The San Jose Sharks’ graph has witnessed an upward trend this season, and their star rookie, Macklin Celebrini, has become an undeniable force pushing them forward. The young center has taken full control of the offense, mirroring the late-game dominance once seen from a teenage Wayne Gretzky.
Even as the team fights for a Wild Card spot, Celebrini’s impact in tight finishes has propelled him past a historic mark from the “Great One’s” 1980 Oilers era. This has shifted the conversation from his potential to his current status as a generational talent.
Macklin Celebrini Breaks Wayne Gretzky’s Oilers-Era Mark
Celebrini has delivered one of the most impactful teenage seasons in NHL history, and recent numbers highlight just how much he means to the Sharks’ offense. According to Associated Press writer Josh Dubow, Celebrini has been involved in 47.3% of San Jose’s goals this season, a figure that trails only Connor McDavid at 47.9% across the league.
That share is the highest ever recorded by a teenager, moving past the 45.5% mark set by Wayne Gretzky during the 1979–80 season with the Edmonton Oilers.
This level of involvement shows how much of the Sharks’ attack flows through Celebrini, especially in a season where the team has struggled to stay consistent. His production is not just about totals, but also about timing, as he continues to deliver in critical situations.
NHL Public Relations also noted another key milestone when Celebrini scored his 40th goal of the season. That goal made him the fifth player in franchise history to reach that mark and the first since Joe Pavelski scored 41 goals in the 2013–14 season. It also placed him among a select group of teenage scorers across the league.
Celebrini became the 11th teenager in NHL history to score 40 goals in a season and only the fourth to do it in the past 30 years. He joins names like Patrik Laine, Auston Matthews, and Rick Nash, who each reached that level during their early years in the league. That company highlights how rare this kind of scoring is for a player his age.
His Wednesday’s performance against the Anaheim Ducks summed up his season well. Celebrini scored twice and added 2 assists in a 4-3 win, tying the game late in the third period before setting up the winning goal. That effort pushed him to 9 points over his last 3 games and kept San Jose within reach of a wild-card spot.
With 105 points in 73 games, Celebrini has already entered the NHL’s 100-point club as a teenager, placing him among some of the greatest young players in league history. He has also climbed into the Art Ross Trophy race, which underlines how strong his season has been compared to the rest of the league.
The Sharks still need better defensive play to secure a playoff position, but Celebrini’s impact remains clear.
