Sharks sign Macklin Celebrini to five-year, $94M extension - ESPN

After a stellar second season, star San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini has signed a five-year contract extension worth a total of $94 million, general manager Mike Grier announced Wednesday.

The $18.8 million average annual value on the extension, which begins with the 2027-28 season, will make Celebrini the highest-paid player in the NHL.

The No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, Celebrini set a Sharks franchise record with 115 points last season while finishing with the second-most goals (45) in team history. He was a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award for most outstanding player, as voted on by the NHL Players Association.

Celebrini, 20, had been eligible to sign an extension as he entered the final year of his entry-level contract.

«I couldn't be happier to sign an extension today,» Celebrini said in a statement. «The faith and support that Mr. Plattner, Mike Grier and the entire staff have shown me throughout the past two seasons is proof that we are building something special here. My teammates and I are ready to take another step toward the ultimate goal of bringing a Stanley Cup to this city and its incredible fans. I can't wait to get going.» 

The Sharks took a leap up the standings in 2025-26, improving by 19 wins and 34 points, though that still wasn't enough to end a playoff drought that stretches back to 2018-19.

«In just two seasons as a teenager in the National Hockey League and on the International stage, Macklin has established himself as one of the premier players in the world,» Grier said in a statement. «We are extremely excited to have him secured and committed as the centerpiece of a core of talented players in San Jose.

»… «I also want to thank Hasso Plattner for his continued commitment and