LAS VEGAS – Introduced by San Jose Sharks general manager at the start of the NHL Draft on Friday, Joe Thornton strode onto the stage at the Sphere dressed resplendently in a charcoal gray three-piece suit to officially announce the team’s first overall selection.
“Here we go,” Thornton said of cheers inside the glitzy building before a capacity crowd of 17,500. “With the first overall selection in the 2024 NHL Draft, the San Jose Sharks are very proud to select, from Boston University, Macklin Celebrini.”
Thornton, wearing a huge smile, then greeted Celebrini as he came on stage, perhaps passing the torch from the greatest centerman in Sharks history to the player who might one day challenge him for that lofty spot.
Celebrini said he had no idea Thornton would be the one who introduced him.
“Like I said countless times, he’s a legend and a great person,” Celebrini said of Thornton. “So to have him announce the pick was pretty cool.”
So how did it come about?
Grier said he asked Thornton after the Sharks won the draft lottery if he’d be open to it, and I’m really excited that he was,” Grier said. “I think he’s a big personality and I think he nailed it. It was awesome.”
Thornton played 15 seasons with the Sharks from 2005 to 2020 and is second on the team’s all-time list with 1,055 points behind only Patrick Marleau (1,111). Thornton is also third on San Jose’s games played list with 1,104 and is eligible for election to the Hockey Hall of Fame next year.
“It’s really important just to connect our young guys to the past,” Grier said. “We don’t have too many guys left on the team that were there when we were on top of things and challenging for the Stanley Cup. So we’re fortunate to have Jumbo and Patty (Marleau) around a lot, and I think it’s pretty neat to have that connection with our young players.”
Thornton was the Boston Bruins’ No. 1 overall pick in 1997 at the old Igloo in Pittsburgh. So it was a bit of destiny that the Sharks held the first overall selection in 2024, roughly a year after Thornton announced his retirement from the NHL.
“He’s got such a great personality and way about him; it’s probably the start of a bond between him and Macklin and other players,” Grier said. “He was on the ice with those guys, and I’m sure it meant a lot to Macklin to have (Thornton) be the one to call his name out.”
GRIER ON KUNIN: The Sharks have agreed with forward and pending restricted free agent Luke Kunin on a one-year deal worth a reported $2.75 million.
Kunin, who turns 27 in December, will be a UFA at the end of the contract. He scored 18 points in 77 games this season, his first since he had surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Kunin, with his blue-collar work ethic, ability to kill penalties, and willingness to stick up for teammates, is the type of player the Sharks want around to help provide an example to their younger players.
“He helps drive the culture,” Grier said of Kunin, mentioning additions Barclay Goodrow, Carl Grundstrom and Ty Dellandrea in the same breath. “Kunin shows up every night. He’s a good example for our young players; he plays hard, competes, plays hurt, all the things you’re looking for in players to help show our younger players that this is what it takes to be in the NHL and be a professional.”
The real possibility exists, though, that if the Sharks, as expected, are out of the playoff picture by next year’s NHL trade deadline, Kunin could be shipped out for future assets.
Did Grier want to go with a longer term for Kunin?
“We talked about it,” Grier said. “It’s always a fine line with term and money and trying to find common ground. So I think both sides felt one year was good and we’ll revisit as the season goes on.”
ASSISTANT COACH SEARCH: Grier and coach Ryan Warsofsky said the Sharks are close to officially filling out their coaching staff.
Warsofsky said the Sharks are “really close to adding some coaches here, probably in the coming days. Mike and I will continue to sit down and talk through it, but I would say we’re pretty close.”
Warsofsky said goalie coach Thomas Speer, video coach Nick Gialdini, and assistant video coach Cody Ward will be back with the team.
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TRADING BACK?: When the second day of the draft gets underway on Saturday morning, the Sharks will have the 33rd overall pick, the first of the second round.
Grier said he’s open to moving the pick if it results in more assets in the future.
“We’ll be open to everything,” Grier said. “Looking at our board, I think there’s some players there that we really like, but as it goes when teams kind of settle in and get back to the hotels, I’m sure we’ll get some calls on 33. We’ll listen if it makes sense for us to get more assets and then continue to build this thing.
“But if not, there’s some players available there that we’ll be really happy to select.”
The Sharks on Saturday also hold picks No. 53 (second round), 85 (third round), 116 (fourth round), 131 and 143 (fifth round), and 194 (seventh round).
