{"id":576125,"date":"2026-05-16T05:33:15","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T05:33:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/576125\/"},"modified":"2026-05-16T05:33:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T05:33:15","slug":"how-a-potential-macklin-celebrini-contract-extension-could-look-nbc-sports-bay-area-california","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/576125\/","title":{"rendered":"How a potential Macklin Celebrini contract extension could look \u2013 NBC Sports Bay Area & California"},"content":{"rendered":"

Editor’s note:\u00a0Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California\u2019s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on\u00a0San Jose Hockey Now<\/a>, listen to him on the\u00a0San Jose Hockey Now Podcast<\/a>, and follow him on Twitter at\u00a0@Sheng_Peng<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Macklin Celebrini<\/a> is spoken of in the same breath as Sidney Crosby<\/a> and Connor McDavid.<\/p>\n

And now, he\u2019s going to get paid like them.<\/p>\n

The 19-year-old is coming off a remarkable second NHL campaign, setting a Sharks franchise record for single-season points with 115. He was a Ted Lindsay Award finalist for most outstanding player as voted on by the NHLPA, and he will also likely finish in the top-five in Hart Trophy voting for most valuable player.<\/p>\n

Celebrini spearheaded a 34-point improvement in the standings, dragging the Sharks from the worst team in the NHL in 2024-25 to playoff contention until the last week of this season.<\/p>\n

All this came in the second year of his entry-level contract, an almost unprecedented level of success for a sophomore teenage player.<\/p>\n

This July 1, Celebrini is eligible to sign a massive contract extension. What will it look like?<\/p>\n

Two NHL player agents, neither with Celebrini\u2019s camp, shared their thoughts, too.<\/p>\n

Crosby and McDavid\u2019s second contracts, among a handful of others, should be comparisons for Celebrini\u2019s upcoming deal. <\/p>\n

The following are second contracts signed during or in the offseason before a player’s third campaign. There\u2019s one number that stands out in these five massive deals:<\/p>\n

Sidney Crosby<\/p>\n

Crosby, coming off the Hart Trophy and Lindsay Award in the 2006-07 NHL season, inked a five-year, $43.5 million contract on July 7, 2007.<\/p>\n

That $8.7 million AAV represented 15.34 percent of the salary cap at the time.<\/p>\n

Alex Ovechkin<\/p>\n

Ovechkin, coming off a 46-goal second season and in the midst of a 65-goal third year, signed a 13-year, $124 million contract on January 10, 2008.<\/p>\n

That $9.54 million AAV represented 16.82 percent of the cap.<\/p>\n

Evgeni Malkin<\/p>\n

Malkin, coming off a Hart Trophy runner-up campaign in 2007-08, followed his Pittsburgh Penguins teammate Crosby\u2019s example, agreeing to an identical five-year, $43.5 million contract on July 2, 2008.<\/p>\n

That $8.7 million AAV represented 15.32 percent of the cap.<\/p>\n

Connor McDavid<\/p>\n

McDavid, coming off a sophomore Hart and Lindsay-winning campaign, inked an eight-year, $100 million contract on July 5, 2017.<\/p>\n

That $12.5 million AAV represented 15.72 percent of the cap.<\/p>\n

Auston Matthews<\/p>\n

Matthews, coming off a season with 34 goals in 62 games, signed a five-year, $58.2 million contract on February 5, 2019.<\/p>\n

That $11.64 million AAV represented 14.27 percent of the cap.<\/p>\n

While these five franchise player comparisons span from 2007 to now, the common number that stands out is the percentage of the salary cap at the time — ranging from 14.27 percent on Matthews\u2019s shorter extension to 16.82 for Ovechkin\u2019s now-outlawed 13-year agreement.<\/p>\n

It’s also worth noting, three of these five comps were inked right after July 1. Ovechkin and Matthews signed in the midst of their third seasons.<\/p>\n

The newly-ratified NHL CBA, which takes effect this coming September, also could limit Celebrini\u2019s second contract: He still can sign a maximum eight-year deal this offseason, but if he doesn\u2019t, the maximum contract length drops to seven years.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wouldn\u2019t sign eight years,\u201d Agent No. 1 said.<\/p>\n

Agent No. 2 agreed.<\/p>\n

The salary cap is skyrocketing, from $95.5 million in 2025-26 to $104 million in 2026-27 and a projected $113.5 million in 2027-28. The thought is that the cap will keep booming.<\/p>\n

Celebrini likely would be leaving money on the table if he signs an eight-year extension now.<\/p>\n

Agent No. 2 suggested a five-year Celebrini extension now in the $15 million AAV range. That figure represents 14.42 percent of the upcoming $104 million cap.<\/p>\n

And what if Celebrini agreed to an eight-year extension this summer? Keep in mind, the more years, the higher the AAV.<\/p>\n

Would an eight-year, $128 million extension be about right? A $16 million AAV represents 15.4 percent of the 2026-27 NHL salary cap.<\/p>\n

Either way, Celebrini is about to join hockey royalty in another manner.<\/p>\n

Download and follow the San Jose Hockey Now podcast<\/a><\/p>\n

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