With the franchise’s first-ever first-overall draft selection made in June, the Sharks selected and signed center Macklin Celebrini. The standout talent joins the previous year’s #4 overall selection, Will Smith, to headline a prospect pool ready to arrive on the scene in San Jose and make their debuts in Teal in the Sharks Home Opener on October 10.
In a short period of time, Sharks General Manager Mike Grier has transformed the Sharks into an organization busting at the seams with youthful talent. By investing time and energy in scouting and development, it paved the way for NHL-ready youth to seize full-time roles such as forwards William Eklund and Fabian Zetterlund who each took big steps forward in 2023-24. Another group, in defenseman Henry Thrun and forward Thomas Bordeleau, continued their development, splitting time between the Sharks and Barracuda. In addition, five players – Collin Graf, Ty Emberson, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Magnus Chrona, and Georgi Romanov – made their respective NHL debuts over the course of the 2023-24 season.
On June 13, the Sharks introduced Ryan Warsofsky as the 11th head coach in Sharks history. Warsofsky and his new staff provide a track record of success at nearly every level of hockey and are positioned well to bring along the emerging young players on the roster.
