San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini has surpassed his rookie season’s accolades with a remarkable performance in his second year. After achieving 63 points as a rookie, the 20-year-old delivered an outstanding 115 points, comprising 46 goals and 70 assists. This performance secured him a spot on Team Canada’s roster for the 2026 Olympics, where the team won silver. Though Canada ultimately fell to Team USA, Celebrini’s contribution was notable.
Recently, EA Sports announced that Celebrini will grace the cover of ‘NHL 27,’ marking him as the youngest player to ever feature on an NHL video game cover. Celebrini also becomes the first San Jose Shark to appear on a game cover since Owen Nolan in ‘NHL 2001.’ This achievement highlights his impressive rise in professional hockey.
His recognition is especially striking when compared to other NHL stars. Alex Ovechkin appeared on ‘NHL 07,’ and Connor McDavid was on ‘NHL 18,’ both were young but not as young as Celebrini. Interestingly, Sidney Crosby has never been featured on an EA Sports NHL cover despite his illustrious career.
For Sharks fans and enthusiasts, the focus now shifts to Celebrini’s continued success. The team narrowly missed the playoffs last season by just four points, indicating potential for future victories. The hope is Celebrini won’t experience the often-discussed ‘cover athlete curse’ and that he will continue to contribute positively to the Sharks’ forthcoming seasons.
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