San Jose Sharks sign Macklin Celebrini to record $94m NHL deal
The San Jose Sharks have signed star forward Macklin Celebrini to a five-year contract extension worth $94m, making him the highest-paid player in NHL history.
General manager Mike Grier announced the landmark agreement on Wednesday following the 20-year-old’s spectacular second season in California.
Carrying an enormous average annual value of $18.8m (£14.8m), the lucrative new arrangement eclipses all previous financial benchmarks across the league.
Shattering franchise records
The former number one overall pick from the 2024 draft established a new Sharks franchise record by registering 115 points during the previous campaign.
He also netted 45 goals, the second-highest single-season total in team history, firmly cementing his status among the elite offensive talents in the sport.
Those extraordinary performances saw the young prodigy named as a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award, which recognises the most outstanding player as voted by his peers.
Targeting Stanley Cup glory
The standout attacker was eligible to secure this long-term commitment as he prepared to enter the final year of his initial entry-level contract.
Addressing the historic agreement, the franchise cornerstone expressed immense gratitude towards the organisation’s leadership.
“I couldn’t be happier to sign an extension today,” Celebrini said in a statement.
“The faith and support that Mr. Plattner, Mike Grier and the entire staff have shown me throughout the past two seasons is proof that we are building something special here.”
“My teammates and I are ready to take another step toward the ultimate goal of bringing a Stanley Cup to this city and its incredible fans.”