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San Jose Sharks star Macklin Celebrini has signed a five-year contract extension that will make him the NHL’s highest-paid player, the team announced.
The deal, which kicks in during the 2027-28 season, is worth $94 million and will average $18.8 million. That exceeds the $18 million-a-year average in the Philadelphia Flyers’ offer sheet to center Leo Carlsson, which the Anaheim Ducks matched.
Celebrini, 20, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, broke the Sharks’ single-season record for points with 115 last season in his second year in the league.
He was a finalist for the Ted Lindsay Award (most outstanding player, voted on by fellow players) and played for Team Canada at the Olympics.
Macklin Celebrini contract details
Per puckpedia.com, Celebrini’s contract is mostly made up of signing bonuses and will total $20,8 million in the first three seasons.
Macklin Celebrini stats
Celebrini has played two seasons and has totaled 70 goals and 178 points in 152 games. His 115 points last season broke Joe Thornton’s previous franchise record of 114.
Why is Macklin Celebrini the highest-paid player?
First, he’s a stellar player whose performance is expected to keep rising. Second, salaries are going up in general because of the rising salary cap.
The Flyers pushed things higher with their offer sheet to Carlsson, which was purposely high in hopes that the Ducks wouldn’t match. Celebrini is averaging 0.85 points a game, compared with 0.70 to Carlsson.
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