San Jose Forward Sidelined with Lower-Body Injury
Rookie sensation Macklin Celebrini is currently day-to-day with a lower-body injury, the San Jose team announced on Wednesday. Celebrini’s status was uncertain after he exited a preseason matchup against the Utah Hockey Club on Tuesday.
During the game, Celebrini found himself on a breakaway, firing a close-range shot towards the Utah net with opposing forward Kevin Stenlund hot on his heels. As Celebrini tripped over Stenlund’s stick, he appeared to roll his left ankle and lose balance, crashing into the boards with 13:13 remaining in the second period. Although he took a few seconds to regain his footing, Celebrini finished his shift.
Celebrini played one more shift before being pulled from the game as a precautionary measure, finishing with 10:54 in ice time. According to Coach Ryan Warsofsky, Celebrini’s removal was a cautious decision, and while he hasn’t been ruled out for the remainder of the preseason, his availability for opening night is uncertain.
The Sharks have two preseason games remaining, facing off against the Anaheim Ducks on Friday and the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday, before kicking off the regular season against the St. Louis Blues on October 10. Celebrini made a strong impression in his preseason debut on September 22, scoring a goal and notching an assist against the Golden Knights.
This injury comes on the heels of other high-profile preseason injuries, including those to Los Angeles Kings’ Drew Doughty and Montreal Canadiens star Patrik Laine. Celebrini’s addition to the Sharks’ roster, following his selection as the top pick in the draft, was highly anticipated. Alongside fellow rookie Will Smith, Celebrini is expected to spearhead a youth movement in San Jose, aiming to revitalize the team after a disappointing 2023-24 season.
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