TORONTO – Macklin Celebrini walked into Canada’s locker room on the males’s world hockey championship again in May with broad eyes.
The teenage phenom’s stall and nameplate had been strategically nestled between Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon. Celebrini then joined Crosby and MacKinnon over the summer season for a sequence of skating classes.
“They had been so nice to me,” the San Jose Sharks ahead recalled of the 2 superstars. “Just being round them, seeing two legends, how they carry themselves, strategy daily. Two guys I appeared as much as rising up … fairly cool.”
Celebrini might be in for one more pinch-me second alongside Crosby and MacKinnon on the 2026 Winter Olympics.
The 19-year-old centre sat third in NHL scoring this season with 43 factors (15 targets, 28 assists) via 31 video games heading into Wednesday’s motion — a torrid begin that has positioned him squarely on the radar of Canada’s mind belief because it sifts via a humiliation of offensive expertise up entrance.
Celebrini, nonetheless, is doing his finest to remain centered on the day-to-day of his second skilled marketing campaign.
“It’s a objective, it’s a dream of each child who grows up in Canada,” Celebrini stated Wednesday of the Olympics after San Jose practised at Scotiabank Arena. “Can’t actually management what they resolve or what they do, however being on that staff can be an enormous honour.”
The No. 1 decide on the 2024 draft has by no means had a difficulty placing up factors at any degree, nevertheless it’s his all-around sport that has stood out and introduced him into consideration.
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“He’s arguably one in every of our most bodily forwards down low within the defensive zone,” Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky stated. “That’s been an enormous progress for him. And going to world championships, taking part in with these guys … typically it’s OK to not contact the puck or have an effect each shift.
“He’s beginning to understand that.”
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Celebrini is doing his finest to disregard the Olympic choice course of noise for the Milan Cortina Games, however couldn’t keep away from it with the Sharks rolling via Toronto to face the Maple Leafs on Thursday.
“I attempt to keep off social media,” he stated. “Everyone’s gonna have their opinions and what they assume, and also you’re allowed to, however there’s a lot of it.”
Celebrini has additionally been maintaining a tally of fellow North Vancouver, B.C., product Connor Bedard, who’s making his personal case for a Canadian roster spot with 40 factors (18 targets, 22 assists) in 29 video games for the Chicago Blackhawks.
“It’s nice to see how a lot success he’s having,” Celebrini stated. “And the best way he’s lifting up that group.”
San Jose winger Tyler Toffoli stated Celebrini’s work ethic, coupled along with his ability, is a facet that units him other than most gamers.
“Brings the power each single evening,” stated the veteran ahead. “Not solely is he producing, however he does the little issues that go a great distance.”
Sharks robust man Ryan Reaves stated Celebrini, who had 63 factors as a rookie, doesn’t cheat the game at any level.
“Sometimes, particularly this new era, you see them flip over the puck, they usually swing, they usually wait behind the defence for a breakaway cross,” Reaves stated. “That’s probably not his sport. He’s slamming on the brakes, he’s getting again, he’s backchecking, he’s getting gritty within the corners.
“Complete package deal.”
Warsofsky stated Celebrini’s willingness to study and be coached has been a large a part of his growth after one season at Boston University within the NCAA.
“Doesn’t assume he is aware of all of it,” Warsofsky stated. “Extremely humble in the best way he goes about his enterprise. He’s had some nice influences round him, from (Sharks legends) Patrick Marleau to (Joe Thornton).
“Sometimes it’s not simply hockey skill-related, it’s: ‘How do you go about being a frontrunner?’ I’m certain he realized rather a lot from Sid in that regard. I’m certain he’s realized from MacKinnon on sure points. That’s what makes nice gamers nice in any sport. I can’t say sufficient nice issues about him.”
So does Celebrini remind him of anybody?
“He’s bought a variety of Sid in him … he’s bought some Nate MacKinnon (with) the competitiveness,” Warsofsky stated. “But the tip of the day, Mac is Mac. And we’re gonna let him be him.”
Celebrini, in the meantime, hasn’t allowed himself to consider stepping on the ice in Milan when Canada performs its first sport on the Olympics in 12 years on Feb. 12. He additionally doesn’t see the rebuilding Sharks’ stable 14-14-3 begin or his personal eye-popping stat line as something aside from a part of an anticipated trajectory.
“I consider myself,” Celebrini stated. “I consider in what I can do, and I consider within the work I put in. I can’t say I’m stunned or I really feel another method.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first printed Dec. 10, 2025.
© 2025 The Canadian Press
