Gary Bettman to fine 1st overall pick Macklin Celebrini thousands before he plays his first NHL shift

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Daniel Lucente
October 11, 2024 (11:40)

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Sharks Macklin Celebrini hadn't even taken his first NHL shift yet when Gary Bettman fined him for taking his first rookie warmup lap without a helmet on.

Macklin Celebrini didn't need any time to become influential in his NHL debut, lighting the Lamp in the first game this season with the San Jose Sharks. As a matter of fact, his very first NHL goal came within seven minutes of the very first season opener of the San Jose Sharks at the SAP Center in San Jose, a forerunner of what is becoming an excellent start.

It came on a perfectly timed play, the breakthrough moment for Celebrini, when forward William Eklund sent a crisp cross-ice pass and he was in prime position to make something happen in the Blues zone. With just over 13 minutes left in the first period, he handled the puck skillfully, spinning around for a backhand shot that caromed off a defender's skate past Blues goalie Joel Hofer. The quick reaction and precision gave the Sharks the opening goal and meant it was 1-0, which got the home crowd running straight away.

But Celebrini was just getting going. Just a few minutes later, he assisted on a goal by teammate Tyler Toffoli, helping restore the lead for the Sharks and extend the score to 2-1. That dynamic performance, recording a goal and an assist in his first NHL game, showcased all the reason and skill that made him the first overall draft pick in 2024. His playmaking ability, mixed with goal-scoring instincts, showed he was big-stage ready.

There was palpable hype for Celebrini even before the puck had dropped. He and fellow rookie Will Smith took part in the traditional lap around SAP Center ice, a rite of passage into this new chapter of their career. They did so without a helmet, which means Gary Bettman is going to slap them with a fine, even before they played their first-ever shift. This constitutes a $2,500 fine that countless other rookies have been punished with including Connor Bedard and Adam Fantilli.

The infectious energy and enthusiasm that filled the rink courtesy of the duo were well worth the outing performances. Well, the buzz lived up to performances, as even Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green was impressed enough to be in attendance at the young talent on display.

With style, Macklin Celebrini's NHL career is underway, and with that first performance out of the books, it has already caught the eye of fans and sports figures alike. The future certainly is bright. If this first game is anything to go by, he will turn out to be a mainstay for the Sharks, an omen of things to come.