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Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini Is Poised for Stardom, Just Ask Sidney Crosby

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sean Hartnett | Last updated Sep 2, 2025 10:34 AM ET

It’s not easy making the transition to the NHL as a teenager. No one understands the experience of being thrust into the spotlight at a tender age better than Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby.

Last Wednesday, the two-time Hart Trophy recipient was asked about the development of 19-year-old San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini ahead of Team Canada’s Olympic Hockey Orientation Camp.

“Yeah, I think he’s an incredible player,” Crosby told reporters last Wednesday. “Just his all-around game at his age is pretty impressive. He’s committed defensively, competes hard. He’s got a pretty mature game for his age. I think having that experience at Worlds can only help. I’m sure he built confidence from that. I know, being on the ice with him, and then seeing him out there day-to-day and what he puts into it, I’m sure that’s something that’s made him a better player right away. As the year went on last year, he got better and better, and that will be a big building block. And he’s earned the right to be in the conversation.”

"He's an incredible player. His all-around game at his age is pretty impressive [...] He's earned the right to be in the conversation."

Sidney Crosby on Macklin Celebrini's chance to make Canadian Olympic squad in 2026. pic.twitter.com/PNWFECkEQX
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 27, 2025

Celebrini tallied 25 goals and 38 assists in 70 regular season games, which set a new record for points by a Sharks rookie. He finished third overall in Calder Memorial Trophy voting and was named to the 2024-25 NHL All-Rookie Team.

Though the rebuilding Sharks finished with the fewest points (52) in the entire NHL, Celebrini demonstrated throughout his debut campaign why San Jose fans are buzzing about his exciting future.

Celebrini’s value can be further explained by deeper-delving stats. The 2024 first overall draft pick showed a high level of determination and doggedness on both ends of the rink. He won 3.84 puck battles per game, which was good for third overall among all NHL skaters.

“He’ll rip your face off to win a puck battle,” analyst Mike Rupp said mid-August on NHL Network. “You can’t teach that. There’s a lot of players that play in the NHL – and they might be 30, 32 – that don’t know that, that don’t know how to do that, aren't willing to do it. The kid came in – was like 18 and did it. That’s just part of who he is. He competes.”

Rupp shared a dressing room with Crosby for two seasons while a member of the Penguins from 2009-11.

“I will say this – and I don’t take this lightly. I think he’s the most complete 18-year-old that I’ve seen in a long time and that includes Sidney Crosby,” Rupp stated during the same segment.

Unquestionably, Celebrini will give Sharks fans plenty to celebrate in the coming years. He might just be “The Next One.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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