The San Jose Sharks signed Macklin Celebrini to a five-year contract extension worth $18.8 million AAV, a move that locks in one of the NHL's most promising young players as the centerpiece of the team's long-term plans.
Celebrini's new deal comes after a season in which he finished fourth in the NHL with 115 points and set multiple Sharks records. He also posted 45 goals and 70 assists, along with 37 even-strength goals and 82 even-strength points, showing just how quickly he has become one of the league's most productive forwards.
In 20 games highlighted by 18 three-point efforts and 31 multi-point contests, Celebrini's impact was impossible to miss. San Jose also took a major step forward as a team, finishing with the second-biggest season-over-season improvement in both wins and standings points in franchise history, a sign that the rebuild is starting to move in the right direction.
Why the extension matters for San Jose
The Sharks have made it clear that the goal is to build a team capable of annually competing for the Stanley Cup, and Celebrini sits at the center of that vision. The organization described him as the centerpiece of a core of talented players in San Jose, and this extension gives the club cost certainty around its most important young player while it continues filling out the roster around him.
General manager Mike Grier said Celebrini has established himself as one of the premier players in the world in just two seasons as a teenager in the National Hockey League and on the International stage. Grier also said the team is extremely excited to have him secured and committed as the centerpiece of its core, while thanking Celebrini, his representatives, Hasso Plattner, and the Sharks' fans for their support during the process.
Celebrini, for his part, said he could not be happier to sign the extension and that the faith and support shown by Mr. Plattner, Mike Grier and the staff over the past two seasons showed the team is building something special. He added that he and his teammates are ready to take another step toward the ultimate goal of bringing a Stanley Cup to San Jose and said he cannot wait to get going.
What comes next
The deal gives the Sharks a clear foundation piece as they continue building around a young core. It also signals confidence that Celebrini's rapid rise is not a short-term spike, but the start of a much larger role for both player and team.
Pat Brisson, who represents Celebrini through CAA Sports, said it was clear from the first conversation that Mike Grier and Mr. Plattner were fully committed to Celebrini's future in San Jose. He also called Celebrini an exceptional player and an outstanding person, and said his group is proud to support him as he continues his journey with the Sharks. For more on why Celebrini has become such a rare source of excitement in San Jose, see Macklin Celebrini Gives the Sharks a Rare Spotlight on Nhl 27.
