Macklin Celebrini, the San Jose Sharks‘ star centre, has signed a five-year contract extension, making him the NHL‘s highest-paid player. The deal, announced on Wednesday, is valued at US$18.8-million per season. This new contract secures Celebrini with the Sharks through the 2031-32 season, following the completion of his current entry-level agreement.
The North Vancouver, B.C. native, who is 20 years old, surpassed the US$18-million average annual value previously set by Leo Carlsson‘s five-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks. Carlsson’s deal resulted from an offer sheet signed with the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this month.
Celebrini’s Impact and Achievements
In the last NHL season, Celebrini finished fourth in league scoring with 115 points, comprising 45 goals and 70 assists. His performance significantly contributed to the Sharks’ improvement, which was noted as one of the largest single-season advancements in franchise history. He led San Jose in most offensive categories, being involved in 46.2 per cent of the team’s goals as the Sharks concluded the season four points shy of a playoff spot.
Celebrini’s 115 points placed him 56 points ahead of the team’s second-highest scorer, Will Smith, marking the widest scoring gap between the top two players on an NHL team since the 1990-91 season. He also became only the second teenager in NHL history, after Wayne Gretzky, to achieve at least 40 goals and 70 assists in a single season. Celebrini finished fourth in the voting for the Hart Trophy, awarded to the league’s most valuable player.
Sharks general manager Mike Grier stated that Celebrini has established himself as one of the world’s premier players in just two seasons in the National Hockey League and on the international stage. Grier expressed excitement about having Celebrini secured as the core of talented players in San Jose.
Celebrini, the first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, has accumulated 178 points, with 70 goals and 108 assists, across 152 career games over two NHL seasons. He also represented Canada at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, where he was the tournament’s top goal-scorer. Furthermore, he captained the national team at the world championship last spring and received IIHF male player of the year honours.
Celebrini expressed his happiness about the extension, citing the faith and support from owner Hasso Plattner, Mike Grier, and the entire staff as evidence of building something special. He added that he and his teammates are prepared to take further steps towards achieving the goal of bringing a Stanley Cup to the city and its fans.
Team Building Around Celebrini and RFA Market Impact
The Sharks are building a talented group of young players around Celebrini, including Will Smith, Michael Misa, the 2025 second overall pick, and Ivar Stenberg, the 2026 second overall pick. The team also strengthened its roster during the off-season by acquiring defencemen Darnell Nurse and Michael Kesselring through trades, and signing defenceman Jacob Trouba and forward Mason Marchment in free agency. The Sharks have not qualified for the playoffs since the 2018-19 season.
Celebrini’s new contract, along with other recent signings, highlights a surge in restricted free agent (RFA) pricing. Leo Carlsson‘s deal with the Flyers was for US$18 million annually, and Connor Bedard‘s contract with the Blackhawks was for US$15 million. These are all five-year deals that will lead the players to unrestricted free agency.
This trend could influence future RFA negotiations, particularly for players like Matvei Michkov, the Flyers‘ 2023 seventh overall draft pick, who is set to become an RFA on July 1, 2027. Michkov can negotiate a new deal now. After a rookie campaign in 2024-25, Michkov’s performance saw a step back in 2025-26. While Michkov is a winger and centers historically command higher salaries, he is considered a potential franchise cornerstone.
The Flyers may aim to secure Michkov’s extension before next summer, as the longer they wait, the higher the price could become due to the rising RFA market. The contract of Ivan Demidov, who signed an eight-year extension worth US$9.15 million annually with the Montreal Canadiens after a rookie season with 19 goals, could serve as a comparison for Michkov’s potential deal, especially given similarities in their first seasons.
Other RFA extensions, such as those for Will Smith of the Sharks or Kirill Marchenko of the Blue Jackets, could also impact Michkov’s negotiations. Marchenko is nearly five years older than Michkov, while Smith’s production in his first two seasons is comparable to Michkov’s. Michkov’s strong summer preparation suggests a potential bounce-back in his third year, which could further influence his contract value.
Source: theglobeandmail.com
