The record-breaking rise of San Jose Sharks and Team Canada’s Macklin Celebrini

The San Jose Sharks carry the slogan “The Future is Teal” in everything they do in the NHL. Macklin Celebrini lives it. 

At 19 years old, Celebrini is breaking records and making a name for himself. 

The Canadian forward, from Vancouver, was drafted first overall by the San Jose Sharks in 2024. 

Prior to the NHL, Celebrini played ice hockey for Boston University in the NCAA. 

In the 2023/24 season with the University, he scored 32 goals, 32 assists and 64 total points in 38 games. 

The season before that, Macklin Celebrini played in the United States Hockey League (USHL). 

In both of these seasons, Celebrini scored a goal in his first game. This feat was continued at the World Juniors in December 2023, the NHL in October 2024, and the Olympics in February 2026. 

Here, Sports News Blitz writer Katie Butler takes a closer look at Macklin Celebrini’s record-heavy 2025/26 season.

2025/26: A season to remember

Macklin Celebrini’s second season in the NHL saw the forward be one of five Alternate Captains for the San Jose Sharks. 

One of the first records broken of many that season started before Christmas break.

He became the teen with the most points before Christmas in NHL history with 55 points, in front of Sidney Crosby (55 points in the 2006/07 season) and Wayne Gretzky (51 points in the 1980/81 season) in second and third, respectively.  

Coming back from the Holidays, Celebrini didn’t slow down. 

He quickly became the second-fastest teenager in NHL history to record 10 three-point performances in a single season in 39 games played, behind only Wayne Gretzky, who did it in 38 games (1980/81). 

At the end of 2025, the 19-year-old joined Dale Hawerchuk in third place for the most points in a calendar year by a teen at 98 points. 

Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby are above them in 1st and 2nd at 140 and 118 points, respectively.

Coming into the new year, January 24, 2026, saw Macklin Celebrini become the second-youngest active player to reach 50 career goals, behind Sidney Crosby.

6 days later, Celebrini, at 19 years and 230 days, became the second-youngest player in NHL history at the time of their 90th career assist. 

And simultaneously, the second-fastest player in San Jose Sharks history to record 90 career assists with the club, behind Joe Thornton, who did it in 79 games played, to Celebrini’s 122. 

The season ended as it started, breaking even more records. 

He was the San Jose Sharks Player of the Year and a Ted Lindsay award finalist, an award given annually to the most outstanding player as voted by fellow members of the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) having scored a total of 45 goals, 70 assists and 115 total points. 

His outstanding number of goals and total points led him to be the goal and points leader for the San Jose Sharks that season.

The 115 points scored aided Celebrini in not only being third for the most points scored in a season by a teenager, but also in breaking the San Jose Sharks franchise record for the most points in a single season, surpassing Joe Thornton’s 2006/07 total of 114 points. 

Thornton, after his record was broken, in a recorded message to Celebrini stated: “Macklin, Macklin, Macklin. What a skater...Keep breaking more of your own records.”

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A medal-winning first Olympics

As the youngest NHL player at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Macklin Celebrini gave it his all. 

He scored on his Olympic debut, February 12, 2026, in the first period. 

The goal was the first for Team Canada at the Olympics, and by scoring it, Celebrini became the fourth teenager to net a goal in their first-ever Olympic period (at the Olympics involving NHL players). 

In Canada’s third game, against France, Celebrini became the first NHL player to score a penalty-shot goal at the Olympics. 

He even played a big role in Canada advancing to the gold medal game against Team USA, assisting the winning goal in the Canada vs Finland semi-final. 

Unfortunately for Canada, the final was lost in overtime to USA’s Jack Hughes. 

Team Canada came back from Italy with a silver medal. 

Celebrini ended his debut Olympic run as the tournament’s leading goal scorer with five goals and five assists.

Olympic team-mate Nathan MacKinnon spoke highly of Celebrini, saying: “He’s one of the best players in the world, so he’s going to make goalies pay, for sure.”

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What’s next for Macklin Celebrini? 

Macklin Celebrini will go into the 2026-27 season with the San Jose Sharks in the last year of his three-year, $2,925,000 entry-level contract that he signed after being drafted in 2024. 

Outside of the NHL season, Celebrini is going to stay busy. 

May 15 to 31, 2026, the IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) World Championship is in Switzerland. 

Team Canada has officially announced that Celebrini is on the roster for the tournament. 

And, that Celebrini will be wearing the C, for captain, above his jersey’s maple leaf. 

As Canada Head Coach Jon Cooper, via Jackie Redmond, said after the Olympics: “He is generational, that kid. [Celebrini] just plays it the right way.”

Macklin Celebrini single-handedly gives ice hockey fans an insight into the future of the sport and makes them believe that maybe the future really is teal.

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