San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini is off to a sparkling start in year two of his young career.
Celebrini ranks first on the Sharks and tied for 4th in the NHL in scoring with 18 points (7 goals, 11 assists). The 19-year-old is doing everything for his team, and with NHL EDGE, tracking specific metrics has made him one of the league’s best players.
Skating distance & constant burst
Celebrini is a workhorse for his team. The forward has a motor that never stops, and examining his skating distance confirms this. Among all NHL players, Celebrini ranks 10th in total skating distance for the season.
The San Jose Sharks superstar has skated a total of 46.7 miles this season. The league leader in that category is understandably Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (54.42Mi).
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Celebrini’s ice time is up this season, as expected. There was no easing him in, despite having played only one preseason game. Coach Ryan Warsofsky is deploying his No. 1 center 21:08 minutes a night on average. In his rookie season, Celebrini averaged 19:47 minutes.
The Sharks centerman is a fast player, but he doesn’t rank near the top in terms of top speed. What he does rank in the 94th percentile in is speed bursts between 20 and 22 MPH. In 13 games, Celebrini has totaled 34 bursts of that nature. On average, forwards in the NHL have 14.6 bursts.
Celebrini also ranks in the 99th percentile in speed bursts between 18 and 20 MPH (142). This proves that the 19-year-old is always on the move. His compete level brings the rest of his teammates into the fight, making him a good leader.
Part of the reason the Sharks named him an alternate captain is his on-ice work ethic. The team will go as he goes, and NHL EDGE says he is always going, no matter what.
Success rate at specific shot locations
The San Jose Sharks have started to get their offense going this season, and Celerbini is a big reason why. Celebrini leads the Sharks in shots (38) and goals (7).
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But where he’s getting those shots off proves his shot is one of the most elite in the NHL. Celebrini isn’t getting a ton of shots from what is considered a high-danger area. Per NHL EDGE, the Sharks star only has eight high-danger shots, and only one of his goals is from there.
Celebrini ranks in the 99th percentile in mid-range shots taken (21). Across the entire league, Celebrini is tied with Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews with mid-range shots taken.
The conversion rate for Celebrini taking mid-range shots is tied for the best in the NHL. Only three players have scored five goals from mid-range shots this season: Celebrini, Nathan MacKinnon, and Morgan Geekie.
Celebrini’s goal vs the Avalanche on Saturday is a perfect example of his shooting ability from that area on the ice.
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Combine his release with the literal power of his shot, and you get a player who can drive offense by himself. The San Jose Sharks’ top center ranks in the 92nd percentile among NHL forwards with an average shot speed of 63.27 MPH.
Celebrini’s hardest shot of the season came against the Avalanche at the 7:27 mark in the third period. His 93.6 MPH one-timer from the top of the right circle on the power play caught former Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood in the mask and went out of play.
Watching Celebrini is a treat, and his NHL EDGE metrics showcase why Sharks fans are continuously saying “wow” whenever he touches the puck.
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