Macklin Celebrini Signs $94M Sharks Contract Extension to Become NHL's Highest-Paid Player
The San Jose Sharks have secured their future by signing Macklin Celebrini to a massive five-year contract extension worth $94 million. This deal carries an average annual value of $18.8 million, which makes Celebrini the highest-paid player in NHL history. He is now set to remain with the organization through the 2031-32 season.
Celebrini earned this contract following a standout performance in his age-19 season. He tallied 45 goals and 115 points across 82 games, setting a new single-season franchise record for the Sharks. His impact on the ice was immediate, as he helped the team jump 36 points in the standings and narrowly miss a playoff spot. His play as a two-way forward ranked him in the 99th percentile of NHL skaters for total distance covered.
General manager Mike Grier is focused on building a perennial playoff contender around his young star. The team has already committed significant cap space to other long-term roster pieces, and they expect the league salary cap to rise to $113.5 million by the 2027-28 season. This financial flexibility will be necessary as the front office looks to secure extensions for other developing talents on the roster.
This move surpasses the recent contract extension of Leo Carlsson, who was previously the league's highest-paid player. Celebrini is currently on track to hit unrestricted free agency at the age of 26, giving the Sharks a long window to compete for the Stanley Cup with him as the focal point of their offense.