Luchanko could start at center between Joel Farabee and Bobby Brink when Philadelphia opens the season at Vancouver on Thursday (10 p.m. ET; SNP, NBCSP). Coach John Tortorella also said Luchanko will play on the power play and penalty kill.

San Jose Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini will make his NHL debut during Thursday's opening game against the St. Louis Blues.

It’s that poor record that afforded the Sharks the chance to take Celebrini with the first-overall pick at the 2024 NHL Draft. Celebrini played one year with Boston University,

Macklin Celebrini could play in his first career NHL preseason game Sunday night when the San Jose Sharks host the Vegas Golden Knights at SAP Center.

Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.

Macklin Celebrini is back. Breathe easy, San Jose Sharks fans. Sharks Nation did a collective gulp when the 2024 first-overall pick exited an Oct. 1 preseason game prematurely.

Celebrini was injured in a preseason tilt against the Utah Hockey Club last week, casting doubt on when his highly anticipated NHL career would officially get underway.