In just his second NHL season, San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini is already breaking records.
The 19-year-old forward is enjoying a breakout season as he’s already established himself as one of the most prolific scorers in the NHL. Celebrini ranks fourth in the league in scoring with 112 points, and his 44 goals are seventh-most.
In the Sharks’ regular-season finale against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday — a 6-1 San Jose win — Celebrini wrote his name in the franchise’s record books and also matched a historical feat only ever accomplished by legendary scorer Wayne Gretzky.
Celebrini logged a goal and two assists — his 18th game this season with three or more points — finishing the season with 45 goals and 115 points, breaking Joe Thornton’s previous franchise record for most single-season points (114).
The former No. 1 overall pick also accomplished something only one other teenager in NHL history ever had.
“Macklin Celebrini joins Wayne Gretzky as the only teenagers in NHL history with at least 40 goals and 70 assists in a season 🔥. Gretzky had 51 goals and 86 assists in 1979-80,” ESPN Insights posted on X.
Celebrini impressed many as a rookie last season, logging 25 goals and 62 points in 70 games while showing flashes of why the Sharks invested the No. 1 overall pick in him during the 2024 draft.
But in Year 2, Celebrini’s development accelerated at a rate the Sharks likely didn’t even expect.
Often compared to 2023 No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks, Celebrini has already outperformed him through their first two seasons, scoring 24 more goals and 47 more points.
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