Macklin Celebrini is expected to be named the next captain of the San Jose Sharks. Celebrini has been busy representing Team Canada in international play, captaining their World Championship squad.
## What's behind the decision?
The Sharks have a captaincy position to fill soon, and all signs point to Celebrini receiving the nod, according to ESPN reporter Emily Kaplan.
The San Jose Sharks improved 34 points in the standings compared to their previous last place season, narrowly missing out on a playoff spot by four points.
## How has Celebrini performed?
Celebrini enjoyed a breakout sophomore year, amassing 40 goals and 75 assists for 115 points in 80 games, making him a strong candidate for the captaincy.
He has received high praise from his peers, including Pittsburgh Penguins idol Sidney Crosby, who believed Celebrini deserved the captaincy nod in the World Championship.
## What's next for Celebrini?
If Celebrini is indeed named captain, a contract extension may also be on the horizon, with insider David Pagnotta speculating that his next deal could land as high as the $15 million range per year.
Celebrini's camp could be waiting on the Chicago Blackhawks' Connor Bedard to extend, with Bedard's deal likely to be used as a marker to project the range of Celebrini's contract.
The Sharks have a significant amount of cap room, and Celebrini is due for a rich contract extension when the time comes to put pen to paper.
## Why is this important for the Sharks?
Celebrini is the team's franchise player, and they will build around him with the vision that he can eventually lead them to the Stanley Cup.
The Sharks have never won a championship in the organization's history, and Celebrini is their best hope to get them there.
Celebrini has the maturity of a longtime veteran player, despite being only 20 years old next season, and has plenty of experience playing in meaningful moments.
He became Hockey Canada's youngest NHL rep in the Winter Olympics, and has already captained Team Canada in international play.
The San Jose Sharks' future looks bright with Celebrini at the helm, and fans can expect big things from the young captain in the upcoming season.
Celebrini's strong form was the biggest reason why his San Jose group took such a major step forward, and he will look to continue this success in the future.
The Sharks' captaincy position has been vacant since former captain Logan Couture retired in 2025, and Celebrini is the perfect candidate to fill this role.
With Celebrini as captain, the Sharks will look to make a deep playoff run and bring a championship to the organization.
Celebrini's contract extension will be a key factor in the team's success, and fans will be eagerly awaiting the announcement of his new deal.
The San Jose Sharks are a team on the rise, and with Macklin Celebrini as their captain, they will look to make a statement in the upcoming season.