Macklin Celebrini not focused on Olympic chatter: 'It's a goal, it's a dream'

Macklin Celebrini walked into Canada's locker room at the men's world hockey championship back in May with wide eyes.

The teenage phenom's stall and nameplate were strategically nestled between Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon. Celebrini then joined Crosby and MacKinnon over the summer for a series of skating sessions.

"They were so great to me," the San Jose Sharks forward recalled of the two superstars. "Just being around them, seeing two legends, how they carry themselves, approach every day. Two guys I looked up to growing up; pretty cool."

Celebrini could be in for another pinch-me moment alongside Crosby and MacKinnon at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The 19-year-old centre sat third in NHL scoring this season with 43 points (15 goals, 28 assists) through 31 games heading into Wednesday's action -- a torrid start that has placed him squarely on the radar of Canada's brain trust as it sifts through an embarrassment of offensive talent up front.

Celebrini, however, is doing his best to stay focused on the day-to-day of his second professional campaign.

"It's a goal, it's a dream of every kid who grows up in Canada," Celebrini said Wednesday of the Olympics after San Jose practised at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. "Can't really control what they decide or what they do but being on that team would be a huge honour."

The No. 1 pick at the 2024 draft has never had an issue putting up points at any level, but it's his all-around game that has stood out and brought him into consideration.

"He's arguably one of our most physical forwards down low in the defensive zone," Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky said. "That's been a big growth for him. And going to world championships, playing with those guys, sometimes it's OK