Macklin Celebrini has rejoined the San Jose Sharks following his participation with Team Canada at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina. The 19-year-old center led all players in the tournament with five goals over six games, though Canada ultimately lost 2-1 to Team USA in overtime during the gold medal match.
“We didn’t win, so it’s bitter,” Celebrini said. “It’s sour that we didn’t win and we came that close, especially everything that we fought through. But I mean, [we] can’t change it now.”
Despite the disappointment of not securing a gold medal, Celebrini valued his time on the Canadian team. He often played alongside NHL stars Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers and Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche. “Just being around the best of the best, I mean, that’s my goal,” Celebrini said. “Just looking at them and seeing how they approach every day and some of the things that they do to make themselves successful, it definitely helped.
“Those guys play with such pace, and they think the game so fast. And the level that they play at, the practice that they play at, probably the fastest practices I’ve ever been a part of, and just being around them, practicing with them, playing with them, it’s a different level.”
Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky suggested that Celebrini’s presence may have also inspired his accomplished teammates. “Mack is in that category with those guys because of the pace he brings,” Warsofsky said. “I wonder if you asked McDavid and MacKinnon if they may say, ‘You know, Mack set that pace.’ Mack plays and practices at a certain pace that brings everyone and drags everyone into the fight. That’s what makes him great.”
Celebrini described being welcomed by Team Canada’s veterans despite feeling initially starstruck: “It was fun to be around those guys, play with them,” he said. “A lot of those guys I looked up to my whole childhood, and it was an honor to play with them and be around them every single day.
“It was just like normal teammate conversations. They’re normal guys; they’re nothing special. They’re, well, obviously they are special, but it’s nothing different than everyone else. They’re just great people, great guys, and fun to be around.”
The Sharks (27-24-4) are set to resume their season Thursday after returning from an Olympic break for a six-game homestand against Calgary Flames (10 p.m ET; NBCSCA). The team is currently five points behind Anaheim Ducks for a wild card spot in pursuit of their first postseason appearance since 2019.
“I learned a lot while I was over there just being around our coaches, some of the best coaches in the League, and some of the best players in the world,” Celebrini said about his Olympic experience. “Just their mentality…the message around our locker room over there…I think I can bring some of that back and just know what it takes.”
Celebrini was selected as San Jose’s top pick in 2024 NHL Draft and has accumulated 144 points (53 goals and 91 assists) across his first 125 games—including 81 points this season alone.
“This is the most media we’ve had ever,” Celebrini joked when meeting reporters Wednesday before practice began amid increased attention from local outlets. “Starting to feel like a Canadian market.”
As coverage intensifies ahead of San Jose’s playoff push—and as expectations rise—Celebrini remains focused on ending San Jose’s postseason drought: “We want to take those next steps,” he said. “All this comes along with it –the fans,the attention,and we want those expectations.We want that pressure,because that means we’re doing a good thing,and we’re trendingthe right way.”
