Sharks captain Celebrini scratched with lower-body injury after strong start

Key points

• Macklin Celebrini was scratched from the Sharks' 5-0 loss to the Dallas Stars on Monday with a lower-body injury.
• The 20-year-old center participated in warmups but was ruled out before puck drop, with coach Ryan Warsofsky stating the issue is being managed.
• Celebrini is listed as day-to-day and has recorded five assists in San Jose's first two games of the season.
• The Sharks, who are 2-1-0, are scheduled to play the St. Louis Blues on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET.
• Celebrini signed a five-year, $94 million extension this off-season, making him the highest-paid player in the NHL.

Background

Macklin Celebrini was selected as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and finished fourth in the NHL with 115 points in 82 games last season. He has accumulated 183 points in 154 career games. The Sharks recently suffered a 5-0 shutout loss to the Dallas Stars, where Celebrini was absent, and the team is currently 2-1-0 on the season.

How outlets are covering it

NHL.com reports that Celebrini is day-to-day and that coach Ryan Warsofsky indicated the injury has been managed recently, noting it did not occur during warmups. Sportsnet.ca highlights that the exact cause of the injury is unclear and emphasizes Celebrini's status as the highest-paid player in the NHL following his $94 million extension. ESPN's source was unavailable due to a 403 error, providing no additional perspective.

Why it matters

Celebrini is the Sharks' franchise player and top scorer, and his absence impacts the team's offensive production. His injury status could affect San Jose's performance in their upcoming game against the St. Louis Blues and the overall trajectory of their season.

What to watch

The Sharks will evaluate Celebrini's status over the next day or two. The team is scheduled to play the St. Louis Blues on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, with the game available on Disney+, HULU, ESPN+, and SN+.