Macklin Celebrini looked calm and confident in Wednesday’s game against the Seattle Kraken. The young center set the tone early and helped the San Jose Sharks earn a strong 6–1 win.
​Celebrini’s game continues to stand out because of how mature and consistent he looks on the ice. At just 19, he’s already showing the qualities of a leader. Each game adds to his growing reputation, and with every performance, he’s beginning to draw comparisons to some of the NHL’s biggest names.
Is Macklin Celebrini Already Stepping Into Gretzky and Crosby Territory?
It’s not common for a teenager to compete with hockey legends, but Celebrini is doing just that. After 14 games this season, he has eight goals and thirteen assists for 21 points, tying Connor McDavid for the league lead. That makes him one of the five teenagers in NHL history to reach this mark at this point in a season.
As a teenager, Wayne Gretzky (1980-1981) and Steve Yzerman (1984-1985) had 23 points in 14 games, while Sidney Crosby had 22 in the 2006-2007 season. Celebrini’s numbers show he is keeping pace with some of the best. Bryan Trottier also had 21 points as a teenager in the 1975-1976 season, matching Celebrini’s strong start this season.
Celibrini’s performance against the Kraken showed that he can make an early impact in a game. He scored just over a minute into the game and added two assists later, helping the Sharks stay in control throughout. He also became the second-fastest player in Sharks history to reach 20 points in a season, behind Joe Thornton’s pace from 2005–06.
What makes Celebrini’s success special is how complete his game is. He isn’t just a scorer; he helps his teammates find better opportunities and drives play on both ends. With 40 shots on goal and a +4 rating, he’s been steady and effective every night.
The comparisons to Gretzky and Crosby make sense. Gretzky was famous for his awareness and passing vision, while Crosby’s work ethic and balance made him a constant threat. Celebrini seems to carry a mix of both: he’s cerebral and competes with focus and drive.
Celebrini-Sidney Crosby On-Ice Chemistry There For All To See
Celebrini also had a chance to share the ice with Sidney Crosby earlier this year at the 2025 IIHF World Championship. Playing for Team Canada, the pair experienced a tough 2-1 loss to Denmark in the quarterfinals, one of the tournament’s biggest surprises.
Still, the experience was valuable for Celebrini, who learned from one of hockey’s most respected veterans.
Crosby, who has won three Stanley Cups and two Olympic gold medals, praised the young forward’s maturity.
“He’s handled it pretty well,” Crosby said about Celebrini in late May. “He’s mature, He loves the game, [and] loves to compete. He cares about every facet of the game on both sides of the puck. With experience, obviously, everything gets a little bit easier. You can’t really fast-track that. [And] I think he’s on the right track.”
Later, Team USA won the championship and secured its first gold medal in 92 years, beating Switzerland 1-0 in overtime in Stockholm.
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