Sharks Sign Macklin Celebrini to 5-Year Extension

The San Jose Sharks announced Wednesday morning that they have signed star forward Macklin Celebrini to a five-year extension worth $18.8 million a season. The Vancouver native will be the highest-paid player in the NHL.

Celebrini’s Extension Follows Breakout Season

Celebrini gets his extension following two successful seasons to start his career. In 82 games last season, the first-overall pick from 2024 scored 45 goals and recorded 115 points. He finished fourth in Hart Trophy voting.

He also played for Team Canada at the Winter Olympics. In nine games, he scored six goals. Even though Team Canada lost in the gold medal game, his performance was still a standout moment from the tournament.

Sharks Sign Their Star

The Sharks have not reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the 2018-19 season. With Celebrini locked up, the organization now has their cornerstone in place to build a team capable of contending.

General manager (GM) Mike Greer expressed excitement in the team’s future following the extension:

In just two seasons as a teenager in the National Hockey League and on the International stage, Macklin has established himself as one of the premier players in the world. We are extremely excited to have him secured and committed as the centerpiece of a core of talented players in San Jose.  As we continue our goal of building a team capable of annually competing for the Stanley Cup, we want to thank Macklin and his representatives for a respectful negotiation process, and acknowledge the flexibility they have provided to the team in how we allocate future dollars towards the team being constructed around Macklin.

Related: Devils Re-Sign Topias Vilen to a 1-Year Deal · Hurricanes’ Charlie Cerrato Invited to 2026 NHLPA Rookie Showcase · Blue Jackets Sign Cole Sillinger to 3-Year Deal to Avoid Arbitration

Grier has been busy this summer, even before the Celebrini extension. The team signed Mason Marchment and Jacob Trouba when free agency opened. They also acquired Darnell Nurse and Michael Kesselring via trade.

Celebrini Is a Difference Maker

When the star forward gets on the scoreboard, it usually means good things for the Sharks.

The Sharks were 26-6-2 last season when Celebrini scored a goal. They went 37-18-5 when he registered at least one point. When he recorded multiple points, the team was 26-3-2.

Celebrini’s breakout season even put him in the Sharks’ history book. His 82 even-strength points and 37 even-strength goals were the most in a season. His 18 three-point games tied a record set by Joe Thornton. Lastly, his 31 multi-point games tied for second.

Celebrini even made some video game history earlier this month when he became the third Shark to be announced as the cover athlete for the NHL video game. He will be featured on the new NHL 27 game. Other Sharks to have this honor were Thornton (NHL 2K7) and Owen Nolan (NHL 2001).

Bright Days Ahead in San Jose

It has been seven seasons since the Sharks were in the playoffs. However, with Celebrini locked up, brighter days are ahead in San Jose. Perhaps 2026-27 will be a big season for the organization, with their star forward leading the way.