Macklin Celebrini has been named the cover athlete for EA Sports' NHL 27, set to be released soon. The San Jose Sharks center is adding this honor to his already impressive resume.
What happened?
Celebrini was revealed as the cover athlete for NHL 27 on Tuesday, ahead of the game's release. In a recent interview with Bleacher Report, Celebrini discussed his experience as the cover athlete and his upcoming contract negotiations.
Why it matters for Macklin Celebrini
As the cover athlete for NHL 27, Celebrini will be featured prominently in the game, allowing fans to see him in action. This honor comes as Celebrini heads into the final season of his rookie contract, with the Sharks center expecting to sign an extension soon.
What comes next?
Celebrini has previously indicated that he is open to signing an extension this summer, while Sharks general manager Mike Grier said that he expected to start conversations after the first wave of NHL free agency. The conversations could result in a historically lucrative contract for Celebrini, who has developed into one of the top centers in the NHL.
Celebrini, who turned 20 in June, ranked fourth in Hart Trophy voting after racking up 115 points in 82 games with the Sharks. He also led Team Canada in scoring at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics and was named IIHF Player of the Year after captaining the Canadian team at the 2026 World Championship.
"I think that was a really great experience for me, just being able to take that responsibility and also be surrounded by guys like John Tavares and Sidney Crosby and Ryan O'Reilly," Celebrini said about wearing the C at Worlds. "It's so many guys in that locker room that have won or been at the highest level for so long, and been around the game for so long. I was wearing the letter, but I was learning. I was soaking it all up from them and asking them questions."
Celebrini said he hopes the experience of playing knockout games for Canada at the Olympics and Worlds will pay off when he eventually makes his NHL playoff debut. "It just forces you to kind of dial in the details of your game. You know that you can't make many mistakes, and that playoff hockey mentality kicks in a little bit earlier," Celebrini said about playing must-win games. "I think that's something that you can take into the regular season as well, especially with our team. We haven't been to the playoffs in the last seven years, so I think this season especially every game is going to matter in terms of points and standings."
The release of Celebrini's NHL 27 cover comes as the Sharks center heads into the final season of his rookie contract. Celebrini says he doesn't expect Leo Carlsson's record-breaking contract with the Anaheim Ducks to impact his own upcoming extension negotiations. "I don't think anything that has happened this summer has affected what I'm going to do or how my situation is going to play out," Celebrini said. "I think, once we figure out what's right for both sides, that'll be that. There won't be any delaying for no reason, I don't think, but it's also got to come to an agreement on where everyone's comfortable."
Celebrini has previously indicated that he is open to signing an extension this summer, while Sharks general manager Mike Grier said that he expected to start conversations after the first wave of NHL free agency. The conversations could result in a historically lucrative contract for Celebrini, who has developed into one of the top centers in the NHL.
And with the NHL 27 cover under his belt, Celebrini is set to take his game to the next level.