The 2024-25 NHL regular season might not be going well on paper for the league-worst Sharks.
But there's a clear silver lining in rookie center Macklin Celebrini.
With his first-period assist -- his 35th of the season -- against the Calgary Flames on Monday, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft set a franchise rookie record for San Jose.
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Nikolai Kovalenko and Macklin Celebrini tally assists on the score. With his 35th assist of the season, Celebrini has set a #SJSharks rookie record. https://t.co/nWfFsE6Aqi
— San Jose Sharks PR (@SanJoseSharksPR) April 8, 2025
Will Smith buries one in front of the crease to put the Sharks in front 😤 pic.twitter.com/5QgHT7HOEK
— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) April 8, 2025
Celebrini overtook former winger Pat Falloon, who tallied 34 assists in the Sharks' inaugural 1991-92 season.
The 18-year-old finished Monday's 3-2 loss at SAP Center with two assists, both on goals by fellow promising youngster Will Smith.
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That second point for Celebrini gave him a season total of 57 in his quest for the Calder Trophy. As a result, he moved ahead of Logan Couture for No. 2 on the Sharks' all-time leaderboard for points by a rookie; Celebrini has five more games to eclipse another Falloon franchise record at 59 points.
Will Smith's second of the night brings the Sharks within one 👀 pic.twitter.com/v5UxB3m4Nr
— Sharks on NBCS (@NBCSSharks) April 8, 2025