Sharks name Macklin Celebrini 14th captain in franchise history

One of the rising superstars in the game today is going to have a slightly different-looking uniform this year.

On Friday, the San Jose Sharks announced that forward Macklin Celebrini has been named the 14th captain in franchise history.

Celebrini joins an impressive list of names who have captained the Bay Area squad. Players like Joe Pavelski, Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau and Owen Nolan have been on-ice leaders over the course of the Sharks’ 34 seasons of existence.

It’s no surprise that the team would put the ‘C’ on the ever-talented kid from Vancouver. In just two short years, Celebrini has taken the Sharks from a bumbling, rebuilding organization to a Stanley Cup Playoff contender. With a growing cast around him, the 20-year-old has been at the forefront of the Sharks’ rise to prominence since being taken first overall in the 2024 NHL Draft.

It isn’t like Celebrini is unfamiliar with wearing a letter in San Jose. At just 19, he was an alternate captain, as the Sharks have gone without a captain since Logan Couture retired at the end of the 2023-24 season. He was even named captain of Canada’s Men’s National Team at the 2026 IIHF Men’s World Championship.

The 2025-26 season was truly a banner year for Celebrini. He scored an impressive 45 goals and 115 points in 82 games, finishing fourth in the NHL in scoring. He was a key part of Canada’s run to the gold medal game at the Winter Olympics in February, was named the IIHF Male Player of the Year, and was announced to be the cover athlete for NHL 27.

In 152 games in the NHL, Celebrini has scored 70 goals and 108 assists for 178 points. He’s heading into the final season of his three-year, entry-level contract, before his five-year contract extension (with an AAV of $18.8 million) kicks in next year.

The Sharks open up the 2026-27 regular season on Oct. 1 against the Florida Panthers.