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NHL Agents Reveal Potential Cost of Macklin Celebrini Contract Extension For SJ Sharks
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- NHL Agents Reveal Potential Cost of Macklin Celebrini Contract Extension For SJ Sharks
San Jose Sharks phenom Macklin Celebrini just capped off a season at 19 years old where he broke the franchise's single-season points record and reached milestones only achieved by all-time greats. That could lead to him breaking some new records with his next contract.
In a poll of NHL agents conducted by The Athletic , Celebrini received the second-most votes for picking who will be the highest-paid player in hockeby by the start of the 2028-29 season.
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"Why shouldn't Celebrini make like 20 million bucks a year? I mean, it's a lot, but look at that kid. I guess my point with Celebrini is I know it's not apples to apples because Kaprizov could have become UFA, but if you're him, why wouldn't I say, Kaprizov's getting this, why shouldn't I make more than Kaprizov?"
Another poll asked agents about the future contracts for both Celebrini and fellow No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard . While the Chicago Blackhawks star received plenty of praise, the consensus was that Celebrini is in a "much different tier" than Bedard.
One agent suggested that the eventual extension Celebrini signs with San Jose will land in the $10 to $17 million per season range. If the 19-year-old wants to sign a short-term deal, then it's more likely to be in the $10-12 million range. If he wants long-term security and to make a longer commitment to the club, then that figure could push to $17-plus million.
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"He's going to get a monster deal, and they're going to have to pay him. What Celebrini is doing in San Jose is incredible. It's been a slow burn with the second contracts being so big. This is going to take them to another level, which will reshape the way teams get squeezed with their high-end guys."
Celebrini is eligible to sign a contract extension with the Sharks on July 1. During his record-breaking season, in which he tied numerous single-season franchise marks and joined record books of legends like Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby , the team was relatively mum on a potential long-term deal.
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However, Sharks general manager Mike Grier did joke with reporters when asked about the matter earlier this season by saying "We probably won't try and sign him."
For now, per PuckPedia.com , Celebrini is under contract for next season with a $975,000 cap hit at a $877,500 base salary with up to $3.5 million in performance bonuses. While he is eligible for restricted free agency as a 21-year-old following the 2026-27 season, he'll likely have a new deal in place with San Jose before 2027.
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