San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini signed a five-year contract extension worth $94 million on Wednesday. The deal carries an NHL-record $18.8 million average annual value, locking up the 20-year-old star through the 2031-32 season after a historic sophomore campaign where he notched 115 points.
The San Jose Sharks have locked up their offensive centerpiece for the long haul. General Manager Mike Grier announced the club’s blockbuster extension with Macklin Celebrini on Wednesday, securing the franchise cornerstone through the 2031-32 season on a five-year, $94 million deal.
The contract carries an average annual value of $18.8 million, making it the richest contract in franchise history and the highest AAV in the NHL. It edges past the $18 million annual salary Leo Carlsson received when the Anaheim Ducks matched an offer sheet from the Philadelphia Flyers.
Historic Sophomore Production and Franchise Records
Celebrini’s historic payday follows a dominant age-19 season where he established himself among the elite skaters in professional hockey. Playing in all 82 games, the 20-year-old forward set a Sharks single-season record with 115 points, fueled by 45 goals and 70 assists. He finished fourth in overall league scoring, tied for fourth in goals, and seventh in assists.
His offensive output put him in rare historical company among teenagers in NHL history. Celebrini joined Wayne Gretzky (1979-80) and Sidney Crosby (2005-06) as the only teenagers to finish in the top five of the league’s scoring race. His 115 points rank as the third-highest single-season total by a teenager, trailing only Gretzky’s 137 points and Crosby’s 120 points.
The offensive dominance transformed the Sharks’ fortunes. San Jose recorded the second-biggest season-over-season improvement in wins (plus-19) and points (plus-34) in franchise history, climbing to 39 wins and 86 standings points.
“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.”
Mike Grier, General Manager, San Jose Sharks
Cap Management and Future Roster Building in San Jose
The new agreement begins in the 2027-28 season, superseding the final year of Celebrini’s three-year, $2.925-million entry-level contract signed on July 6, 2024. Grier acknowledged the cooperation of Celebrini’s representatives in structuring the deal to give the front office financial flexibility.
That flexibility matters as San Jose builds around its young core. Forward Will Smith, who notched 59 points last season, is slated to become a restricted free agent after the upcoming campaign.
Celebrini’s record-setting cap hit arrives as the league’s salary cap climbs to $113.5 million for the 2027-28 season. While his $18.8 million AAV sets the current benchmark, other marquee NHL stars like Cale Makar, Nikita Kucherov, Jason Robertson, and Quinn Hughes are positioned as potential contenders to test the upper limits of the rising cap landscape in the coming years.
“I couldn’t be happier to sign an extension today. The faith and support that Mr. Plattner, Mike Grier and the entire staff have shown me throughout the past two seasons is proof that we are building something special here. My teammates and I are ready to take another step toward the ultimate goal of bringing a Stanley Cup to this city and its incredible fans.”
Macklin Celebrini, Forward, San Jose Sharks
International Success and Next Steps for the Franchise
Beyond his club success, Celebrini carried his momentum onto the international stage. He helped Team Canada capture a silver medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, scoring five goals and totaling 10 points to finish second in tournament scoring behind Connor McDavid. His five goals matched Jarome Iginla’s 2010 output for the most by a Canadian player in an Olympics featuring NHL participants. He also captained Canada to a fourth-place finish at the world hockey championship.
With his long-term future in Northern California secured, Celebrini turns his focus toward ending San Jose’s seven-year postseason drought. The Sharks missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season by finishing four points behind the Los Angeles Kings for the Western Conference’s second wild-card spot.
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