PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet will have a game plan for San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebirni on Tuesday.

Tocchet is also one of Team Canada’s assistant coaches for the upcoming 2026 Winter Olympics. Celebrini’s play this season has been nothing short of amazing, and Tocchet has noticed.

“He’s a hockey nerd. I mean, the guy comes in great shape. Plays a 200-foot game. He’s just a hell of a player,” Tocchet said. “He’s not just an offensive guy. You watch him, he’s conscientious. He’s trying to play without the puck. You can tell that this guy came into camp in great shape.

He’s elevated himself. That’s his family, too, his pedigree. That’s what they are—his dad in that fitness world and stuff. You can tell that he’s [a lot has rubbed off] for his first son.”

NHL insider Pierre LeBrun reported that Hockey Canada just finished three days of meetings to narrow its potential roster list to the “low 30s”.

Team Canada 🇨🇦 management group has wrapped up 3 days of meetings. GM Doug Armstrong says the list of players still in mix now down to the “low 30s.”
Everyone from 4 Nations roster still in mix. Will use next 3 weeks before Dec. 31 deadline to make those final, difficult…

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) December 9, 2025

LeBrun stated that everyone who played for Team Canada during the Four Nations Face-Off is still in the mix. Tocchet didn’t confirm whether the recent meetings included Celebrini, but he did say he’s in the mix.

“We had a meeting a couple of weeks ago, and obviously, he’s on the list,” Tocchet told SHD. “I mean, you give your opinion as an assistant coach, but he’s definitely in the mix. I don’t know where he’s at on the chart, to be honest here, but they’re watching. 40 plus points, he’s doing something really well.”

Celebrini has been scouted heavily by opposing teams when they face the San Jose Sharks, but Team Canada GM Doug Armstrong made an early-season visit to San Jose to watch Team Teal. Armstrong is also the GM of the St. Louis Blues, who the Sharks weren’t facing when he visited SAP Center in October.

Tocchet said his Flyers team needs to be aware of Celebrini every time he’s on the ice.

“[Just like how] we approach any dangerous guy on the other team, you’ve got to be aware of him. Puck management, whoever’s playing against him is going to be huge,” Tocchet said. “He’s part of the game plan for us. It’s not like he’s just a second or third-year player. He’s a star player, and we’ve got to be aware of him, just like [Nathan] MacKinnon. Just like [Sidney] Crosby.”

Flyers’ Sanheim knows Celebrini from Worlds

Philadelphia Flyers d-man Travis Sanheim will likely be tasked with playing against the San Jose Sharks’ No. 1 center on Tuesday. In 27 games this season, Sanheim has averaged 25:17 minutes a night.

Sanheim was part of Team Canada’s Four Nations team and is very likely headed to the Olympics with his head coach. But Sanheim has had experience wearing his nation’s colors with Celebrini at the 2025 IIHF World Championship.

“I got the chance to play with him at Worlds, and got to know him as a teammate. [I] enjoyed my time playing with him,” Sanheim said. “Obviously, a super-skilled guy that does a lot of things well. It’s hard to play against. Anytime you play guys like that, you want to try to limit their time and space and not give them room to operate.”

But Sanheim also got to know the San Jose Sharks superstar off the ice, and that is what he remembers most.

“Just so funny and outgoing. He is always a happy guy, a happy teammate, and was really fun to be around,” Sanheim said.

Celebrini played on a line with his childhood idol in Crosby at Worlds. Sanheim saw the chemistry and how dangerous the duo could be.

“Worked out really well. Him having Sid to learn from, and the way those two and their chemistry grew throughout the tournament, was exciting to see,” Sanheim said. “It is just two highly skilled guys, and they made it pretty easy to play with them.”

Celebrini will look to get his San Jose Sharks a second consecutive win as they play their third game of a five-game road trip on Tuesday.

Read more news and stories about the San Jose Sharks on Sharks Hockey Digest! Bookmark the page and follow Sharks Hockey Digest on Twitter @SharksHKYDigest!