Celebrini continues to show why he’s a serious Hart Trophy candidate
The year of the Macklin Celebrini breakout continued on Wednesday night as the second-year phenom willed the San Jose Sharks to a massive come-from-behind victory over the division-leading Anaheim Ducks that breathed new life into San Jose’s playoff hopes.
Celebrini’s two goals and two assists in over 24 minutes of ice time made for one of the best individual efforts of the season, and the win got the Sharks to within a point of the Los Angeles Kings for the West’s second wild card spot with a game in hand.
The British Columbia native is now up to 40 goals, 65 assists and 105 points in 73 games played, as he’s authored one of the best seasons by a teenager in NHL history.
On Thursday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, host Tyler Yaremchuk and co-host and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discussed why Celebrini’s heroics against the Ducks are just further proof that he belongs in the Hart Trophy race, even if his team is not a lock for the playoffs like those of the other contenders.
Tyler Yaremchuk: Last night again, Celebrini, another four point game. They were trailing this game in the final two minutes. They tie it up with 1:29 left and then win the game with 31 seconds left. Celebrini factors in on both of them, and how much did this win mean? Look at this celebration after the game from a young Sharks team who was right in the mix… But if they get in, to kind of blend together our first few topics of the show here, Hutts, if they get in, Macklin Celebrini is the MVP, and it’s not even close.
Carter Hutton: Yeah, I think he has to be right. What he’s meant to this team, what he’s done statistically as a leader, and then the fact that, is this a team you want to even play? Like this is a team you don’t want to play. If you’re drawing straws, I think I’d rather take on the LA Kings than the San Jose Sharks because of this x-factor.
Tyler Yaremchuk: Yeah, the Kings are predictable. The Sharks are an absolute wild card, and I don’t think they’re a wild card you’d want to play if you’re the Colorado Avalanche.
You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…