks uh in the in the big leagues. He’s got it all just like Celabbrini. think Telbrini has higher upside between the two players and he’s shown that this season. But uh in terms of 1A 1B center one two punches throughout the National Hockey League, these two guys have a potential to be among the very best if not the best one-two punch in the entire league in their primes. And the fact that they’re only separated by uh one year, right? Like Misa’s an 18-year-old, of course, Cellrini is 19. that’s going to be so so much fun to build around as an organization from Mike Greer and co among Sharks management uh to to really build it out when you already have two foundational pieces there uh down the middle at forward and a whole bunch of fun wingers as well coming through the ranks. Guys like Igor Chernov who was Misa’s teammate last year in Sagena and is now off to a good start in the AHL as well with the Barracuda and uh a whole bunch of other guys like Quenton Musty. So much skill coming through for the Sharks. They really rebuilt the right way in my opinion. Just getting so many assets, so much talent through the doors. And uh the blue line, I think, is definitely the place that that needs the most improvements, especially down the right side. And guys like Sam Dickinson are certainly showing some growing pain so far in their young careers. I mean, Dickinson’s been uh scratched a couple times here uh so far in his career and hasn’t scored a point yet through seven games played, I believe it is. that he’s amassed uh with the Sharks so far this season and the decision-m under pressure definitely needs work, but I mean he’s got the body to play in the NHL. The physicality, the skating ability are both so high-end and he’s really shown his ability to be a goal scorer from the blue line as well as an activator and playmaker in the offensive zone. So, he’s got all the tools that you want to to become an offensive defenseman from the blue line uh there for the Sharks long term down the left side. and I do think he has top pairing upside, but there definitely have been some growing pains so far this season. So, I would not be surprised if he did get sent back down to the OHL uh with the London Knights here to finish off the campaign. But, I don’t think that would be for the worst. I think there’s definitely still something he can learn in the OHL despite absolutely dominating offensively last season with a ridiculous 91 points in 55 games, including 29 goals, which is just absurd for a defenseman. I think Sam Dickens, especially in terms of under pressure decision-m and NHL level habits as a defender, uh definitely still could use a little bit more uh more more time to to gain these tools before becoming a full-time NHLer and maybe needs a little bit of time in the AHL next season. But uh I I would say within a year and a half, he’s going to be a night in night out NHL piece here for the Sharks. But going back to Michael Misa, I mean, this kid is a real special talent. And I think that for Sharks fans that you guys have of course been watching, celebrating so closely now for over a year, you must see a lot of parallels between him and Michael Misa, for the entirety of last season for his draft eligible campaign. Michael Misa’s player comp in the NHL for me was Mlin Celerini. So to have both these guys in the lineup is such a luxury and such a wonderful thing to to have. And uh down the road, I mean I I wouldn’t call it a problem in terms of kind of balancing minutes between these two guys and offensive opportunities, but that’s about the best problems you could possibly wish for in the National Hockey League to have two centermen who are vying for that 1C spot long term. I mean, uh really really exciting times here for the San Jose Sharks and their fan base. And uh certainly um I think it’s exciting to to see them reaping the benefits of uh now quite a few years of relatively dismal performances in the National Hockey League. They’re playing an increasingly exciting style of play. There’s always something happening when the San Jose Sharks play hockey and uh I think that that excitement will translate to results and wins within the next year or two. Um maybe they’re going to have to to be another tanking team here this season, but there’s so much talent in this year’s draft class if they can add a guy like Katon Verhov to the equation for uh for the future who is this big uh right shot defenseman with elite mobility and an insane amount genuinely insane amount of aggression in his uh stepping up on the blue line to the finish checks and uh prevent breakouts as well as in the offensive zone of activating and trying to create through elite hands and an absolute howitzer of a shot. Uh he’s being used as a like throwback trigger man on the power play as like the PP1 sniper currently in college hockey with the University of North Dakota. He would be the perfect fit for this team I think down the line. And there’s so much talent beyond him as well. If you think of guys like Ethan Belchetts as a massive like hulking power forward who’s got a wicked shot, another guy is going to be competing for a top three draft slot here. There’s a lot of skill in this coming draft class. So, uh, if if the Sharks fans do have to endure another season of, uh, a lot more losses than wins in, uh, in the column, uh, here down the stretch, uh, it might just be worthwhile long term because, uh, this is a draft class that you don’t want to necessarily play your way out of if you’re definitely still in the rebuilding stage, which San Jose is still this season, but I think that the the light is visible at the end of the tunnel. The talent is in the organization and overall this is an exciting time to be a Sharks fan because things are on the rise. And in the final segment, we’re going to focus a bit more on the defensive side of the puck featuring Yarislav Ascara Vanette and the overall blue line concerns. But first, we got a quick message here from our sponsors at Locked On NHL Prospects. Hockey season is officially here and nothing beats being in the arena for those opening night games. But let’s be real, getting tickets can be a total headache. Between waiting in cues, surprise fees, and prices that jump right before checkout, it’s easy to get frustrated and disillusioned when all you want to do is cheer on your team. And that’s where Game Time comes in. The app that gives fans the advantage. It’s your ultimate life hack to scoring amazing NHL tickets fast, easy, and stressfree. Their zone deals are an absolute gamecher. You pick the section, Game Time picks your seat, and you save massive amounts on your purchase. You can even find NHL tickets for under 25 bucks. Take the guesswork out of buying NHL tickets with Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account, and use code locked on NHL for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply, but that’s code locked on NHL for $20 off. Swipe, tap, ticket, go. All right, let’s wrap up the show here focusing on the San Jose Sharks and their ever improving rebuild. And uh the area where there’s definitely still the most growing pains currently is on the defensive side of the puck. The um the Sharks are allowing a massive amount of goals currently uh with uh almost 50 already here on the year, which is uh almost eye watering numbers. I mean 42. They’re not quite there at 50 just yet, but I believe they’re the only team in the league uh apart from the Boston Bruins who have allowed over 40 goals here this season. The Bruins have matched them with 42 goals allowed, but they’re the only team in the West that have done so. And the other teams that are in that mix are guy are teams like the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues who have been pretty leaky here early on in the season. So, not the best company to be in. Uh and Yaroscarov has certainly um suffered in terms of the numbers as a result of this slow start from the blue line for the Sharks. I mean five games played among the nine games available and an 855 save percentage like those things those numbers are not uh very pretty. I mean, and 4.79 goals against average is uh pretty ugly, but definitely paints a picture as well of the defense that is in front of him. And he’s been looking better and better here as the season has progressed here in recent games. Had a really really great uh great night against uh top of the league New Jersey Devils in a 3-1 loss. One of those goals was an empty netter. He allowed two goals on 28 shots and had almost a 930 save percentage that night. really really played uh played like lights out in that game despite the losing effort and earned a gritty victory against the uh Minnesota Wild as well uh in an overtime win here in their most recent game uh putting up uh 28 saves in against 33 shots on goal. And Ascarov is just genuinely the most athletic net minder in all of prospects among goalenders in the National Hockey League. the fluidity of his skating, the athleticism and explosivity of his postto transitions. In terms of tools, this guy has got it all. He’s 6 foot three, 179 lbs. Got a good frame on him. Not the biggest goalender in the world, but it keeps him agile and and quick in his movements in the crease. And he’s an aggressive net minder. He’s athletic. He likes to really flash some flare from time to time. And that’s also made him a bit of a longer term project uh in the crease. It’s why the the National Predators also decided to move on from him after they locked up Usay Saros longterm there just over a year ago. But I really think that this guy is the future in the net for the San Jose Sharks. He’s got every tool in the book and they’re uh allowing him to learn and grow alongside the rest of their young players. And he’s not the only young player in this organization to have some growing pains and some struggling results to start his NHL career. I mean, of course, guys like Sam Dickinson, as we mentioned, uh Will Smith, especially on the defensive side of the puck, is still learning how to play the NHL game, and this team is learning as a cohort, and I think they’re going to be stronger as a result of that and really forming bonds. And there’s nothing really, I think, that um makes a team grow closer together than growing from a team that loses night after night after night as a unit to finding their winning ways and becoming a dominant force. And I think the Sharks are on that trajectory to get there long term. And Ascar is going to be an important part of that process. And he’s a guy that, yeah, the numbers aren’t looking pretty, but the results are improving. The performances are getting better. And the leaky defense in front of him has just been uh tough to watch on most nights here so far this season. I mean, joint leading the NHL in goals against is uh not where you want to be as a as a team. And it’s also a kind of a a patchwork of a defensive core. We’ve got guys like Dmitri Orlov acquired recently uh who’s been really exciting offensively, producing a lot from the blue line, but I think defensively has lost a step or two here in the past few seasons. And you also have guys like Mario Ferraro who is reliable as always defensively uh and is definitely a solidifying guy there on the blue line. But beyond that, I mean, Nick Ley is right at the tail end of his NHL career. Timothy Lilligrin is not the player that was projected in his draft c in his draft year season. Vincent Dearna is really physical and aggressive, but uh I don’t think that he’s the guy that you want to rely on to really uh clean things up defensively uh especially in bigger minutes. And a guy like John Clingberg is all offense, no defense as well. So, uh a lot of guys here that uh are are are better at putting the puck in the net than keeping it out of the net. And I think that going out and acquiring a a stalwart defensive defenseman, whether it be through the draft, through their own system, the players that are already in the wings, um, or or via trade down the stretch, is going to be a really important part here for the San Jose Sharks in taking that final step to get over the hump and, uh, into the NHL playoff picture once again. But that wraps up our show here for us today. Thank you so much for listening here. As always, if you’re a Sharks fan and watching on YouTube, please do leave a comment here down below. I would love to hear your thoughts of where your team is at, what you’re enjoying of watching this very exciting young young team on the ice night in night out, and what you think they still have to do to get over that hump and become a successful team year in year out down the stretch. I think you’re getting real close to having all the assets you need in the system, but you might still be missing a piece or two. And I’d love to hear your thoughts on what those pieces are and which of these young players you’re most excited about or you enjoy watching the very most in the National Hockey League. And if you’re listening on your favorite podcasting platform, please do make sure to make us your first listen of the day. It’s always greatly appreciated here on the show. And for your second listen, you got to head on over to Locked On Fantasy Hockey where Flip and Steel breakdown everything that you need to know to build yourself a competitive and sustainable fantasy roster. That’s it from me here today. Thank you so much for tuning in and I’ll catch you listening again very very soon.

The Sharks have gotten off to a rocky start, but nothing has held back Celebrini from lighting up the NHL through his elite mind, creative playmaking, and lethal scoring skill. Michael Misa, for his part, is catching steam after being kept in the rafters to start the season, logging three points in his past three games. Finally, we look at the Sharks’ leaky defence and Yaroslav Askarov’s development in the crease.

00:00 Intro
02:05 Celebrini On Fire
08:58 Break
10:00 Michael Misa
14:46 Sam Dickinson
16:28 Misa is special
19:31 Break
20:33 Yaroslav Askarov & Leaky Defence

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