Oct 20, 2024, 10:47 AM ET
The San Jose Sharks selected Macklin Celebrini with the first overall pick in the 2024 NHL draft after Celebrini compiled a record-breaking freshman season at Boston University. At just 17 years old, Celebrini became the youngest winner of the Hobey Baker Award, the top individual honor in college hockey. The Hockey East Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year produced 32 goals and 64 points in 38 games en route to leading the Terriers to a 2024 Frozen Four appearance.
Celebrini became just the fourth freshman to win the Hobey Baker Award, joining Paul Kariya, Jack Eichel and Adam Fantilli. Celebrini now becomes the face of a rebuild in San Jose and looks to make an immediate impact for the Sharks.
Here’s a look at how the past five No. 1 picks in the NHL draft fared in their respective rookie seasons:
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Connor Bedard (2023-24)
Bedard burst onto the scene after the Chicago Blackhawks made him the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL draft. Bedard was awarded the 2024 Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year after leading or co-leading both rookies and the Blackhawks in goals (22), assists (39) and points (61), all while missing 14 games with an injury. Bedard became the second-youngest player in NHL history (18 years, 276 days) to finish as the rookie leader — either outright or tied — in all three categories, trailing only Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (18 years, 224 days) in 2013-14.
Juraj Slafkovsky (2022-23)
The Montreal Canadiens took Slafkovsky with the first selection of the 2022 NHL draft. From Kosice, Slovakia, Slafkovsky became the first player born in Slovakia to be selected with the No. 1 pick. Slafkovsky scored his first point — a wrist-shot goal — in his fifth career game. He finished his rookie season with 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 39 games.
Owen Power (2021-22)
Power was the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NHL draft, selected by the Buffalo Sabres. He officially joined the NHL after signing a three-year, entry-level contract with the Sabres on April 8, 2022, after two seasons at the University of Michigan. Power played eight games and recorded two goals and an assist at the end of the 2021-22 campaign before earning a spot on the 2022-23 NHL All-Rookie Team. Powers led all rookie defensemen with 35 points (four goals, 31 assists) across 79 games during the 2022-23 season.
Alexis Lafreniere (2020-21)
Lafreniere was the top overall pick of the New York Rangers in the 2020 NHL draft after being named the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Most Valuable Player in back-to-back seasons. Lafreniere tallied 21 points (12 goals, nine assists) in 56 games as a rookie for the Rangers.
Jack Hughes (2019-20)
The New Jersey Devils selected Hughes with the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NHL draft after he led the U.S. national under-18 men’s hockey team with 112 points (34 goals, 78 assists) in 50 games in 2018-19. Hughes played 61 games and scored 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists) for the Devils as an 18-year-old rookie before the 2019-20 season was suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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