As a longtime Sharks fan since 1991 I have had the pleasure of seeing every Sharks rookie from Pat Faloon and the great Ray Whitney to Smith and Celebrini and I have to say that I am a big fan of both rookies this season especially Celebrini, in fact I am wearing my 71 shirt right now as I watch the video. To me Celebrini is the real deal every time he is on the ice with his work ethic, his defensive play and you can tell he just has that look on his face and attitude about wanting to win every face off to winning every puck battle to chasing down someone from behind to strip the puck before they could score a empty net goal, this kid at 18 is the real deal. I am very proud of our young Sharks and I know that our near future will be bright again soon.
Not only are we so blessed to see this team turn the page and start building a true super team of homegrown drafted talents a la Warriors in the early 2010s, we’re also blessed to have Professor Hockey cover it all for us. Truly - thanks so much Professor. You’re a gem 🙏🏼
GREAT stuff Professor! It is easy to be so spoiled by Celebrini that we as fans can be 'disappointed' with Smith. Glad to hear that you are seeing the development along with the skills that make him such a strong prospect to begin with. I was going to request a Prospect Pool update.....so VERY VERY excited to see that it is in the works. I can't wait to hear about the rest of the pool....and keep up the great work.
Thank you for this professor you are the only person i genuinely like who covers the sharks being in SJ im used to JD Young and Sheng Peng and both of these guys are very biased you are very blunt and to the point but you show very little bias and I appericate that about you content
Great info on Celebrini's faceoff ability compared to past players, such an overlooked aspect of the game. If Smith can get 25-30 points I'm fine with it, above 30 I would be ecstatic. Looking forward to seeing your video on the other prospects, especially Dickinson. I wanted Buium but I'm thinking they made the best pick in terms of physical talent ceiling between the two players.
The ONLY first overall pick in Sharks history was the best possible timing to pick up Celebrini. The hockey planets were in alignment for San Jose in a good way for a change...
If u asked me if I saw Celly with a Selke nomination this season, didn’t see that coming 👀 his stats are insane against the biggest players in the league. Mack’s compete screams captaincy right out of the gate.
Nice video. Good point about the guys still just being teenagers. IMHO that added to the egregiousness of Utah boarding Celebrini, just a brute move against someone who is still a kid on some level. Yes it’s a tough game at the top level but very dishonorable. Looking forward to next season already for these two!
Really enjoy your breakdowns. Not only great individual analysis, but fantastic building of context. Askarov next? Looking forward to it! The future is, of course, teal. Well done!
I believe the key to Celebrini's two-way game is that he started playing hockey as a D-man and moved to center, the opposite of Burnzie who went the other direction...
Professor, I am curious to know your opinion on Will Smith’s long term position. Do you think he is more suited as a winger or center long term? With the draft coming up I know the Sharks are eyeing Hagens, Schaefer, and Martone. I think if sharks get Hagens there is no doubt he goes to the wing. If sharks draft Martone then I think he will eventually be a center. I also don’t think Sharks will draft Schaefer since Sharks are stacked with Left d men - Walman, Dickinson, Mukuhmadullin, Cagnoni, and yours truly Mario Ferraro.
The way Smith plays would seem to indicate that he would be more comfortable on the wing, and from what we have seen that is currently the case. It is certainly possible that if the Sharks pick up another great center in the draft, he could move there longterm. Otherwise, I think Grier really would rather have him play center, and I imagine they will try him at that position many times again over the next couple of years. If I had to bet on where he is playing 3 years from now, I would guess center, but its close.
Thanks, Professor. I don't know that I could see Ferraro as Captain oh the team. Maybe he's big character guy off the ice--he definitely works hard on the ice. However, from the games I've seen, his play-choice and decision making seems weak for what I would hope from a solid captain. Am I out of line here? Do his stats compared to other NHL defensemen support this?
No you’re right, he’s not particularly good, but some teams don’t necessarily choose their best player as captain. The Winnipeg Jets currently have Adam Lowry as their captain, he’s pretty good, but more of a third liner for them. Sometimes you go with a guy who works hard and is good in the room, even if they are not good on the ice.
It’s gonna be a curious year for smith and the upcoming draft, if he spends the rest of the year on wing and the sharks have a top 4 pick in the coming draft, i think they go BPA no matter what as it should be when you pick that high, so if it’s misa or hagens i would assume that could make smith a permanent winger, as for macklin, he’s a stellar player right now, as the team around him gets better and he gets more comfortable i dont think its a stretch for him to be a selke level player capable of going well north of 100 points.
I think if Schaefer is available, they’ll take him. Otherwise they’ll probably go BPA if they’re still inside that top 4 as you say. It will definitely be interesting what they do with Smith, perhaps they move him back to center around the deadline if Granlund gets traded. Right now he seems to be doing better on the wing but I imagine they really hope for him to be a centerman long term.
@ I’m curious as to why you’d think they’d take Schaefer, not to say he isn’t a great prospect, but they already have Dickinson, Cagnoni, Muk, and even Wallenius on the left side, Dickinson in particular is showing he’s got more offense then was previously thought. I would also add that is gonna depend on where their draft pick ends up at and if any of the top 4 prospects really start to separate themselves in the 2nd half of their season and obviously the WJC for Hagens, Schaefer and Martone.
@@sword2872 I do like Dickinson, but it remains to be seen whether he can be the true number 1 guy for the Sharks on the blue line in the future. The Sharks have a elite 1C and an elite goaltender, so adding an elite 1D, which Schaefer can be, would be massive I feel, even it he is another LD to add to the collection. I certainly wouldn't be upset if the Sharks grabbed someone like Martone instead, but I think Schaefer has real game changing potential.
@@professorhockey only time will tell, with his production this year he could be, but who knows, prospects dont always work out so having multiple guys capable of becoming a 1D isn’t a bad thing.
Its a little difficult to do a “chalk talk” segment with the format in which I do my videos because it requires clips of plays and really good editing, both of which I don’t have haha.
Goals and assists right now aren’t important for Smith. For him it’s playing positive consistent hockey with confidence. The points will come, but being confident with that swagger out there is what will make or break his career
Someone get this kid a job on the NHL Network. Extremely good analysis.
We are so lucky to be seeing these kids develop.
As a longtime Sharks fan since 1991 I have had the pleasure of seeing every Sharks rookie from Pat Faloon and the great Ray Whitney to Smith and Celebrini and I have to say that I am a big fan of both rookies this season especially Celebrini, in fact I am wearing my 71 shirt right now as I watch the video. To me Celebrini is the real deal every time he is on the ice with his work ethic, his defensive play and you can tell he just has that look on his face and attitude about wanting to win every face off to winning every puck battle to chasing down someone from behind to strip the puck before they could score a empty net goal, this kid at 18 is the real deal. I am very proud of our young Sharks and I know that our near future will be bright again soon.
Not only are we so blessed to see this team turn the page and start building a true super team of homegrown drafted talents a la Warriors in the early 2010s, we’re also blessed to have Professor Hockey cover it all for us.
Truly - thanks so much Professor. You’re a gem 🙏🏼
Thanks for the kind words! Going to be a fun team to watch for a while
"Anyone who can give Mario Ferraro a goal is doing something right" had me rolling so damn true
Professor hockey giving us what we want!!
Will Smith is a great and humble young man....his demeanor etc...lucky to see him grow !
Your "lectures" are much appreciated. Keep it up. Best Sharks content on UA-cam.
GREAT stuff Professor! It is easy to be so spoiled by Celebrini that we as fans can be 'disappointed' with Smith. Glad to hear that you are seeing the development along with the skills that make him such a strong prospect to begin with.
I was going to request a Prospect Pool update.....so VERY VERY excited to see that it is in the works. I can't wait to hear about the rest of the pool....and keep up the great work.
Thank you for this professor you are the only person i genuinely like who covers the sharks being in SJ im used to JD Young and Sheng Peng and both of these guys are very biased you are very blunt and to the point but you show very little bias and I appericate that about you content
I think we all have our strengths and weaknesses, but thanks!
Great info on Celebrini's faceoff ability compared to past players, such an overlooked aspect of the game. If Smith can get 25-30 points I'm fine with it, above 30 I would be ecstatic.
Looking forward to seeing your video on the other prospects, especially Dickinson. I wanted Buium but I'm thinking they made the best pick in terms of physical talent ceiling between the two players.
Great breakdown as always!
Nice breakdown professor!
The ONLY first overall pick in Sharks history was the best possible timing to pick up Celebrini. The hockey planets were in alignment for San Jose in a good way for a change...
If u asked me if I saw Celly with a Selke nomination this season, didn’t see that coming 👀 his stats are insane against the biggest players in the league. Mack’s compete screams captaincy right out of the gate.
Good call on separating the videos. these two will be staples in the roster moving forward for sure
Nice video. Good point about the guys still just being teenagers. IMHO that added to the egregiousness of Utah boarding Celebrini, just a brute move against someone who is still a kid on some level. Yes it’s a tough game at the top level but very dishonorable. Looking forward to next season already for these two!
I’m even looking forward to the second half of this season, hoping for fun times!
For sure! Still plenty of hockey left this go round 🎉
Sorry I was late for class, Professor.
Just don’t let it happen again! Haha
Really enjoy your breakdowns. Not only great individual analysis, but fantastic building of context. Askarov next? Looking forward to it!
The future is, of course, teal. Well done!
I will be talking about Askarov in my upcoming prospect update video!
Class is now in session
I believe the key to Celebrini's two-way game is that he started playing hockey as a D-man and moved to center, the opposite of Burnzie who went the other direction...
Professor, I am curious to know your opinion on Will Smith’s long term position. Do you think he is more suited as a winger or center long term? With the draft coming up I know the Sharks are eyeing Hagens, Schaefer, and Martone. I think if sharks get Hagens there is no doubt he goes to the wing. If sharks draft Martone then I think he will eventually be a center.
I also don’t think Sharks will draft Schaefer since Sharks are stacked with Left d men - Walman, Dickinson, Mukuhmadullin, Cagnoni, and yours truly Mario Ferraro.
The way Smith plays would seem to indicate that he would be more comfortable on the wing, and from what we have seen that is currently the case. It is certainly possible that if the Sharks pick up another great center in the draft, he could move there longterm. Otherwise, I think Grier really would rather have him play center, and I imagine they will try him at that position many times again over the next couple of years. If I had to bet on where he is playing 3 years from now, I would guess center, but its close.
Professor Hockey never fails!
Good vid. Whatssup with smith honest opinion?
did you even watch the full video??
He’s gonna be good, I have faith
Omg professor 🥵
Thanks, Professor. I don't know that I could see Ferraro as Captain oh the team. Maybe he's big character guy off the ice--he definitely works hard on the ice. However, from the games I've seen, his play-choice and decision making seems weak for what I would hope from a solid captain. Am I out of line here? Do his stats compared to other NHL defensemen support this?
No you’re right, he’s not particularly good, but some teams don’t necessarily choose their best player as captain. The Winnipeg Jets currently have Adam Lowry as their captain, he’s pretty good, but more of a third liner for them. Sometimes you go with a guy who works hard and is good in the room, even if they are not good on the ice.
It’s gonna be a curious year for smith and the upcoming draft, if he spends the rest of the year on wing and the sharks have a top 4 pick in the coming draft, i think they go BPA no matter what as it should be when you pick that high, so if it’s misa or hagens i would assume that could make smith a permanent winger, as for macklin, he’s a stellar player right now, as the team around him gets better and he gets more comfortable i dont think its a stretch for him to be a selke level player capable of going well north of 100 points.
I think if Schaefer is available, they’ll take him. Otherwise they’ll probably go BPA if they’re still inside that top 4 as you say. It will definitely be interesting what they do with Smith, perhaps they move him back to center around the deadline if Granlund gets traded. Right now he seems to be doing better on the wing but I imagine they really hope for him to be a centerman long term.
@ I’m curious as to why you’d think they’d take Schaefer, not to say he isn’t a great prospect, but they already have Dickinson, Cagnoni, Muk, and even Wallenius on the left side, Dickinson in particular is showing he’s got more offense then was previously thought. I would also add that is gonna depend on where their draft pick ends up at and if any of the top 4 prospects really start to separate themselves in the 2nd half of their season and obviously the WJC for Hagens, Schaefer and Martone.
Also very much looking forward to your full or non nhl prospect update.
@@sword2872 I do like Dickinson, but it remains to be seen whether he can be the true number 1 guy for the Sharks on the blue line in the future. The Sharks have a elite 1C and an elite goaltender, so adding an elite 1D, which Schaefer can be, would be massive I feel, even it he is another LD to add to the collection. I certainly wouldn't be upset if the Sharks grabbed someone like Martone instead, but I think Schaefer has real game changing potential.
@@professorhockey only time will tell, with his production this year he could be, but who knows, prospects dont always work out so having multiple guys capable of becoming a 1D isn’t a bad thing.
Could you give us some chalk talk lessons. Perhaps what we should look for on breakout patterns. Also faceoff alignments...
Its a little difficult to do a “chalk talk” segment with the format in which I do my videos because it requires clips of plays and really good editing, both of which I don’t have haha.
@professorhockey maybe draw one or two on the white board...
Goals and assists right now aren’t important for Smith. For him it’s playing positive consistent hockey with confidence. The points will come, but being confident with that swagger out there is what will make or break his career
From what I have seen of his post game interviews and such, he seems like a very confident player, even when things weren't going so well.