At his first official practice, Macklin Celebrini delivered on the high expectations that came with his lofty draft status, looking right at home by scoring a goal and creating scoring chances.

The Sharks didn’t play Celebrini in Sunday’s rookie game contest against Anaheim, and there’s a strong possibility that he won’t suit up in another game until sometime during the preseason. Friday’s showing was enough for club officials to readily see that he’s already at a notch about his peers.

Perhaps no one inside the Sharks organization is more eager to play a hockey game right now than the No. 1 overall draft pick.

The 18-year-old Celebrini and fellow Sharks prospects Will Smith and Shakir Mukhamadullin took part in the NHLPA’s Rookie Showcase in Arlington, Va., on Wednesday. Celebrini skated in pads with the Sharks’ uniform for the first time and posed for his first hockey card.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Macklin Celebrini did not disappoint in his debut with the San Jose Sharks. The center, selected No. 1 by the Sharks in the 2024 NHL Draft, was dominant at times and scored a third-period goal in a 3-2 win against the Utah Hockey Club in the 2024 Rookie Faceoff at Toyota Sports Performance Center on Friday.

The absence of captain Logan Couture was a reason for concern as he has no timeline to return to the ice from a groin injury that sidelined him for all but six games last season. Celebrini delivered on the high expectations that came with his lofty draft status by looking right at home in his first scrimmage of training camp by scoring a goal and creating scoring chances.