Celebrini joins Gretzky, Crosby as lone NHL teens with 30 points in first 20 games of a season

Macklin Celebrini might be the only one on the San Jose Sharks not excited to talk about his remarkable season that has the 19-year-old accomplishing feats only some of the greatest players ever have done at his age.

Celebrini delivered another signature performance on Tuesday night when he completed his third career hat trick with an overtime goal that gave the Sharks a 3-2 victory over the visiting Utah Mammoth and put Celebrini in elite company.

The three goals gave the North Vancouver, B.C., native 30 points in his team's first 20 games of a season, a mark reached only by two other teenagers in NHL history with Wayne Gretzky doing it in 1980-81 and Sidney Crosby in 2006-07. Mario Lemieux also did it in his first 20 games in 1984-85 but he missed seven games during that stretch.

"It's cool, but that's the first time I'm hearing about it," Celebrini said, quickly trying to dismiss any comparison to those legends. "I don't really want to hear about that. That's not what's important."

Celebrini's teammates have no hesitation talking about the impact he has made on the franchise since being picked first overall in the 2024 draft. Celebrini had 25 goals and 38 assists as an 18-year-old rookie but has taken his game to new heights so far this season with 13 goals and 17 assists.

"Special. He's special," said defenceman Vincent Desharnais, who has played with Connor McDavid and Crosby in his career. "I think everyone in here, everyone in this building sees how special he is as a player, as a human being as well. He's not a [jerk] and walking around and saying that he's the best player.

“He always wants to get better every day. I'm sure next skate he's going to be one of the first guys on the ice to work on something