Macklin Celebrini says he foresees a long future with the San Jose Sharks
SAN JOSE – Macklin Celebrini said there have been no contract extension talks with the San Jose Sharks, but added he sees a long future with the organization.
"Looking at what we have and what we're building," Celebrini told Sportsnet this week in an interview published on Friday. "I think we should all be excited for things to come."
Although his entry-level contract still has one year remaining, Celebrini, now eligible for an extension, said in April that he's open to getting a deal done this summer, as is general manager Mike Grier.
If the Sharks do not reach a deal with Celebrini by July 1, 2027, there is a possibility that another team could tender a massive offer sheet for the 20-year-old center, who would be a restricted free agent at that point. The most another team could offer next year is 20% of the projected 2027-28 salary cap of $113.5 million, or $22.7 million per season.
On Friday, the Philadelphia Flyers tendered a five-year, $90 million offer sheet to Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson. The average annual value of the deal, $18 million, is the highest in the NHL. The Ducks have seven days to match the offer, and if they do not, they will receive four first-round draft picks from the Flyers as compensation.
Carlsson, 21, had 67 points in 70 games last season, and has 141 points in 201 career games with the Ducks. His numbers are dwarfed by those from Celebrini, who had a Sharks record 115 points in 82 games this season and 178 points in 152 career NHL games over the last two seasons.
When it comes to hammering out Celebrini's next contract, Grier said Thursday that he's not necessarily waiting for other young stars like Carlsson, Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, or Columbus Blue Jackets forward Adam Fantilli to set the market. But maybe the Carlsson offer sheet just raised the price tag and sped up the timeline for Celebrini’s deal.
"We haven't had any discussions with Mack about what he's looking for or what his number might be," Grier said Thursday. "I'm not sure how worried he is about those other guys. He's kind of a step above them in my view."
Reminded in a lighthearted fashion that such a statement might cause him to lose some leverage in negotiations with Celebrini's camp, Grier said flatly, "We're going to have to pay him regardless."
Without a doubt, as Celebrini's next contract will far exceed the $11.5 million cap hit of Erik Karlsson's franchise-record deal that he signed with the Sharks in 2019.
It's just a matter of when it gets done and how long of an extension it will be, but it might not necessarily hinge on the deals for Bedard, Carlsson and Fantilli, three players who combined for 201 points in 221 games this past season.
"I think a lot of it’s up in the air," Grier said of when these new deals get signed. "Talking to the other managers who have those guys, I don’t know if it’s a who blinks first type of thing. I don’t know if someone’s waiting for someone to go first or not."
Celebrini told Sportsnet that while it was difficult to see several players from last season’s team, including defensemen Mario Ferraro and winger William Eklund, no longer with the Sharks, he’s excited about the additions, such as defensemen Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba and winger Mason Marchment.
He’s also excited about who the Sharks drafted, including forward Ivar Stenberg, who just signed an ELC and figures to be on the NHL roster this fall.
Asked what impresses him about Stenberg, who he competed against at the IIHF World Championship in May, Celebrini said, “Just the way he skates and all the skills he possesses. Just how calm and good he is with the puck. He's also a competitor, which I love. I think it's going to be great for us, just the way he drives the game and wants to win.”
With the departures of Ferraro and Eklund, winger Collin Graf is now the Sharks’ longest tenured player at just over two seasons. Forward Barclay Goodrow has played 427 games with the Sharks, but is in his second stint with the team after he was plucked off waivers from the New York Rangers in June 2024.
“It's weird, just because it's my first couple of years in the NHL, and I'm not really used to how much turnover there is on a team,” Celebrini said. “So, it's really tough to lose guys like (William) Eklund and (Ryan) Reaves and (Vincent) Desharnais and (Mario) Ferraro, all those guys that left. Because you build that relationship and that friendship with them, and it's tough to see them go.
“It's crazy that we're going to have a completely different team next year. But it’s also exciting, just the steps that we're taking and how we’re all looking forward to the future.”
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This story was originally published July 3, 2026 at 12:03 PM.