It\u2019s Mack-palooza today!<\/p>\n
EA Sports announced Macklin Celebrini as their NHL 27 cover athlete on Tuesday, and with that, multiple interviews with the San Jose Sharks superstar were released simultaneously.<\/p>\n
Celebrini addressed his contract extension, his thoughts on Ivar Stenberg, and more.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want to put your team in the best spot possible where you give a team the ability to make moves necessary to win,\u201d Celebrini told ESPN<\/a>, when asked about how players that he\u2019s idolized like Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon took less money to give their teams more cap space to improve their respective teams.<\/p>\n Celebrini, of course, is well aware of how Leo Carlsson\u2019s $18 million AAV raises earning potential around the league.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s going to start being the new normal in the NHL, those kinds of numbers with the cap going up and all that stuff,\u201d Celebrini said. \u201cSo I think obviously it was really good for him to get that number and it\u2019s also good for everyone else.\u201d<\/p>\n So don\u2019t expect a massive hometown discount from Celebrini? Nor should you.<\/p>\n Celebrini also shared his thoughts with ESPN about the William Eklund trade and LeBron James potentially signing with the Golden State Warriors.<\/p>\n Celebrini is excited to play with San Jose Sharks\u2019 No. 2 pick Ivar Stenberg, according to Bleacher Report<\/a>: \u201cI\u2019m not the one making the lines, but he\u2019s a heck of a player, and playing against him at Worlds you could see all the skill he had.\u201d<\/p>\n Celebrini also discussed his chemistry with Will Smith and his experience captaining Canada at the World Championships with B\/R.<\/p>\n All this is in line with higher expectations for the San Jose Sharks this coming season, with over $100 million committed to veterans Jacob Trouba, Darnell Nurse, and Mason Marchment two weeks ago.<\/p>\n