San Jose Sharks secure No. 1 pick in 2024 NHL draft lottery

After a disappointing last place finish, the Sharks will pick first in the 2024 NHL draft and are expected to select Macklin Celebrini.

The San Jose Sharks will pick first in the 2024 NHL draft after winning the lottery on Tuesday evening. San Jose had the worst record in the NHL last season, finishing 19-54-9, and their reward is likely to come in the form of Boston University center Macklin Celebrini.

Locked On Sharks host JD Young could barely contain his excitement, expressing how significant Celebrini will be for the San Jose franchise.

“Shark fans, you should be excited,” Young exclaimed. “Macklin Celebrini is a franchise changing player. The Sharks are a better team now than they were 24 hours ago.”

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Sharks general manager Mike Grier already indicated the team plans to take Celebrini, who is a Vancouver native with ties to the Bay Area. His father, Rick Celebrini, is the director of sports medicine for the Golden State Warriors. Macklin also played for the San Jose Junior Sharks 14U AAA team.

The NHL draft lottery ultimately resulted in no changes to the order for the upcoming season, with the Chicago Blackhawks and Anaheim Ducks following San Jose at the top. Below is a look at the first 16 picks of the first round:

1. San Jose Sharks
2. Chicago Blackhawks
3. Anaheim Ducks
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
5. Montreal Canadiens
6. Utah
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 (from Pittsburgh Penguins)
15. Detroit Red Wings
16. St. Louis Blues

The draft will be held at The Sphere in Las Vegas on June 28-29. It is the first time the draft will be held in Las Vegas, and the first live televised event from The Sphere.

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