**San Jose Sharks' Macklin Celebrini Faces Early Season Setback Due to Injury**

San Jose - In an unexpected twist early in the NHL season, San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini has found himself sidelined. Just one game into his rookie year, the promising 18-year-old has been placed on injured reserve and is now categorized as week-to-week with a lower-body injury. This development poses a significant challenge for the Sharks, who were hoping to capitalize on Celebrini's talents for a strong start this season.

Celebrini will miss at least the next three games, beginning with the Saturday match against the Anaheim Ducks. The timeline for his return remains uncertain, with head coach Ryan Warsofsky unable to provide a specific recovery period. "It's a good learning moment for him, and life's unfair at times," said Warsofsky. "But I think mentally, he's good. He was in here today working, and it's the game of hockey, right? There's going to be injuries. I'm sure it won't be his last injury, and we've got to continue to move forward."

The injury's precise cause is unclear, particularly since Celebrini had an impressive NHL debut against the St. Louis Blues, logging two points and over 17 minutes on the ice. Warsofsky revealed that the injury news came after the game, and Celebrini was subsequently held out of practice the next day. This isn't the first time Celebrini has dealt with lower-body issues; a similar ailment troubled him during the preseason.

Celebrini's debut showcased the skills that led to him being the No. 1 overall pick in this year's NHL Draft. His dynamic performance included a goal and an assist, helping the Sharks rally to a three-goal lead before an eventual overtime loss to the Blues. His absence leaves a noticeable gap in the team dynamic, particularly highlighted by Tyler Toffoli, who said, "It's a totally different dynamic. He's obviously already one of the best players on our team, if not the best. So he's going to be missed."

The Sharks, who have struggled with poor starts in recent years, are also dealing with a current 11-game losing streak in October. The forthcoming three-game road trip will see stops in Dallas, Chicago, and Winnipeg. Notably, the game against the Blackhawks would have been a showdown between the last two No. 1 overall picks, with Chicago having selected Connor Bedard in 2023.

For now, Mikael Granlund will take Celebrini's spot as the top-line center, flanked by Toffoli and William Eklund on the wings. Will Smith, who had a strong performance last season at Boston College, will step in as the second-line center. "It sucks. Obviously, you never want that to happen, but it's part of the game, and hopefully he's back soon," said Smith of Celebrini's injury.

The Sharks will need other players to step up in Celebrini's absence if they hope to mitigate the impact of this setback. Warsofsky remains optimistic about the team's ability to adapt and grow through this adversity. "This is part of the growth of this team, the adversity. We need guys to step up and fill those shoes, and I think we have the right group in there to do that," he concluded.