Longtime Vancouver Canucks fan hits it big

“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,” said Sharks GM Mike Grier. “We are extremely excited to have him secured and committed as the centerpiece of a core of talented players in San Jose.”

“I couldn’t be happier to sign an extension today,” Celebrini said in a statement put out by the Sharks. “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. I can’t wait to get going.”

Last season, Celebrini firmly established himself as one of the NHL’s most elite players. This past season with the Sharks, Celebrini put up 45 goals and 70 assists through 82 games on a Sharks team that he almost singlehandedly dragged into the playoff hunt. After Celebrini, the Sharks’ next leading scorers were Will Smith and Alex Wennberg, who put up 59 and 55 points, respectively. Celebrini also represented Canada at the Olympics this past Winter, where he received plenty of praise for his play at both ends of the ice.

Before he was one of the game’s elite players, Celebrini grew up in North Vancouver and has been a die-hard Canucks fan for most of his life. During the 2024 playoffs — just months before he would go first overall to the Sharks in the NHL Draft — Celebrini took in a Canucks playoff game at Rogers Arena, and wasn’t shy about getting in on a ‘Go Canucks Go’ chant, which was picked up by the broadcast cameras.

“I took my opportunity during that game to get one last Canucks chant going… I heard about it at the [NHL Draft] combine, yeah,” Celebrini said with a smile when recalling the moment.

In other news, Celebrini and fellow Vancouver-born first overall pick Connor Bedard are going to be unrestricted free agents just a year apart from each other…