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Will Smith, San Jose Sharks (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Sharks Rookies Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith Bond On and Off Ice

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Alex Hutton | Last updated Mar 21, 2025 8:35 AM ET

A rebuilding team like the San Jose Sharks will rely heavily on young players to contribute immediately and lay a foundation for the future. For the Sharks, rookies Will Smith and Macklin Celebrini are the main players who fit that category. San Jose added the duo via their top picks in each of the last two drafts, and are now counting on them as two of their most important players. Regarding young players, teams often place significant attention on insulating them with veterans to help them adjust to the NHL. But while veterans are certainly important, Celebrini and Smith have also spent a large portion of the season showing how young players support other young players. Their friendship has captured the hearts of fans, eased their transition into professional hockey, and turned them both into players better suited to carry the Sharks into their next era.

Celebrini and Smith Have Unique Bond

At times, the Celebrini and Smith pairing feels less like professional hockey teammates and more like two middle-school students hanging out and goofing off. Social media is filled with numerous videos of them messing with each other during practice. Television cameras constantly catch them joking around on the bench during games and having fun during warmups. They spend lots of time together away from the rink as well. During a difficult season, they have leaned on each other to make their rookie campaigns manageable.

Nowhere has their connection been clearer and better exemplified than through their hotel sleepover with Tyler Toffoli following their March 4 win over the Buffalo Sabres. Smith suggested that the three should share a room that night if they all scored in the game, which they did. When Toffoli scored to both ice the game and fulfill the terms of the bet, Smith showed obvious jubilation on the bench. The plan was pure Celebrini and Smith: childish but sweet, silly but wholesome. Not every struggling team could find that much joy in a single regular season win, nor create that kind of bond between youth and veterans. The Sharks are creating a surprisingly positive tone this season, and Celebrini and Smith are right in the middle of it.

“i think they need each other” ohmygod pic.twitter.com/7pDJ4xTWUS
— lou! (@lousleafs_) March 11, 2025

Smith and Celebrini have a lot in common. They are around the same age, went to college in the same city, play the same position — at least at times — and now are undergoing their rookie seasons together. They’ve used those commonalities to lay a foundation for their relationship and turned it into something far beyond an ordinary friendship between teammates.

Celebrini and Smith’s Friendship Impacting Their Play

Vibes are a great thing to have, but they only mean so much if they’re not translating to the game. Thankfully for the Sharks, Smith and Celebrini are finding results and have relied on each other to do so.

Smith’s career got off to a slow start, and in an effort to give him a boost, the Sharks’ coaching staff placed him on the wing of Celebrini’s line. The change worked perfectly — Smith got to play with someone he trusted, and it made him more comfortable. Some of the best looks at the net of his young career have come off passes from Celebrini. That’s a sign of two players who know each other’s tendencies, thanks to how much time they spend together. Smith has 20 points in his last 21 games after managing just 15 in his first 40. He and Celebrini are fourth and second respectively in points among rookies this season, and they’ve improved alongside each other as the season has progressed.

Will Smith, San Jose Sharks (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

The Sharks’ main goal this season was to create more optimism for upcoming seasons. The wins haven’t been there, but in terms of off-ice attitude and production from young players, Smith and Celebrini have offered a lot to like.

Sharks Have Clear Future Duo

Teams relying heavily on young players will likely go through a lot of losing and difficult games. Those players can easily become frustrated if they do not have the right support system to help them navigate those challenging stretches. For Celebrini and Smith, that doesn’t seem to be a problem. They rely on each other to work through tough times and remind one another why they love the sport they play.

Their friendship sends a clear message to the Sharks: this is a duo that you want to keep together. From both an emotional perspective and a hockey angle, maintaining their relationship will make San Jose a better team. They already broke up one friendship at this year’s trade deadline by moving Fabian Zetterlund, which William Eklund admitted hurt. Smith and Celebrini could be even more important and their bond could be even closer. The possibility of them staying teammates for years to come is one of the major reasons the Sharks are so hopeful for their future.