Post-lottery NHL mock draft: San Jose on the clock at No. 1
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Rachel Doerrie, ESPN
The 2024 draft lottery is in the rearview mirror, and for the first time, it was a chalk lottery. The teams that were supposed to get the top two picks — the San Jose Sharks and the Chicago Blackhawks — received the top two picks.
Apart from some playoff seeding that could rearrange the draft order a little bit at the bottom, we know who is picking where. While my first mock draft required a bit of projecting for the draft order, now the mock drafts get a little more real as picks are locked in. The first round of the 2024 NHL draft will be held in Las Vegas at the Sphere on Friday, June 28 (7 p.m. ET, ESPN/ESPN+). Rounds 2-7 will be on Saturday, June 29 (11:30 a.m. ET, ESPN+).
Let’s jump in with the obvious choice at No. 1.
Macklin Celebrini, F, Boston University (NCAA)
The San Jose Jr. Shark is going to be a San Jose Shark. Celebrini and his family are keeping their cards close to the vest, but make no mistake, the Celebrini family and Sharks are over the moon that the top prospect in this year’s draft will be playing in California to start his career. Rick Celebrini spoke about the possibility of Macklin playing for the Sharks, and while there is no guarantee the Hobey Baker winner leaves school for the NHL, it feels more likely than not.
In Celebrini, the Sharks are getting a 200-foot player who seems destined for stardom. The combination of Celebrini and Will Smith up the middle will be fun to watch for years to come. For his part, Celebrini has the ability to impact the game next season, and he would likely be the Sharks’ best offensive threat. He drives play, understands defensive responsibilities, plays through contact and, most importantly, is a game-breaker.
Off the puck, on the puck, in transition and through offensive zone play, Celebrini can do it all. He’s at his best when he can use his abilities in transition to be a dual threat, keeping opponents guessing and unable to cheat to the pass or shot. The Sharks are getting a franchise cornerstone in Celebrini, something that will surely speed the rebuild up by a year or two.
MILWAUKEE — Houston Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez has a strained muscle at the top of his right hand, a diagnosis that instills optimism he won’t have a prolonged stay on the injured list.
The three-time All-Star went on the 10-day injured list Monday, retroactive to Saturday, and returned to Houston for an MRI that revealed the muscle strain.
“We look at it as good news,” Astros manager Joe Espada said before their Wednesday afternoon game with the Milwaukee Brewers.
Espada expressed hope that Alvarez wouldn’t have to stay on the injured list longer than the required 10 days. He also said the hand issue may have played a role in Alvarez’s slow start.
Alvarez, 27, is hitting .210 with a .306 on-base percentage, three homers and 18 RBI in 29 games this season. He batted .308 with a .392 on-base percentage, 35 homers and 86 RBI in 147 games last year while ranking ninth in the AL Most Valuable Player balloting.
He has posted an OPS of at least .959 and has finished 13th or higher in the MVP voting each of the last three seasons.
“Once he heals, once he gets back, I think we’ll see a more aggressive at bat and be not as cautious,” Espada said. “I think it had something to do with it, yes.”
His potential return could go a long way toward boosting an Astros lineup that hasn’t been as productive as usual this season. The Astros entered Wednesday’s action ranked 21st in the majors in runs (136) and 23rd in OPS (.676). Houston has ranked 11th or better in both those categories each of the last four seasons.
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