Friday was a monumental day for the San Jose Sharks franchise, as they named Macklin Celebrini the 11th full-time captain in team history.
The 20-year-old becomes the youngest captain in Sharks history at just 20 years old and 104 days. While Celebrini prepared for an official press conference, members of the media spoke with his teammates about the news.
“It’s huge. I think we’re all expecting it, and he’s obviously a leader of this team,” Will Smith said. “He’s gonna have that letter for a while. It’s gonna be big for us.”
Smith and Celebrini entered the NHL at the same time and are now living together. The Sharks duo have been nearly inseparable since 2024, and Smith has seen his friend grow into the leader he is today.
“He came into the league as an 18-year-old. Everyone knows that, and I just think, him being a young guy and staying out after practice, getting out there early, stuff like that,” Smith said. “Little things that show the group how much work you’re putting in, and you know, when he does that, everyone else gets out there too.”
But veterans like Alexander Wennberg and Tyler Toffoli know Celebrini won’t change who he is just because he has the ‘C’ now.
“It definitely starts with his work ethic, and it’s not always the things he says,” Toffoli said. “He’s very vocal in the sense that he’s still a young kid, and enjoys coming to the rink, cracking jokes, and having fun. But at the same time, when it comes to work and in the middle of a period in a game, he can be serious. It’s one of those things: whenever he talks, you listen, and I think that kind of just goes to show why he’s going to be the captain.”
“He’s always been ready for it, but obviously this is a different task, taking more ownership. Always on the ice, you never see a guy who competes harder than he does,” Wennberg said. “He contributes with points, but I feel like off the ice as well. I mean, he just shows up every day. He does the work. He is the voice of the room as well. Like how he acts and how he moves. So it’s just amazing to see.”
Toffoli has been around some incredible leaders like Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings. Despite that experience, Toffoli understands that Celebrini has his own identity.
“With everybody I play with, it’s different,” Toffoli said. “It’s hard to compare Kopi to Mack or whoever to Mack.”
Toffoli, who has worn an ‘A’ on his jersey since signing with the Sharks, understands the honor Celebrini is taking on as the main guy.
“You can just feel his energy coming into the rink. His work ethic and everything, and I think you’re going to hear the same answers from everybody you talk to today. It’s a huge honor. I think we’re all very proud of him,” Toffoli said. “It’s definitely an exciting time for him, his family, and the organization. So very happy for him, and going to enjoy my team dinner when he pays for it.”
San Jose Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky has seen firsthand what Celebrini does on the bench to bring his team together. The bench boss spoke about that during Friday’s presser.
“He’s got a great feel for what’s happening in the game. Whether we’re struggling to find our game, or we’ve got to raise our intensity, he knows the right things to say to his players,” Warsofsky said. “But he also goes out and does it. It’s one thing to say it and be a leader, but he goes out and does it.”
Celebrini will likely debut his new jersey with the ‘C’ when the San Jose Sharks visit the Vegas Golden Knights on Saturday for their last preseason game.
“That’s fair to say,” Warsofsky said when asked whether Celebrini will play on Saturday.