Sharks Situation Draws Attention After Macklin Celebrini's Contract Extension

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Sharks Situation Draws Attention After Macklin Celebrini's Contract Extension

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ankit Kumar | Last updated Aug 3, 2026 2:21 PM ET

The San Jose Sharks' aggressive offseason has come under renewed focus following Macklin Celebrini's record-setting five-year, $94 million contract extension.

Speaking on The Sheet with Jeff Marek, Sharks analyst Sheng Peng said the organization had little choice but to improve its roster after Celebrini's rapid rise into the NHL's elite.

"Macklin Celebrini is not just kind of following a regular development curve, but becoming a top-five, top-10 NHL player," Peng said. "You need to get Macklin help."

Celebrini earned that commitment after a spectacular 2025-26 season. The 20-year-old recorded 45 goals and 70 assists for 115 points in 82 games. He finished fourth in NHL scoring, became a Hart Trophy finalist, and helped Canada win Olympic silver. His new contract, carrying an $18.8 million average annual value, makes him the league's highest-paid player.

Peng stressed that San Jose cannot expect an overnight turnaround but must continue moving forward.

"Macklin wants to win," Peng said, before adding, "Obviously, the understanding is that you're not going to go from being out of the playoffs for seven straight years to being a Stanley Cup contender overnight. That's not the ask, but... You've got to show progress. You've got to be better and better."

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The Sharks narrowly missed the playoffs last season, finishing 39-35-8 with 86 points, only four points behind the final Western Conference postseason spot. That performance convinced general manager Mike Grier to rebuild the blue line rather than stand still.

"If we're being honest, the Sharks' defense over the last three or four years has arguably been the worst in the league, or one of the worst in the league," Peng said. "I think they overachieved last season."

Peng believes the offseason changes directly address the team's biggest weakness. He praised the additions of Darnell Nurse, Jacob Trouba and Dmitry Orlov.

"Between Nurse, Trouba, and Orlov, now you have three, I think, legitimate top-four blue liners," Peng said. "Three guys who can play in the top four for most teams in this league. That's a lot more than the Sharks have had in a long time."

"You need to get Macklin help."

Sheng Peng explains why upgrading the blue line was a must for San Jose.@JeffMarek | @Sheng_Peng pic.twitter.com/EOPxjRSRjm
— The Sheet with Jeff Marek (@thesheethockey) August 2, 2026

San Jose's strategy matches its investment in Celebrini. Elite young stars expect visible progress, not immediate championships. Strengthening the defense gives the Sharks a better chance to support their franchise center while building toward consistent playoff contention over the next several seasons.

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

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