SAN JOSE – San Jose Sharks rookie center Macklin Celebrini left Tuesday’s game against the Utah Hockey Club at SAP Center with what was described as a lower-body injury.

Celebrini might have been shaken up in the second period. While skating toward the Utah net on a partial breakaway, Celebrini got a shot on net at the 13:45 mark and appeared to lose an edge before he slid hard into the end boards.

Celebrini got up and skated on his own toward the Sharks bench.

Celebrini then took one more shift shortly afterward, skating on a Sharks power play. Afterward, he returned to the team’s bench and later to the Sharks’ dressing room for further evaluation.

Macklin Celebrini with a great chance and then goes hard into the boards. He gets up and seems ok. pic.twitter.com/UrFreUbF4q

— JD Young (@MyFryHole) October 2, 2024

Before the third period began, the Sharks announced that Celebrini had a lower-body injury and would not return.

Celebrini, selected first overall by the Sharks during June’s NHL Draft, was playing in his second preseason game. He started Tuesday as the Sharks’ top-line center with William Eklund and Tyler Toffoli on the wings, and in 10:54 of ice time, won four of five faceoffs and was credited with two shots on net and two takeaways.

After Celebrini left the game, Will Smith, San Jose’s other top prospect, took over as the Sharks’ top-line center.

Celebrini said before Tuesday’s game that he was looking forward to playing for the first time in more than a week. In his NHL preseason debut on Sept. 22, Celebrini had a goal and an assist in a 4-2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights in San Jose.

Please check back for updates on this story.