Macklin Celebrini signs five-year, $94M Sharks deal
The San Jose Sharks have signed star forward Macklin Celebrini to a five-year contract extension worth $18.8 million AAV ($94 million total), the richest deal in franchise history. The extension begins in 2027-28 and will make Celebrini the NHL's highest-paid player by average annual value when it kicks in.
General Manager Mike Grier announced the agreement Wednesday, securing the 20-year-old center as the face of San Jose's next era. Celebrini, the Sharks' first-ever No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, earned the payday after a breakout second season that ranked him among the league's top scorers.
According to the official Sharks announcement on NHL.com, the club sees him as the centerpiece of a core built to compete for the Stanley Cup. For more breakout stories across sports and culture, visit our Future Tech & AI Wonders hub.
Key Takeaways
- Macklin Celebrini signed a five-year, $94 million extension ($18.8M AAV) with the San Jose Sharks.
- The deal starts in 2027-28 and will carry the NHL's highest AAV when it begins.
- It tops Erik Karlsson's prior franchise-record $92 million extension signed in 2019.
- Celebrini posted 115 points (45 goals, 70 assists) in 2025-26, fourth in the league.
- He becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2032 at age 26.
What does Macklin Celebrini's new contract include?
The extension is a five-year commitment totaling $94 million, with an average annual value of $18.8 million. Per reporting from The Athletic and Pro Hockey Rumors, the contract begins in the 2027-28 season after Celebrini's entry-level deal expires following 2026-27.
When the new terms kick in, Celebrini is set to become the league's highest-paid player by AAV—at least until other stars renegotiate as the salary cap rises to $113.5 million for 2027-28. The Sharks previously held a franchise high with Karlsson's eight-year, $92 million pact.
Why did the Sharks lock in Celebrini now?
Grier called Celebrini one of the premier players in the world after just two NHL seasons as a teenager. In the team's statement, he thanked Celebrini and his representatives for flexibility that helps San Jose allocate future dollars around its young core.
"I couldn't be happier to sign an extension today," Celebrini said, citing owner Hasso Plattner, Grier, and staff support. Agent Pat Brisson of CAA Sports said from the first conversation it was clear Mike and Mr. Plattner were fully committed to Celebrini's future in San Jose.
The move also comes amid a summer of huge restricted free agent deals, including Leo Carlsson's five-year, $90 million pact with Anaheim and Connor Bedard's five-year, $75 million extension in Chicago. Signing early reduces the risk of an offer sheet before Celebrini hits restricted free agency.
How historic was Celebrini's 2025-26 season?
Celebrini finished fourth in the NHL with 115 points, tied for fourth with 45 goals, and seventh with 70 assists. He set the Sharks franchise scoring record, ranked third in even-strength goals (37), and factored into 46.2 percent of all San Jose goals—the best mark ever by an NHL teenager or any Sharks skater.
He joined Wayne Gretzky as the only players under 20 with a 40-plus goal, 70-plus assist season, and his point total ranked third among teens all-time behind Sidney Crosby (120) and Gretzky (137). Internationally, he led the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics in goals, won silver with Canada, then captained Canada at the World Championship, earning Best Forward honors and IIHF Male Player of the Year.
Career totals now stand at 178 points (70 goals, 108 assists) in 152 games. With Celebrini secured, San Jose can next focus on other young pieces, including Will Smith, whose entry-level deal also expires after 2026-27.