Macklin Celebrini Signs Record $94M Extension With San Jose Sharks

Macklin Celebrini is officially the highest-paid player in the National Hockey League. The San Jose Sharks locked down their young franchise centerpiece on Wednesday, announcing a blockbuster five-year, $94 million contract extension that shatters previous salary benchmarks by average annual value.

The move comes while Celebrini still had one season remaining on his initial three-year, $2.925 million entry-level contract signed after he went No. 1 overall in the 2024 NHL Draft.

Record-Breaking Salary and the New Benchmark

Celebrini’s new extension carries an average annual value of $18.8 million. That figure surpasses the previous league benchmark set by Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson, whose five-year deal carried an $18 million annual average after the Ducks matched an offer sheet from Philadelphia.

The $800k jump establishes a fresh ceiling for elite young talent across the league. For San Jose, the financial commitment reflects an extraordinary start to Celebrini’s professional career.

Mike Grier, General Manager, San Jose Sharks, stated that in just two seasons as a teenager in the National Hockey League and on the international stage, Macklin had established himself as one of the premier players in the world, adding that they were extremely excited to have him secured and committed as the centerpiece of a core of talented players in San Jose.

Historic Production and Rare Company at Age 20

Turning 20 in June, the Canadian star has wasted no time rewriting the record books. During his recent historic campaign, Celebrini notched 45 goals and 70 assists for 115 points, breaking Joe Thornton’s longstanding single-season Sharks franchise record of 114 points set during the 2006-07 season.

That 115-point explosion placed the teenager in elite company alongside historic NHL legends. Only Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby recorded more points in a single season before turning 20. Gretzky racked up 137 points in 1979-80, while Crosby recorded 120 points in 2006-07.

Beyond club play, Celebrini carried his scoring touch to the international stage. He scored five goals for Canada at the Olympics to finish as the tournament’s leading goal scorer, helping his country secure a silver medal.

Chasing the Ultimate Goal in San Jose

While individual accolades piled up, the Sharks have continued their team-wide reconstruction. San Jose missed the postseason for a seventh consecutive year, though the club showed tangible momentum by improving by 34 points compared to the previous season—marking the 10th-largest single-season turnaround in the NHL over the past 30 years. They finished just four points outside the playoff picture.

For his part, Celebrini expressed absolute commitment to bringing a championship trophy to Northern California.

Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks forward, expressed that he could not be happier to sign an extension that day, noting that the faith and support Mr. Plattner, Mike Grier, and the entire staff had shown him throughout the past two seasons were proof that they were building something special there, and adding that he and his teammates were ready to take another step toward the ultimate goal of bringing a Stanley Cup to that city and its incredible fans while being eager to get going.