{"id":473191,"date":"2026-02-26T15:39:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T15:39:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/473191\/"},"modified":"2026-02-26T15:39:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T15:39:12","slug":"macklin-celebrini-destroys-question-on-empathy-for-team-usa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/473191\/","title":{"rendered":"Macklin Celebrini destroys question on ’empathy’ for Team USA"},"content":{"rendered":"

NHL players have returned from the Olympic break and are re-joining their respective teams. The 2026 Winter Olympics put the spotlight on some of the best in the NHL, and Macklin Celebrini burst onto the national scene<\/a> at the Games.<\/p>\n

Now, back with the San Jose Sharks<\/a>, he was asked if he had any empathy for<\/a> Team USA, since they had not won gold since 1980, per a video posted by user \u2018poutingthrough’ on X, formerly Twitter.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo. No. I mean\u2026 no! no,\u201d Celebrini said, shaking his head.<\/p>\n

\u201cdo you have any empathy for the united states? hadn’t won since 1980\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\ud83d\ude44 no. no. i mean\u2026 no! no.\u201d<\/p>\n

macklin celebrini is so goddamn funny pic.twitter.com\/SHASKb99l3<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 yoyo (@poutingthrough) February 25, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The 19-year old was amazing at the Olympics, finding the back of the net five times in six games, but also returning home with a silver medal, leading to some slight bitterness<\/a>, as reported by Max Miller on NHL.com.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe didn’t win, so it’s bitter. 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,\u201d Celebrini said.<\/p>\n

The second-year Sharks phenom has also had a successful NHL campaign so far. In 55 games, the Canadian has scored 28 goals and added 53 assists, totaling 81 points. That is good for fourth in the NHL. Two of the players in front of him in points total are Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, with whom he shared a line, playing for Team Canada.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust being around the best of the best, I mean, that’s my goal. 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,\u201d Celebrini added. \u201cThose 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Considering the former first overall pick already has more goals and assists than he did his entire rookie campaign, if he learned from the two superstars, the NHL better be ready for the Sharks to grow into contenders. Their fan base seems to have already grown.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is the most media we’ve had, ever,\u201d Celebrini joked to open his press conference. \u201cStarting to feel like a Canadian market.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Sharks are 27-24-4 on the season<\/a>, placing them in sixth in the Pacific Division, and five points out of a playoff spot. They take to the ice for the first time since the break on Thursday, hosting the Calgary Flames, and hope that Celebrini can use some of that Olympic experience to bring them a win.<\/p>\n