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Sharks Goalie Boldly Compares Young Forward to Sidney Crosby
Photo credit: Edit from The Hockey News
Sharks goalie and former Penguin Alex Nedeljkovic recently compared young forward Macklin Celebrini to the likes of Sidney Crosby in his latest interview.
Alex Nedeljkovic began Sharks camp discussing a variety of hot subjects, from his relationship with fellow goaltending prospect Yaroslav Askarov to areas where he must improve.
He also offered a little insight into San Jose's young players, such as rookie sensation Macklin Celebrini.
Nedeljkovic drew comparisons between Celebrini and Sidney Crosby, pointing out the young forward's relentless work ethic and genuine passion for the game.
Macklin Celebrini Loves Staying on the Ice Longer, Similarly to Sidney Crosby
Whether it's staying on the ice longer than others or finding extra ice time on weekends, Celebrini's commitment has already made a strong impression.
His drive, paired with the joy he brings to practice, reminded Nedeljkovic of the same qualities Crosby displayed early in his career.
"Since I got here, and when he got into town, every day he was on the ice. Even on weekends, you come in sometimes and there's [little] ice available, he's getting on the ice, or staying out later. He just wants to be out there. He wants to 1: get better, but I think 2: he's enjoying it. He's having fun doing it. It's not work, or anything like that. It's not a grind. [He's] just enjoying it.
I think that's probably a pretty good comparison between him and Sid, same thing for Sid. When he gets out there, he's all business, but he's enjoying doing it. There's never a time where he was on the ice and I don't think he wants to be here. It's fun to see, it's fun to be with. It's fun to be on the ice with guys that every time they shoot the puck, they want to score. Looking forward to doing more of that."
- Alex Nedeljkovic
I think that's probably a pretty good comparison between him and Sid, same thing for Sid. When he gets out there, he's all business, but he's enjoying doing it. There's never a time where he was on the ice and I don't think he wants to be here. It's fun to see, it's fun to be with. It's fun to be on the ice with guys that every time they shoot the puck, they want to score. Looking forward to doing more of that."
- Alex Nedeljkovic
The veteran goaltender also talked about adjustments to his own play. He's been working with goaltending coach Thomas Speer and has been working on getting his hands out more in front to allow for ideal reaction time.
Nedeljkovic is 6'0 and lacks the size of some NHL goaltenders today, so maximizing positioning and hand movement are crucial.
He detailed how minor technical tweaks can have an immediate effect on performance, whether it is in making a sharp save or realizing when a goal has been conceded due to being poorly positioned.
For the Sharks, having a veteran goalie looking for consistency and an elite prospect with top habits provides a positive tone for training camp.
The initial indications are of a team that is determined to get better together, and with the blend of experience and youth, there is a lot of upside to the upcoming season.
| POLL | ||
SEPTEMBRE 26 | 78 ANSWERS Sharks Goalie Boldly Compares Young Forward to Sidney Crosby Is Macklin Celebrini the next Sidney Crosby? | ||
| Yes | 18 | 23.1 % |
| No | 60 | 76.9 % |
| List of polls | ||