Macklin Celebrini is a player worth losing for.
The 17-year-old freshman is the youngest player in college hockey but may already be its best player. The Boston University Terrier leads the nation in goals per game (21 goals in 24 games) and is fourth in points per game (39 points, 1.62 points/game).
On Monday, Celebrini rose to the occasion on one of college hockey's biggest stages--the Beanpot Tournament--scoring two goals in a 4-3 win over No. 1 Boston College in the semi-finals.
WHAT A WAY TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE BEANPOT, MACK!
— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) February 6, 2024
Watch on ESPN+: https://t.co/mykpKS4Bty@hockey_east | @NESN | @espn pic.twitter.com/x5hs0n3Iqa
lol that's unstoppable
— BU Men's Hockey (@TerrierHockey) February 6, 2024
Watch on ESPN+ https://t.co/mykpKS4Bty@hockey_east | @NESN | @espn pic.twitter.com/C5StQJsPSL
While he's not on the same tier as Connor Bedard as a prospect, Celebrini projects to be a franchise-altering type of player. With the Blue Jackets' playoff chances near zero, it's time to look ahead to the 2024 NHL Draft and Celebrini will make a team's dreadful season worth it.
If the Blue Jackets land Celebrini, he'd help them immediately while giving them one of the league's best young center groups, joining Adam Fantilli, Cole Sillinger, and Dmitri Voronkov.
The Draft Lottery is still months away, but this is the player teams will be hoping to select with the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.
