Macklin Celebrini is already one of the most accomplished teenagers in NHL history. The San Jose Sharks forward dropped 100 points last season, the sixth teenager ever to hit that mark. He finished fourth in league scoring, brought home a silver medal with Canada at the 2026 Olympics, and was a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award. This week, he got another honor: the cover of NHL 27, making him the youngest player ever on the cover and just the second Shark to do it.
Now here’s the thing. Celebrini is eligible for a contract extension. He becomes a restricted free agent after the 2026-27 season. But the 20-year-old isn’t exactly losing sleep over it.
“It’s kind of whatever happens,” Celebrini told DJ Siddiqi of HEAVY.com. “I’d like to get it sorted at some point, just to kind of put it behind me, and not be thinking about it next year. Also show my commitment, and put the team in a good spot where we know how everything’s going to work out. I think it is important. Obviously it may not get done this summer, but we’re definitely going to talk about it.”
San Jose’s window might be opening sooner than expected
The Sharks missed the playoffs by just four points in 2025-26. That’s not a fluke. They’ve got a deep young core: Will Smith, Michael Misa, Sam Dickinson, and goalie Yaroslav Askarov are all coming back. And then there’s Ivar Stenberg, whom they grabbed with the second overall pick in the 2026 draft.
“I think it’s safe to say making the playoffs as a team, that shouldn’t be out of the question,” Celebrini said. “We’ve made the right moves, and we have the right group to make a run, and it’s going to be my first playoff push, which I’m really excited for. We had a little bit of it last year, where we finished four points out, but I think just this year we have some important pieces that I’m excited to work with.”
The franchise clearly has a plan. Celebrini is at the center of it. But locking him up long-term is the next step. The Sharks have the cap space and the leverage of his RFA status, but Celebrini’s calm demeanor suggests he’s focused on winning first. And if he keeps playing like the best player on a young, hungry team, the money will sort itself out.
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