Major set back for San Jose Sharks first overall pick Macklin Celebrini ahead of season opener

Sharks center Macklin Celebrini will have to wait for his second NHL game after being placed on injured reserve today. In his place, defenseman Jack Thompson has been called up from AHL San Jose.

Celebrini, the top pick in this year's draft, had a strong NHL debut, scoring two points. However, he has been dealing with a lower-body injury since training camp, which kept him out of much of the preseason. Now, he's facing a similar issue, and the team decided to give him extra rest to ensure a full recovery rather than risking him playing at less than full health.

The 22 year old Thompson is in the final year of his entry level contract & joined the Sharks last season after a trade from Tampa Bay. He played three NHL games last year & recorded 41 points in 62 AHL games. While it may seem odd to call up a defenseman to replace a forward the Sharks had only six healthy defensemen on their roster with Shakir Mukhamadullin & Marc-Edouard Vlasic both out due to injuries. Thompson will provide some added depth on defense while the Sharks still have 14 available forwards.

We will keep you updated with the latest developments on this situation.