Why massive Sharks contract extension still is ‘weird' to Macklin Celebrini

Why massive Sharks contract extension still is ‘weird’ to Macklin Celebrini originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Sharks will begin preparing for the 2026-27 NHL season shortly, hoping this is the year they return to the playoffs for the first time in eight seasons. And when training camp begins, they can go into it knowing they have rising star Macklin Celebrini locked in for the long haul.

Agreeing to a five-year, $94 million contract extension in July and earning over $18 million per season, Celebrini will become the NHL’s highest-paid player when the new contract kicks in next season. But despite receiving the recognition he deserves, coming off a 100-point campaign last season, the new contract still feels weird for the 20-year-old face of the franchise.

“I kind of still feels weird because that’s not really why I’m playing or anything like that,” Celebrini told The Hollywood Reporter’s Belmont Cameli. “It was a long negotiation and trying to just figure out what worked best for our young core and how special our group is and making sure everyone gets paid and where the cap is going. So kind of figuring out what makes the most sense and we landed on that.”

Celebrini was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and immediately became the Sharks’ star player. Scoring 25 goals and 38 assists in 70 games in his debut campaign, finishing with 65 points, Celebrini was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team.

Celebrini broke out last season, highlighted by a dominant run for Team Canada at the 2026 Summer Olympics. Guiding Canada to the silver medal, he finished the tournament with five goals and five assists (10 points) through six games and was the leading scorer. For his efforts, he was named to the Olympic All-Star team.

The Sharks boast one of the NHL’s youngest rosters and to have their core player in Celebrini here for a long time is a major step in the right direction for a franchise that used to be a perennial playoff contender. The playoffs are the main goal for the franchise this season and as long as Celebrini is healthy and playing at a high level, the Sharks should be a team to watch all season long.

The Sharks open training camp on Sept. 17 before their first preseason game against the Anaheim Ducks on Sept. 20. From then on, it will be all about preparing for their regular season opener against two-time NHL champions Florida Panthers at home on Oct. 1.

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