Celebrini, at 20, named youngest captain in Sharks history

Macklin Celebrini has had quite an offseason.

The 20-year-old was named captain of the San Jose Sharks on Friday, less than two months after signing a five-year, $94 million contract (average annual value of $18.8 million).

He became the youngest current captain in the NHL, and the youngest captain in Sharks history. San Jose had not had a captain since Logan Couture announced his retirement April 15, 2025.

"Huge honor. I think just something that I can't really take lightly," Celebrini said Friday. "Obviously, there's a responsibility that comes with that, but at the same time, I'm not really going to change who I am or what I do. But, like I said, just a huge honor first and foremost." 

Although he now wears the 'C' on his jersey, the Sharks center says he isn't the only leader on his team.

"I think that's the special thing about our group. We've built such a cool culture and relationship with each other, where we're all super tight," Celebrini said. "It's not just going to come from me or (coach Ryan Warsofsky). I think it's going to come from our whole group. We have guys that have been around a lot of winning teams, and they know what it takes, and have a lot more experience than me."

Celebrini was presented his No. 71 jersey from former Sharks captain Joe Thornton, after practice Friday.

"Getting the jersey from 'Jumbo', him and his family have such a special place in my life just with how they accepted me into their family two years ago, and everything that they've done for me," Celebrini said. "I can't really put into words how much this family means to me."

Celebrini lived with Thornton during his rookie season in 2024-25.

"I know how much this guy means to everyone in this room and in the whole Bay Area," Thornton said. "So Macklin, get up here, my friend."

Added general manager Mike Grier: "Your hard work, the way you lead our group. Just watching you in training camp going double shifts there. But you're pushing the group, so this is, well, a well-deserved honor. So congratulations."

On Sept. 17, Grier told reporters that he viewed a team captaincy as "sacred." When asked why Celebrini had the right tools to earn that status, Grier focused more on the person than the player.

"I think one, being a good person. If you're going to be someone who's going to lead a group, you have to be a good person. You got to do the right things. You've got to show up to work every day," Grier said Friday. "I think those are the main things because when you try and lead a group, you can't ask someone to do something you're not willing to do, and I think Mack has shown that he has those qualities. He's put in more time than anyone here to prepare himself and get ready to play."

It has been a whirlwind year for Celebrini, who also played for Team Canada at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics, where he had 10 points (five goals, five assists) in six games.

He was then named Canada's captain for the 2026 IIHF World Hockey Championship in Zurich and Fribourg, Switzerland, in May, and had 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in 10 games. Canada finished fourth, losing the bronze-medal game 3-2 in overtime to Norway.

"That was a tremendous honor. Just wearing it for my country and having some of those guys in that room, like (Sidney Crosby), (John Tavares), and (Ryan) O'Reilly. There were plenty of leaders in that room, and they were so gracious just to let me take that responsibility and have that trust in me," Celebrini said. "I mean, throughout that tournament, it was a lot of learning, just asking them questions. Just being around those guys, watching how they do things."

Celebrini finished fourth in the NHL in scoring last season, his second in the League, with 115 points (45 goals, 70 assists) in 82 games. He has 178 points (70 goals, 108 assists) in 152 regular-season games over two NHL seasons.

"You can just feel his energy coming into the rink," Sharks forward Tyler Toffoli said. "His work ethic and everything, and I think you're going to hear the same answers from everybody you talk to today. It's a huge honor. I think we're all very proud of him. It's definitely an exciting time for him, his family, and the organization. So very happy for him, and going to enjoy my team dinner when he pays for it."

In July, Celebrini was also named the IIHF Male Player of the Year and was revealed as the cover athlete on EA Sports NHL 27.

His new contract was then an NHL-record AAV until Cale Makar signed an eight-year, $163.2 million deal ($20.4 million AAV) with the Colorado Avalanche on Aug. 28.

"We wanted to make sure 'Mack' felt valued here and he was compensated fairly," Grier said after the signing. "No disrespect to anyone, in our eyes he's the best young player in the League. We felt like we wanted to pay him an amount that was commensurate with that. On his side, he was willing to take a little bit less to leave us some flexibility so we can keep building out the roster as we go along."

Celebrini was an alternate captain last season for San Jose, which looks to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season for the first time since 2018-19.

"I don't think he's someone I'm worried about the money and the payday changing who he is," Grier said. "He's kind of built and wired the way he is and that's to be great. I think those players like that, that's just how they're wired and they're going to keep working and pushing themselves to be the best version of themselves that they can.

"He's got an unbelievable drive and desire to be the best and I don't expect that to change."

San Jose hosts the Florida Panthers in its season opener on Oct. 1

Five NHL teams are without a captain: the Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Detroit Red Wings, Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks.