San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini is on a fast track to become the team’s next captain. Despite being just 19 years old, he has shown a level of maturity well beyond his years. That maturity, coupled with his elite skills, translated into a Team Canada nod at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
But it doesn’t stop there. Celebrini’s incredible 115-point campaign this year, and his Hart Trophy nomination, have proven he’s here to stay. That performance earned him the captaincy for Team Canada at the IIHF World Championships this spring.
Celebrini got the nod over veterans like Ryan O’Reilly and John Tavares, two of the most respected names in the NHL. Even when Sidney Crosby confirmed he’d be playing for Canada, the consensus was that the Sharks’ first-overall pick from the 2024 NHL Draft would keep the “C.”
That was decided after a player-lead discussion. The players wanted Celebrini to keep the “C.”
It’s quite an honor for such a young player. And it’s also a telltale sign that Macklin Celebrini will become the no-doubt choice to bear the “C” for the Sharks next season.
San Jose has been playing without a captain since former incumbent Logan Couture went down with a career-ending injury during the 2023-24 season. That year, Couture played all of six games before leaving the ice for good.
Meanwhile, the Sharks drafted Celebrini, hoping that he would be the next face of the franchise. He’s not only been that, but so much more. Celebrini’s performance this year led an upstart Sharks squad that almost squeaked into the playoffs.
When looking at where this team is trending, it’s hard not to consider Vancouver native as the team’s natural leader.
Macklin Celebrini Wouldn’t Be First 19-Year-Old Captain in NHL History
Macklin Celebrini would not be the first 19-year-old to captain an NHL team. In fact, no surprise, the youngest captain ever was Connor McDavid. Other 19-year-olds to lead their respective teams were Gabriel Landeskog of the Colorado Avalanche and Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
As such, Celebrini would become the fourth 19-year-old to become a permanent captain in NHL history. That would be, of course, if the Sharks named him before his 20th birthday, coming up in mid-June.
Regardless, the Sharks can’t go wrong with Macklin Celebrini. He’s the official face of the team now and should be the face of the franchise for years to come.
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One Thing that Might Hold Up Captaincy for Celebrini
Now, there’s one thing that might hold up the captaincy for Macklin Celebrini in San Jose. The Sharks’ rising star will be entering the final year of his entry-level contract (ELC). Now, it’s hard to fathom Celebrini going anywhere at this point in his career.
But the organization might feel more comfortable bestowing the captaincy on their best player when an extension is in place.
That’s something that may delay the decision. If Celebrini doesn’t extend this summer and chooses to wait like Connor Bedard did with the Chicago Blackhawks, the Sharks may very well play without a captain for one more season.
It remains unclear whether an extension could happen this summer. Macklin Celebrini is eligible to sign one on July 1. So, Sharks fans should expect plenty of chatter throughout the summer leading up to a possible extension at one point or another.
Macklin Celebrini Earmarked for Sharks Captaincy Following Honor