Scout's Analysis: Why prospect Macklin Celebrini starts the season ranked No. 1

The scouting season is well underway in preparation for the 2024 NHL Draft. Last year's "underage lists” have transitioned into a draft class ranking as a new scouting cycle has begun.

My colleague, Sam Cosentino, released his first round ranking Wednesday. The name at the top of that list, and the consensus number one rated player, is Macklin Celebrini.

I will provide detailed scouting reports on all of the prospects on Sam’s list in time. Today’s exercise revolves around Celebrini and the reasons why he is projected to be the first name off the board at the 2024 draft.

UNDERAGE YEAR

Celebrini solidified himself as one of the top prospects (even the top prospect) for the 2024 draft with his performance at the Under 18 World Championship last spring in Switzerland. This was my report following the event:

TALE OF THE TAPE

Celebrini is playing NCAA hockey at Boston University in Hockey East this season. His listed size, according to BU’s team page, is 6-foot, 190 pound. He’s a left shot forward who plays centre.

(Note: NHL Central Scouting will provide official heights and weights in the near future)

What Celebrini provides offensively is a skill set that cannot be taught. He’s a gifted talent who loves ripping pucks from the weak side on the power play and has an NHL quality shot, but he’s not just a shooter. He’s also a play driver with fantastic vision off the rush and via zone entries that lead the power play breakout.

Before arriving in Chicago to play for the USHL's Steel, Celebrini was accumulating ridiculous statistics offensively. In his two seasons playing at the renowned Shattuck St. Mary’s prep school his scoring numbers read 102 games, 101 goals, 157 assists.

Here’s a visual of what I’m describing when I say Celebrini loves to set up on the weak side and one-time pucks:

PACE AND COMPETE

The NHL game has never been played quicker or faster than it is today and Celebrini can easily skate at the required pace. He’s explosive out of the blocks and has the ability to separate in open ice, or beat opponents up ice when coming late off the rush as an extra layer.

Turnovers happen frequently in hockey and how a player reacts when he turns pucks over in key areas of the ice says something about their pride and compete. Nobody wants to stand out for the wrong reasons.

With that in mind, here is a clip of what I’m trying to describe when referring to Celebrini’s pace and compete:

DETAIL AND JUMP

So far at the NCAA level, Celebrini is not being used on the penalty kill. He’s capable in the role, however, and was deployed on one of the penalty-killing units last spring for Team Canada at the U18 World Championship.

Celebrini recognizes the importance of winning draws in all three zones. But, obviously, it’s most important to bear down and win faceoffs in the defensive zone. Starting with the puck leads to minimal defensive zone time and more opportunities to go on offence.

Here’s a clip that illustrates what Celebrini is capable of when starting from a defensive zone faceoff.

He wins the draw, recognizes his team has control, explodes to open space in his zone, separates through the neutral zone, drives the middle lane and finishes with a skilled forehand/backhand tuck.

IT'S EARLY BUT...

There’s a ton of runway left before we arrive at the 2024 NHL Draft. Heck, we don’t even know where the draft is going to be held, or the format the NHL will be implementing! But Celebrini is clearly the top prospect for this year's class.

His combination of skill, speed, hockey sense, and relentless compete is elite. Expect to see Celebrini in a Team Canada uniform at the World Junior Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden this Christmas.