Macklin Celebrini or Matthew Schaefer? Choosing who to start NHL franchise with originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
“Can I pick both?”
“Do I have to choose?”
When asked between choosing Sharks center Macklin Celebrini or New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer to start an NHL franchise, those were common refrains.
But in the end, over two dozen current and past NHL coaches, scouts and executives — none with the Sharks or Islanders right now — picked one.
“That is as hard a choice as you can have in this sport right now,” one coach said.
San Jose Hockey Now also asked if any other U23 players belonged in this conversation.
“Those are the [only] choices,” one scout said, which was the consensus.
Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson was mentioned by a couple of sources as a not-so-close third in this conversation … and that’s it.
So, what do Celebrini and Schaefer’s head coaches think?
Of course, they’re going to pick their own player, but both shared their thoughts about the other team’s teen franchise face.
“Man, he’s impressive out there. From nothing, he creates a lot of offense. He’s got a really good shot, moves the puck well,” Islanders coach and Hockey Hall of Famer Patrick Roy said about Celebrini. “What’s impressive is to see how hard he works shift after shift after shift.”
“He can move pucks. He’s creative on the offensive blueline. He can get up in the rush. He’s almost a fourth forward out there. But then, on the flip side of it, you can tell he cares about defending. He cares about getting better,” Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky said about Schaefer. “He’s a competitor. He wants to win. He drags guys into the fight by his personality … You’ve heard some things that have come out of there, how special of a human being he is … he’s got real good attributes for leadership.”
All said, Celebrini won the poll by a landslide, 21-5. But it was as close as an essentially 4-to-1 vote can be.
“It is very close,” an executive said. “After next year, I might switch to Schaefer.”
Here’s what some of the coaches, scouts, and executives said.
Coaches
Coach No. 1: “Can I pick both? Haha. Celebrini.
“For me, an elite No. 1 center is the most valuable asset for a team and franchise. [It’s his] offensive impact — drives the play every shift. Can’t do that as a D.”
Coach No. 2: “I would take Celebrini. I love both, but I feel like you have the biggest impact as a leader in the center position. You can dictate on both sides of the puck without sacrificing playing the right way. As of now, I can’t say I’d want anyone else. [I’ve heard] that Macklin does it right off the ice, as well. Invaluable.”
Coach No. 3: “That is as hard a choice as you can have in this sport right now. But I always take the defenseman, when it’s this close, and you are choosing between a forward and a defenseman.
“I know Macklin is as good a person and leader as he is a player, so if Schaefer is close to what Macklin is off the ice, I take Schaefer…barely!”
Coach No. 4: “Tough one…I’ll go with Celebrini, based off I’ve seen him more. I think those two have separated themselves from the pack, for young guns.”
Coach No. 5: “Celebrini in a very close decision. It seems like he already has the leadership skills.”
Scouts
Scout No. 1: “Great question! Tough to answer. I go Mack, winning intangibles, one of the two, three most competitive people in hockey.”
Scout No. 2: “Generational center. [Celebrini] looks like he’s going to be on the McDavid/MacKinnon trajectory. Schaefer is on the Makar trajectory. In that case, I’d take Celebrini. There’s no wrong choice here.”
Scout No. 3: “Generational, best since [McDavid] and [MacKinnon]. Drives the game, changes games, the most I’ve seen in a long time.”
Scout No. 4: “Maybe it’s the Mack frenzy since the Olympics, but I’ve watched a few [San Jose Sharks] games after, and he’s just so smart and controlled and everything runs through him. No holes. Elite at so many things already. He really might be the next closest thing we get to Crosby.”
Scout No. 5: “Mack would be in my [top] slot. He’s Crosby and look how he’s made everyone around him better. Durable too.”
Scout No. 6: “Both are franchise guys, so it’s would you rather have a No. 1 D or No. 1 C? Both impossible to find, but I think D are harder to find and get more ice time.”
Scout No. 7: “Those are the choices. Can’t go wrong with either. I’d lean towards the 1C. He’s so dominant. Game will be even better learning from all the Olympians. Schaefer is fantastic, but Celebrini has every tool you’d want.”
Scout No. 8: “Both players are special. Celebrini is a legit 1C, there’s so few of them in the league. Plus, he has some intangible traits, not that Schaefer doesn’t, but I’d start with the 1C.”
Scout No. 9: “Celebrini. Two-way center. 200 feet. Driven. Makes the whole team go. Phenomenal player — San Jose hit the jackpot.”
Scout No. 10: “Celebrini, I like forwards better for building a team with what they bring offensively and he makes everything better. He is my pick by a ways.”
Scout No. 11: “I’d rather have the star C over the star D. I also think Celebrini is just a touch more valuable long-term anyways. Just a bit higher sense and compete.”
Scout No. 12: Celebrini is a franchise [player right now]. Schaefer is coming on next season to become a franchise player, he’s more ‘elite’ right now. I’d pick the franchise-level center, for sure. It’s the rarer pick.”
Executives
Executive No. 1: “Celebrini — easy for me. He’s a culture-driver, unrelenting work ethic, a top-end player. Top forwards generally taken in front of a defenseman.
“I know Schaefer is a great player and kid, but he hasn’t been that top-end player with the scrutiny [for] his whole life [like] Mack.”
Executive No. 2: “Celebrini is the [only] choice. Tie goes to the forward. And it’s not a tie.
“Centers impact games more than defensemen.”
Executive No. 3: “Celebrini, because of his competitive nature and leadership at such a young age. Schaefer may be a better point-getter, relative to his position, when it’s all said and done though.”
Executive No. 4: “Start with a defenseman. Tougher to find.”
Executive No. 5: “Tough one. Celebrini. No. 1 elite centers are tough to find!”
Executive No. 6: “No wrong answer between the two, but I would probably take Celebrini. It is very close though. After next year, I might switch to Schaefer. Super close.”
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