Macklin Celebrini has only completed two NHL seasons, but NHL analyst Eric Engels already believes the San Jose Sharks star could eventually become the game’s greatest player. For now, Engels has Connor McDavid at the top of his list for the current era.
He shared his take on X while weighing in on the latest debate over hockey’s greatest player.
“The greatest hockey player ever debate is raging in August. My unsolicited opinion is it’s just evolution, baby. McDavid is the greatest ever, even if he’ll never touch Gretzky’s records. Crosby was the greatest before him. And Mario, and Gretzky, and Lafleur, and Orr, and Beliveau, and Richard, and Morenz…. Macklin is next.”
Gretzky’s numbers are still difficult to comprehend. The Hockey Hall of Famer finished his career with 894 goals, 1,963 assists and 2,857 points in 1,487 games. He remains the NHL’s all-time leader in both assists and points.
McDavid has built his own case during his time in Edmonton. The Oilers captain led the NHL in 2025-26 with 138 points in 82 games, scoring 48 goals and adding 90 assists.
The season took McDavid to 1,220 points in 794 regular-season games, keeping him among the most productive scorers the league has seen. Celebrini is obviously much earlier in his career, but his second season gives Engels’ prediction something to point toward.
The San Jose Sharks forward went from 63 points in 70 games as a rookie to 115 points in 82 games in 2025-26. He scored 45 goals and added 70 assists, setting a new single-season scoring record for the Sharks while finishing fourth in the NHL scoring race.
Celebrini now has 178 points in 152 NHL games through his first two seasons. His sophomore campaign also earned him a spot among the finalists for the Ted Lindsay Award, alongside McDavid and Nikita Kucherov. The award is voted on by NHL players.
Macklin Celebrini’s new deal reflects his rapid rise in San Jose
Macklin Celebrini has only played two NHL seasons, but the San Jose Sharks have already made a major commitment to their young star.
Macklin Celebrini signed a five-year, $94 million extension with San Jose, giving him an $18.8 million average annual value. The deal keeps the 19-year-old under contract through the 2030-31 season.
Celebrini thanked the Sharks for the support he has received since joining the organization.
“I couldn’t be happier to sign an extension today. The faith and support that Mr. Plattner, Mike Grier and the entire staff have shown me throughout the past two seasons is proof that we are building something special here. My teammates and I are ready to take another step toward the ultimate goal of bringing a Stanley Cup to this city and its incredible fans. I can’t wait to get going.”
The new contract comes after Celebrini’s second NHL season, when he finished with 45 goals, 70 assists and 115 points in 82 games. He was also responsible for 46.2% of San Jose’s goals, the highest share ever recorded by a Sharks player and an NHL teenager.
Macklin Celebrini had 63 points in 70 games as a rookie. He followed that up by becoming one of the league’s highest-scoring players in his second season.
Now, San Jose has locked up its young star after just two years in the NHL, with Celebrini set to remain with the Sharks through the 2030-31 season.
Edited by Sonali Verma