Macklin, Macklin, Macklin!<\/p>\n
You wouldn\u2019t blame Will Smith if he sometimes felt like Jan Brady<\/a> next to \u201cnew face of the NHL\u201d Macklin Celebrini.<\/p>\n Smith, best friends with Celebrini, has never shown a trace of jealousy, though.<\/p>\n And on Monday, in the San Jose Sharks\u2019 6-3 stomping of the Utah Mammoth, Smith showed off his own staggering talent.<\/p>\n Will Smith is breaking ankles out here. \ud83d\ude28 pic.twitter.com\/OehmbtjxKC<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) December 2, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n This Will Smith<\/a> goal might be a candidate for goal of the year.<\/p>\n Last season, about mid-January, both in their rookie campaigns, it appeared that Celebrini was literal leagues ahead of Smith.<\/p>\n Before Jan. 18, the 2023 No. 4 pick had six goals and 15 points in 39 games and was sitting out back-to-backs in what the organization called development days. Smith also was moved from his natural center position to wing a month into the season.<\/p>\n The 2024 No. 1 pick was perhaps the leading Calder Trophy candidate, any talk of development days for him obliterated by 13 goals and 32 points in just 35 appearances.<\/p>\n Frankly, Smith did not look like an NHL regular at this point, while Celebrini resembled a seasoned veteran, more often than not.<\/p>\n But on Jan. 18, Smith returned to his hometown Boston, dropping a goal and an assist. Coincidence or not, he hasn\u2019t looked back since, producing at a point-per-game pace.<\/p>\n Since Jan. 18, Smith has put up 24 goals and 57 points in 62 games. Celebrini has 26 goals and 71 points.<\/p>\n It\u2019s beyond impressive that Smith, 20, and Celebrini, 19, are already point-per-game players in the best league in the world.<\/p>\n While Smith is still trying to catch up to Celebrini\u2019s two-way acumen and relentless battle, he\u2019s not far from his linemate\u2019s equal in the OZ, and at times, can pull off plays that even Celebrini might marvel at.<\/p>\n Anyway, it\u2019s not about Smith vs. Celebrini. It\u2019s about Celebrini and Smith.<\/p>\n Celebrini may be breaking development curves with how ahead of schedule he is, but tonight was a reminder that Smith is well ahead of schedule too, which it didn\u2019t feel like early last season.<\/p>\n That\u2019s a tribute to Smith and his work to get here, and the San Jose Sharks, who, amidst much criticism last season, believed that the Boston College star would overcome inevitable struggles and develop properly in the NHL.<\/p>\n That\u2019s bad news for the rest of the league: The one-two punch projected to terrorize the NHL in the coming years is, well look at San Jose\u2019s surprising 13-11-2 record, ahead of schedule.<\/p>\n Tyler Toffoli<\/p>\n Toffoli, on if he felt that he was getting close to breaking out of his slump:<\/p>\n I knew I was going to score a goal at some point. (laughs) I don\u2019t know if you guys were worried, it would have been a little concerning.<\/p>\n It is what it is. It\u2019s a hard league to score in, and sometimes they go in, sometimes they don\u2019t, and all you can do is just keep going and come to the rink everyday. Fortunate that we were winning some games and didn\u2019t feel as much pressure as maybe I would have [felt].<\/p>\n Toff gets the teeth! \ud83e\uddb7\ud83d\udc4f pic.twitter.com\/ArYyE6ZYbQ<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 San Jose Sharks (@SanJoseSharks) December 2, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Toffoli, on Mikhail Sergachev not dapping up SJ Sharkie:<\/p>\n I feel like Sharkie was gonna give him the too cool, so I think he made the right decision. (laughs)<\/p>\n Will Smith<\/p>\n Smith, on Tyler Toffoli breaking out of his slump:<\/p>\n We weren\u2019t too worried about him. (laughs)<\/p>\n Will Smith complimented #SJSharks<\/a> fans for sticking up for @sjsharkie<\/a> after Sergachev dissed their mascot: “I did see that. All fun and games\u2026Yeah, they picked up on it pretty quick. I was kind of surprised.”<\/p>\n