Macklin Celebrini Becomes Youngest Captain in Sharks’ History
The San Jose Sharks have named Macklin Celebrini as their team captain, making him the 11th full-time captain in franchise history and the youngest active captain in the NHL.
The San Jose Sharks have officially named forward Macklin Celebrini as their team captain. At 20 years old, Celebrini became the 11th full-time captain in franchise history, as well as the youngest active captain in the NHL.
“Huge honor. I think it's just something that I can’t take lightly,” Celebrini said on 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.”
The Canadian received the news less than two months after signing a five-year, $94 million contract with the San Jose Sharks, worth an average of $18.8 million annually. With this announcement, he became the team’s first captain since Logan Couture announced his retirement in April 2025.
This move comes after a historic sophomore season in which Celebrini finished fourth in the NHL with 115 points. He tied for fourth with 45 goals and was seventh with 70 assists in the regular season.
Celebrini’s name now appears alongside hockey’s greatest in the record books. He joins Wayne Gretzky as the only players under 20 to record a season of 40-plus goals and 70-plus assists. He was also the third-best among teens in a single season in league history, trailing only Sidney Crosby and Wayne Gretzky.
The Canadian also appeared on the international stage this season, representing Canada at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics and the World Championship. He became the youngest NHL player to be named on Team Canada’s roster, and he led the tournament in goals.
At the World Championship, Celebrini was named Team Canada’s captain, becoming the second-youngest captain in the senior men’s national team’s history at a major international tournament.
Former Sharks captain Joe Thornton presented with his No.71 jersey after practice on Friday. “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.”
Celebrini already served as an alternate captain for San Jose last season alongside Tyler Toffoli, Barclay Goodrow, Mario Ferraro and Alex Wennberg, after the Sharks opted to go without a captain for the 2025-26 season.
“Your hard work, the way you lead our group. Just watching you in training camp going double shifts there,” added General Manager Mike Grier, “but you’re pushing the group, so this is, well, a well-deserved honor. So congratulations.”
When asked why Celebrini was the right fit to earn the captaincy status, Grier focused more on the person that he is then the player.
“I think one, being a good person,” said Grier. “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.”
He added: “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 than anyone here to prepare himself and get ready to play.”
Although Celebrini now wears the ‘C’ on his jersey, the 20-year-old 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.”
Article Written by Jana Van Nieuwenborgh
