Elder Abuse: NHL 1st Overall Pick Macklin Celebrini Scores On The Oldest Player In The League
Kavin Mistry. Getty Images.The day was June 21, 2003. Marc-Andre Fleury from the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles was the 1st pick of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Almost 3 full years later, Macklin Celebrini was born on June 13, 2006. As you know, Macklin Celebrini was the 1st overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft to the San Jose Sharks. And after the Philadelphia Flyers sent Jett Luchanko back down to Guelph a few weeks ago, Macklin Celebrini took over as the youngest active player in the NHL. He's the only current player born in the year 2006. (You can take a quick moment to vomit here with how old that makes you feel).
The 1st overall pick in the 2024 Draft missed close to a month already to start his career after a lower-body injury in his NHL debut. A debut where he picked up a goal and an assist. He returned to the lineup on Tuesday night against Columbus, but was held off the scoresheet. So last night he decided to make up for some lost time…
There are only 4 active players remaining from the 2003 Draft. Corey Perry, Brent Burns, Ryan Suter, and Marc-Andre Fleury. Fleury is the oldest of the bunch, and the only player in the league born in 1984.
22 years. Marc-Andre Fleury was already winning Stanley Cups by the time Macklin Celebrini was potty trained. But if anyone was pissing and shitting themselves last night, it was Fleury having to deal with Celebrini's shot. Because one goal on the night wasn't enough for the young lad. He had to let another rip as well.
Violently grotesque snipe right there.
I was always taught to respect my elders, but I guess Macklin Celebrini don't give a shit. If you're posted up between the pipes of a hockey net, he's going to make you look foolish out of principle. Doesn't matter if you're the oldest dude in the league or not, that's just what the kid does.
Now to be fair, these were the only goals that Flower let up all night. And the Minnesota Wild ended up taking home a 5-2 win last night. By all accounts, the San Jose Sharks fucking suck. But the San Jose Fightin' Macklin Celebrini's? That's a team worth watching.
P.S. -- Okay, I guess the kid has a little respect.