Sharks Considered First Round Winners At The NHL Draft

The San Jose Sharks are seen as winners throughout the league for having a stellar first round at the 2024 NHL Draft.

San Jose selected Macklin Celebrini at No. 1 and Sam Dickinson at No. 11.

"It's a big weekend for the organization," Sharks GM Mike Grier said in a statement. "We're really excited. Not only with Macklin (Celebrini), but with Sam (Dickinson) too. The potential to add a top pairing (defenseman) and a first-line center doesn't come along too often in one draft. It's a big moment for us and we're really excited."

While Celebrini was the obvious pick at No. 1, Grier told the media that even he was surprised to see Dickinson on the board for Pick 11.

"A little bit," Grier said when asked if he was surprised.

Grier said they really liked Dickinson's game and feel he has the potential to be a No. 1 defenseman in the NHL. The Sharks traded up for the 11th pick, and Grier said that if the team stayed at 14, they wouldn't have had the opportunity to pick Dickinson.

"We had a group of players in mind that we thought might be available [at 11] that wouldn't be available at 14," Grier explained. We made the decision to move up with the hopes that we can land someone, and like I said, we're really, really happy and fortunate to get Sam there."

Reporters and insiders who cover the NHL widely agree that the Sharks are one of, if not the biggest, winners of the 2024 NHL Draft so far. Dickinson was seen as a top-ten pick and, in some cases, a top-five pick.

The Sharks might also have won the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft. Last year, Mike Grier and company selected Will Smith fourth overall and Quentin Musty 26th overall.

San Jose has quickly turned its rebuild from a tear-down to an incredible talent-filled construction project. The pieces that will become the San Jose Sharks' future are falling into place.

Make sure you bookmark THN's San Jose Sharks site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

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