Macklin Celebrini might be one of the NHL’s next superstars, but he’s not shutting the door on leaving some money on the table.
The 20-year-old San Jose Sharks center is eligible for a contract extension right now, and after a massive sophomore season (45 goals, 115 points) and a standout showing for Team Canada at the Winter Olympics, he could ask for something north of $19 million per year. Leo Carlsson just set the bar at $18 million annually after the Ducks matched an offer sheet, so it’s not hard to imagine Celebrini’s camp aiming higher.
But when ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski asked him if he’d ever considered taking a little less — like Nathan MacKinnon or Sidney Crosby did early in their careers — Celebrini didn’t hesitate.
“Yeah, 100%. I mean that’s why all of us play. We want to win. We’re competitive and we want to win. Obviously, guys want to get paid — as they should, because you’ve got to make a living,” Celebrini said. “There are guys that deserve those numbers that are getting them, but of course you want to put your team in the best spot possible where you give a team the ability to make moves necessary to win. I think all that goes into the decision. Like I said, I haven’t really had many discussions about it or thought through it too much yet. Still kind of on the fence. But yeah, there’s definitely a lot to think about.”
That’s not a promise. But it’s not a hard no either.
The Sharks Have Cap Flexibility Today, But It Won’t Last
San Jose can afford a big deal right now. But the bills pile up fast. Will Smith and Yaroslav Askarov need extensions next summer. Top prospects like Michael Misa, Igor Chernyshov, Sam Dickinson and Mattias Havelid are all coming down the line. If Celebrini takes a max deal, it squeezes the roster eventually. If he takes a discount, it gives GM Mike Grier room to build around him.
Celebrini isn’t rushing. He’s got one year left on his current deal and will be a restricted free agent next summer if nothing gets done. “I think it’s just whenever it makes sense for both sides,” he said. “I still have a year left. There’s no reason to rush. But yeah, I think we’ll kind of see how it goes.”
The Sharks haven’t made the playoffs since 2019, when they lost to the eventual champion Blues in the Western Conference Final. That’s a long drought. Celebrini is the centerpiece of the rebuild, and if he’s serious about winning, a team-friendly number could accelerate the timeline.
He was named the IIHF Male Player of the Year for 2025-26 and captained Canada at the World Championships in May. The kid’s already carrying a lot of weight. Whether he carries it at a discount or a premium will shape San Jose’s future for the rest of the decade.
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