SAN JOSE – Macklin Celebrini has been placed on injured reserve, meaning the 18-year-old centerman will miss at least the San Jose Sharks’ next three games, including tonight’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.

In a related move, the Sharks recalled defenseman Jack Thompson from their AHL affiliate Barracuda.

Players on IR must remain off the active roster for at least seven days, meaning Celebrini, the first overall pick in this year’s NHL draft, will also miss at least the first two games of the Sharks’ upcoming three-game road trip. Celebrini has to miss the games on Tuesday in Dallas and on Thursday in Chicago. This game at the United Center would have been Celebrini’s first NHL game against Blackhawks star Connor Bedard, the first overall pick in 2023.

Celebrini is next eligible to play in Friday’s road trip finale in Winnipeg.

One night after his NHL debut, when he recorded a goal and an assist, Celebrini missed Friday’s practice with what Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky described as a lower-body injury.

Warsofsky said after practice Friday that Celebrini was being evaluated and could not say whether the center might have to miss the team’s second game of the regular season.

Warsofsky also wouldn’t confirm whether Celebrini’s lower-body injury was related to the injury that kept him out for part of the preseason. In an October 1 game against the Utah Hockey Club, Celebrini suffered a lower-body injury, left midway through the second period and did not play in the Sharks’ last two exhibition games.

Celebrini scored the first two points of his NHL career in front of a loud crowd on Thursday as the Sharks built a three-goal lead over the St. Louis Blues in the second period. Celebrini scored the Sharks’ first goal of the season at 7:01 of the third period and later assisted on a goal by Tyler Toffoli. However, the Sharks allowed three goals in the third period and lost 5-4 to the Blues in overtime.

At practice on Friday, Mikael Granlund took Celebrini’s place as the Sharks’ top center with Toffoli and William Eklund on the wings.

Please check back for updates on this story.

Originally published: October 12, 2024 at 10:09 am