Every so often, a young player arrives in the NHL with a presence that feels different, as if his game carries echoes of someone who came before him. Coaches and observers begin to notice small details in how he handles pressure, protects the puck, or approaches each shift, and those details gradually create a sense of recognition that grows stronger as the season moves along.
That feeling has already begun to surround one teenager who continues to elevate his play with confidence and purpose.
Why This Young Shark’s Game Draws Comparisons to Sidney Crosby?
Macklin Celebrini has quickly moved from a highly anticipated first-overall pick to a central figure in San Jose’s offense, producing 34 points in his first 24 games while taking on responsibilities that most young players ease into over several seasons. His entry-level agreement, a three-year contract carrying a cap hit of $975,000, secures his future with the Sharks through the 2026-27 season, providing the organization with a valuable foundation as he develops into a true top-line center.
Celebrini plays with an easy rhythm that allows him to influence every part of the game, averaging more than 20 minutes per night and contributing in all situations. His touch around the net has been especially noticeable at home, where he has earned 16 points in 14 appearances, and he continues to respond well to pressure in tight moments.
Those who guided him before he reached the NHL have long understood how unusual his approach is for someone his age. Boston University head coach Jay Pandolfo, reflecting on the Hobey Baker–winning season that preceded Celebrini’s jump to the league, described him as a player driven by an inner demand to improve.
In a conversation with NHL insider James Murphy of RG Media, Pandolfo explained that Celebrini treats every shift as an opportunity to get better, saying,
“He craves the ability to get better every day. He wants to get better every shift,” and points to the World Championships last spring as a key moment in his growth.
Pandolfo stressed that Celebrini’s time around Sidney Crosby was not simply a learning experience by proximity but a deliberate effort to absorb habits and purpose.
“He’s not just going to these things and not learning. He’s going there for a purpose, and everything he does has a purpose.”
Pandolfo sees traces of Crosby in Celebrini’s style, noting their shared strength in the lower body, their ability to protect the puck through contact, and their commitment to playing with full-ice awareness. He even suggested that Celebrini entered the league with slightly more defensive maturity than Crosby displayed at the same age, while still acknowledging the unique level Crosby reached over time.
“Macklin may have had a little better defensive game than Sid did as an 18 and 19-year-old,” Pandolfo observed, adding that the similarities grow clearer the longer you watch him.
Also read: Canadiens Trade Rumors: Insider Checks The Temperature on Potential Sidney Crosby Swoop
Meanwhile, Crosby continues to define excellence in Pittsburgh, producing 23 points in 22 games while carrying a cap hit of $8.7 million in the first year of his current contract. Now 38, he remains the centerpiece of the Penguins’ attack, averaging over 19 minutes per game and helping guide the team to an 11-6-5 record.