![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Celebrini-211x300.jpg\")
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San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (NHL Images).<\/p>\n
Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche, Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers, and Nick Suzuki of the Montreal Canadiens also ranked in the top 20, as did Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins, Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils.<\/p>\n
SPECTOR\u2019S NOTE: Follow the link above to see the full list and where the aforementioned players were ranked. Let us know what you think about the ranking and who you think they excluded in the comments section below.<\/p>\n
THE DENVER POST:<\/a> Colorado Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic said contract extension talks with Cale Makar are ongoing. He provided no details, but said he\u2019s \u201cpretty confident\u201d the two sides will agree to a new deal before the regular season begins.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not worried about it,\u201d Sakic said. \u201cI don\u2019t think Cale is worried about it. The dialogue has been great. When there\u2019s an agreement, we\u2019ll be glad to announce it. Hopefully something will be done before the start of training camp.\u201d<\/p>\n SPECTOR\u2019S NOTE: Makar, 27, is in the final season of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $9 million. As one of the league\u2019s elite players, he\u2019s due for a substantial raise. Makar could become the first player in NHL history to earn a $20 million AAV.<\/p>\n NHL.COM<\/a>: Whether Macklin Celebrini can build on his outstanding sophomore performance in 2025-26 is among three notable questions facing the San Jose Sharks this season.<\/p>\n Celebrini, 20, enjoyed an amazing breakout campaign, setting the Sharks\u2019 single-season points record (115) and finishing fourth among league scorers. He led his rebuilding club to within four points of a playoff berth.<\/p>\n SPECTOR\u2019S NOTE: Another strong effort by Celebrini could clinch the Sharks\u2019 first postseason berth since 2018-19. Meanwhile, there\u2019s talk that he\u2019s \u201call but certain\u201d<\/a> to be named their new captain.<\/p>\n Whether their young core can take another step forward and the impact of offseason additions Darnell Nurse and Jacob Trouba to the defense corps are the other big questions facing the Sharks.<\/p>\n SPECTOR\u2019S NOTE: The Sharks are a better team on paper entering this season than they were a year ago. Celebrini is their foundation player, but they\u2019ll also need improvement from youngsters Will Smith, Michael Misa, Collin Graf, Igor Chernyshov, and Sam Dickinson if they\u2019re to end their seven-year playoff drought.<\/p>\n Nurse and Trouba bring experience, physicality, and leadership to the Sharks\u2019 blueline. Nurse in particular should benefit from playing under a less harsh spotlight than what he experienced in Edmonton over the past three seasons.<\/p>\n