Watch: No. 1 overall pick Macklin Celebrini scores first NHL goal

As Celebrini made a spinning, backhand pass toward the center of the ice, it bounced off the skate of a St. Louis Blues defender and went into the net to give the Sharks — and Celebrini — the goal. 

Celebrini does not project to be a star on the Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin or Connor McDavid level, but he could end up being on the tier below that and be a true franchise-changing, cornerstone player. 

That is exactly what the Sharks need.

San Jose was one of the most consistent contenders in the league for the better part of two decades between 1997 and 2019. They have since missed the playoffs in each of the past five seasons (the longest playoff drought in franchise history) and recently started a massive rebuild. Celebrini is the focal point of that rebuild, and he gave Sharks fans a glimpse of their future on Thursday night.