The upcoming game between the San Jose Sharks and the New York Islanders promises an intriguing showdown, featuring a battle of the most recent No. 1 picks in the NHL. The Sharks' 19-year-old center, Macklin Celebrini, will face off against the Islanders' 18-year-old rookie defenseman, Matthew Schaefer, in a highly anticipated match. This will be the first time these top picks from the 2024 and 2025 NHL drafts will meet on the ice.
Celebrini, who has been practicing at Schaefer's new home, UBS Arena, admits he hasn't seen much of Schaefer's talent yet due to their opposite coast locations and scheduling. However, he's confident in Schaefer's abilities, acknowledging his impressive performance as a No. 1 pick. Celebrini's enthusiasm is evident as he smiles, knowing he'll face a formidable opponent.
The game will also mark the first time the top two picks of the 2025 NHL Draft will play against each other, adding another layer of excitement. Michael Misa, selected by the Sharks shortly after Schaefer, will also be in the lineup, creating an internal competition within the draft class. Misa, from Oakville, is eager to face Schaefer, who is from Hamilton, as they both went one and two in the draft, respectively.
This isn't the first time such a high-stakes match-up has occurred. Last season, Connor Bedard (No. 1 in 2023) and Artyom Levshunov (No. 2 in 2024) played against Celebrini and the Sharks, and the previous time this happened was in 2012 when Taylor Hall (No. 1 in 2010) and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (No. 1 in 2011) faced Gabriel Landeskog (No. 2 in 2011).
Despite their competitive spirits, Schaefer and Celebrini have a mutual respect for each other's skills, having only greeted each other briefly in Toronto. Their connection extends beyond the ice, as they both went through the draft process together, becoming close friends. Schaefer highlights Celebrini's talent, while Misa, who has skated with Schaefer during the offseason, is eager to prove his worth as a potential No. 1 pick.
The Sharks' coach, Ryan Warsofsky, believes this game will benefit the entire hockey community, providing an opportunity for these young talents to showcase their skills and contribute to the sport's growth.
