All these years later Shawn Thornton admits he nearly packed it in ... Thornton skated on the fourth line as a rookie and then split his time between playing wing and defense in his second year.

Although Celebrini is just 18, head coach Ryan Warsofsky sees the rookie's God-given leadership qualities as Thornton has. "I think the way [Thornton] was as a leader. Macklin has God-given ...