Rookie center Macklin Celebrini might not play Monday night when the San Jose Sharks play the Philadelphia Flyers in the second game of a four-game road trip.
Speaking Monday morning, Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky would not confirm that Celebrini was playing against the Flyers, saying the decision to play the 18-year-old was still being discussed.
“We’re still going through our lineup,” Warsofsky said when asked about Celebrini’s status. “Everything will be announced tonight after we get through warmups.”
The Sharks are giving Celebrini and fellow centerman Will Smith occasional ‘development days’ through at least the first half of the season, trying to help both players adjust to the busy travel and playing schedules in their rookie years.
Smith has had four such days this season, including Sunday night when the Sharks beat the New Jersey Devils 1-0 behind goalie Mackenzie Blackwood’s 44-save performance.
Smith will draw back into Monday’s lineup as the Sharks look to win for the sixth time in eight games. The Sharks have so far avoided playing Smith or Celebrini on back-to-back nights.
Celebrini, the No. 1 overall pick in June’s NHL Draft, did not have a shot on net in 18:40 of ice time Sunday, as he centered the top line with Tyler Toffoli and Ty Dellandrea and was on the No. 1 power-play unit.
Celebrini missed 12 games from Oct. 12 to Nov. 2 with a hip injury but has four points in the four games he has appeared in this season.
Asked if Celebrini’s extended absence affected the Sharks’ original plan for him, Warsofsky did not wish to elaborate.
Scratching Celebrini would not only remove the Sharks’ No. 1 center from the mix but also deny fans the opportunity to see him compete against dynamic rookie forward Matvei Michkov.
Michkov has 10 points in 13 games for the Flyers so far this year, and he, Celebrini, and Smith are considered three of the leading candidates to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie this season. Michkov was selected seventh overall by the Flyers last year, three spots after the Sharks drafted Smith.
Warsofsky said goalie Vitek Vanecek will start Monday’s game. Mackenzie Blackwood made 44 saves for the Sharks in Sunday’s win as he beat his former team.
Warsofsky said that defenseman Jake Walman will not play against the Flyers, as he remains day-to-day with an upper-body injury he sustained in the Sharks’ Nov. 2 loss to the Vancouver Canucks.
Walman did not play in the Sharks’ game on Nov. 5 against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was sat out for not coming in to get treatment on a day off, violating a team rule. Officially, he has missed the last two games because of the injury.
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