Matt Johnson
The San Jose Sharks have one of the best players in the NHL right now in 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini. Coming off a record-breaking season where he nearly carried the team into the playoffs, it appears the phenom will get rewarded with a new deal this summer.
On the latest episode of Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts, insider Elliotte Friedman said San Jose will be proactive regarding extension talks with Celebrini once he’s eligible. He does not anticipate Celebrini’s camp being on board with a long-term deal for seven to eight years, but a four-year deal is also unlikely.
“I think they go at it hard. To me, the question is not so much the number, it’s the term. I can’t see him or his representatives…I can’t see them wanting to go eight years or seven years.:
Elliotte Friedman on Macklin Celebrini contract extension talks for the San Jose Sharks
Related: Agents Reveal Potential Cost of Macklin Celebrini Contract Extension
- Macklin Celebrini contract (PuckPedia): $975,000 cap hit (2026-27), RFA in 2027
Friedman went on to note that an extension could be for three or five years. A three-year extension would lead up to the final year before Celebrini is an unrestricted free agent. Alternatively, a five-year contract would effectively buy out the first year he’s eligible for NHL free agency as an unrestricted free agent.
What the two sides must figure out is how to strike the right balance between giving Celebrini a salary that reflects his value to the franchise while also having it at a point that allows the front office to build a great team around the face of the franchise.
Related: Why Macklin Celebrini Deserves the Hart Trophy
- Macklin Celebrini stats (2025-26): 115 points (70 assists, 45 goals), 8 power-play goals, 25 power-play assists
Based on informed speculation from agents who spoke to The Athletic, a three-year extension could land anywhere in the ballpark of $10 million to $12 million per season. If the two sides could agree to a five-year pact, then the average annual value of said deal could be closer to $14 million to $15 million.
At the very least, a contract extension seems likely to happen sometime this summer after Celebrini is first eligible on July 1. Once that matter is settled, the Sharks will have a much clearer picture of their long-term financial flexibility and how they can go about strengthening their defense in the years to come.
Related: Love the San Jose Sharks? Check Out San Jose Hockey Now
