Sharks put rookie Celebrini on IR with ‘week-to-week’ lower body injury

Sharks put rookie Celebrini on IR with ‘week-to-week’ lower body injury originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Sharks placed rookie center Macklin Celebrini on injured reserve Saturday because of a lower body injury, just two days after the 18-year-old phenom made his NHL debut and incredibly racked up one goal and one assist.

The move means Celebrini won’t play against the Anaheim Ducks on Saturday night at SAP Center, and he’ll be forced to miss at least one week of action.

Celebrini would be eligible to play in the Oct. 18 road game against the Winnipeg Jets at the earliest, but San Jose Hockey News’ Sheng Peng reported that Sharks coach Ryan Warsofky wouldn’t even commit to a November return for his top young star.

“I can’t say, put a timeline on it, to be honest with you,” Warsofsky told reporters, per Peng. “I think week to week is right around where we’re thinking. We’ll just see how it kind of progresses through his rehab here the next couple days.”

Warsofsky and fellow Sharks rookie center Will Smith told Peng that Celebrini is holding up well amid the disappointment of being injured after only one NHL game.

“Life’s unfair at times, but I think mentally, he’s good,” Warsofsky said.

Said Smith: “He’s in good spirits. Obviously, he’s bummed missing the games, but he’s going to be back soon.”

Celebrini, the 2024 No. 1 overall draft pick, shined in his NHL regular-season debut Thursday night, scoring two points in the first period of the Sharks’ 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues.

Celebrini’s first career NHL goal came on an amazing backhanded shot that ricocheted off Blues defenseman Matthew Kessel’s right skate and past goalie Joel Hoffer.

Celebrini later added an assist on veteran winger Tyler Toffoli’s first-period goal that gave San Jose a 2-1 lead.

While Celebrini didn’t appear hobbled Thursday, something clearly happened that led to his absence from Friday’s team skate.

Warsofsky said Saturday that the Sharks knew Celebrini was injured after the season opener, per Peng, but he wouldn’t confirm if it was related to a lower body injury that caused the rookie to miss some preseason games.

San Jose now will be tested early in Celebrini’s tenure, having to rely on other players to step up.

“He’s obviously already one of the best players on our team, if not the best,” Toffoli said, via Peng.

Added Warsofsky: “He was in here today working. It’s obviously the game of hockey, right? There’s going to be injuries.”

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