Macklin Celebrini, set to begin his third NHL season, has signed a five-year contract extension with the San Jose Sharks worth $94 million. The deal, which begins in the 2027-28 season, carries an average annual value (AAV) of $18.8 million, placing him among the league's highest-paid players. However, Celebrini chose to leave potential additional earnings on the table.
Under NHL rules, a player can be paid up to 20% of their team's salary cap. For Celebrini, this meant he could have potentially sought an AAV of $20.8 million. Instead, he elected to accept a slightly lower figure to provide the Sharks with greater salary cap flexibility.
"I want to make sure that with where the (NHL salary) cap was going, that the number made sense for the team first and foremost," Celebrini stated. "Making sure that everyone can get paid and that we're in a good spot to build the way we want to build, I felt like we kind of landed on that number."
He emphasized his commitment to the organization, noting that preserving some cap flexibility is beneficial for the team's future roster construction. This strategic decision could prove advantageous as the Sharks aim to become more competitive in the coming seasons.
The Sharks are anticipating a period of growth, bolstered by a core of young talent including Celebrini, Will Smith, William Eklund, and Michael Misa. The team narrowly missed the playoffs last season, and this cap flexibility may assist in attracting and retaining free agents as they contend for postseason berths.
The Sharks' preseason schedule begins September 20 in Anaheim, followed by their regular season opener on October 1 at home against the Florida Panthers.