Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini: Is There Really a Slowdown?

When a young player puts up 115 points in his second NHL season, expectations can get a little out of hand. Suddenly, anything short of another spectacular season gets people wondering what's wrong.

That's a question worth asking about San Jose Sharks centre Macklin Celebrini, but I'm not sure the numbers support the idea that he's having a down season. He's already missed two games, but he's still finding ways to produce. Maybe the better question is whether we're expecting the 20-year-old to be superhuman.

The Numbers Tell a Different Story About Celebrini.

Celebrini scored 25 goals and recorded 63 points in 70 games during his rookie season in 2024-25. That was an impressive start for a teenager finding his way in the NHL. Then came last season. He played all 82 games, scored 45 goals, and finished with 115 points. That's a tremendous jump, and it changed the conversation around him. Celebrini was no longer just a promising young player. He was becoming one of the NHL's elite offensive talents.

So far in 2026-27, he's collected eight points in four games, with two goals and six assists. He missed two games because of a lower-body injury, returned to the lineup, and immediately got back on the scoresheet. That's hardly a player who has forgotten how to produce.

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The Injury Is Worth Watching for Celebrini fans.

The one thing I'd watch is Celebrini's health. Lower-body injuries can be tricky for a player whose game depends on skating, acceleration, and being involved in the action all over the ice. We don't know whether this injury will linger, and there's no reason to assume it will.

But it's fair to wonder whether the Sharks will need to manage his workload carefully. Celebrini is now the team's captain, its top-line centre, and the player expected to drive much of its offence. That's a lot to put on a 20-year-old's shoulders, even one as gifted as he is.

Fans Should Give Celebrini Some Room to Return to Form.

With a player this good, the temptation is to measure every season against the last one. That's a tough standard for anyone, especially someone who has barely begun his NHL career. Celebrini has already shown he can score goals, set up teammates, and take on more responsibility. If he stays healthy, there's every reason to expect him to remain one of San Jose's biggest offensive weapons.

For now, I'd hold off on calling this a down season. He's missed time, but he's still producing at an impressive rate. Perhaps the real challenge isn't for Celebrini to prove himself all over again. It's for the rest of us to remember just how young he is—and give him a little room to grow.

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