![[original_title]](https://rawnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/bf43b74c78a384818d35a7d046ba1509-1024x576.png)
Sharks rotate nine centers in loss to Ducks, seeking Celebrini fill-in initially appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SAN JOSE — With a small cloud of uncertainty about when star rookie heart Macklin Celebrini will come back from injured reserve hovering overhead, the Sharks nonetheless are attempting to determine how they’ll transfer on till he returns.
Regardless that Saturday night time’s recreation towards the Anaheim Geese at SAP Middle ended in a 2-0 loss, it was an excellent first step for San Jose because it travels down that path.
Will Smith, the No. 4 general decide in the 2023 NHL Draft, was given the primary crack at filling in for Celebrini, but it surely was a job shared by many.
Mikael Granlund, who primarily was the Sharks’ No. 1 heart final season due to accidents, shouldered the majority of the load towards the Geese, logging six extra minutes of ice time (24:27) than he did in Thursday’s season opener (18:15). The 32-year-old missed all 5 photographs he took throughout his time on the ice, however he gained 11 of 17 faceoffs.
Klim Kostin, a ahead who was a wholesome scratch Thursday, additionally logged time at heart, making him one among 9 gamers whom Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky rotated on the place. Kostin drew a two-minute roughing penalty when he decked Anaheim’s Frank Vatrano with a depraved left hand, displaying the struggle San Jose needs.
“The opposite guys stepped up,” Warsofsky mentioned. “Clearly [Celebrini is] a extremely good participant, however we’re targeted on the fellows which might be on the ice tonight.”
Celebrini, the No. 1 general decide within the 2024 NHL Draft, was excellent in his debut Thursday when he had a purpose and an help in the Sharks’ 5-4 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues. That recreation had Sharks followers in hype mode, as they celebrated and contemplated the chances of what may occur with Celebrini on the town.
These celebrations have been placed on maintain — at the least quickly — whereas Celebrini recovers from a reported hip injury.
“Clearly Mac is a particular participant,” Sharks veteran defenseman Mario Ferraro mentioned. “He’ll assist us offensively, he will assist the boldness of the group, every thing. He is an excellent individual within the locker room. As a result of he is a younger man, he leads a cost, too. He is received a battery on him, and it is totally charged.
“We’re lacking a particular participant within the lineup that may assist us, may have helped us tonight. However it’s what it’s. He is coping with stuff, so we’re going to do our greatest to compete each night time, regardless of who’s within the lineup.”
That gave the impression to be the sentiment all through San Jose’s locker room. Whereas clearly sad with out their prized younger prospect, the Sharks are decided to maintain their collective chins up till he comes again.
That’s the kind of angle Warsofsky needed to see.
It is a no-brainer that when a workforce loses a marquee participant, others must step up and fill within the hole. Throughout the panorama {of professional} sports activities, nevertheless, some gamers can go overboard in that path and attempt to do an excessive amount of, which may result in different issues.
That did not appear to be a problem Saturday.
Past a handful of gamers receiving further ice time whereas Celebrini sat out, the Sharks nonetheless managed to play with a sure stage of cohesiveness.
“We did an excellent job of that,” Warsofsky mentioned. “We’ve to proceed to work and discover chemistry with another traces and develop in that method. We’ve an important group in there, males of excessive character, that I do not suppose that’s going to be an actual problem. We’re motivated to proceed to push ahead and be aggressive and begin successful hockey video games.”
