Celebrini leaning on Olympic lessons in Sharks playoff push

Young center excited for stretch run after starring for Team Canada

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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Macklin Celebrini, a 19-year-old center for the San Jose Sharks, is drawing on the lessons he learned while winning a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games as the Sharks make a push for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Celebrini, who left Boston University to join the Sharks, has 90 points (33 goals, 57 assists) in 62 games this season and is in the running for the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player.

Why it matters

The Sharks, who had the fewest points in the NHL last season (52), have 66 this season and are just one point behind the Seattle Kraken for the second wild card in the Western Conference. Celebrini's performance and leadership have been key to the Sharks' surprising playoff push, and his Olympic experience has helped him develop patience and maturity in his game.

The details

Celebrini left Boston University to join the Sharks in 2024, and he made his NHL debut that year. After winning a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2026 Olympics, where he led the tournament with five goals in six games, Celebrini has brought that winning mentality and experience back to the Sharks. Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky says Celebrini has developed more patience in his game, learning that he doesn't need to make a great play every shift.

  • Celebrini last played for Boston University nearly two years ago.
  • Celebrini made his NHL debut for the Sharks in 2024.
  • Celebrini won a silver medal with Team Canada at the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
  • The Sharks have 66 points this season, one point behind the Seattle Kraken for the second wild card in the Western Conference.

The players

Macklin Celebrini

A 19-year-old center for the San Jose Sharks who is in the running for the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player.

Ryan Warsofsky

The head coach of the San Jose Sharks.

Will Smith

A forward for the San Jose Sharks who has 45 points (19 goals, 26 assists) in 49 games this season.

Connor McDavid

An NHL player who Celebrini played with on the Canadian Olympic team.

Nathan MacKinnon

An NHL player who Celebrini played with on the Canadian Olympic team.

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What they’re saying

“It's the last little stretch. It's exciting. We're still in it. We had a pretty good homestand there -- obviously a tough one last night [in a 6-3 loss at the Buffalo Sabres] -- but I think we've just got to get back on track.”

— Macklin Celebrini (nhl.com)

“If someone would have told you in October at the start of training camp we'd be one point out of a playoff spot, March [11], they probably wouldn't believe it. We're going to enjoy this grind and this journey that we're on together.”

— Ryan Warsofsky, San Jose Sharks head coach (nhl.com)

“Playing over there, you were around some of the best winners that have ever played the game and some of the best coaches in the League, and the way that they approach it, the way that the guys have bought into winning hockey, and the way you need to play to win. Obviously no team in the NHL is like that team, but I think just that mindset and some of those lessons that I learned.”

— Macklin Celebrini (nhl.com)

What’s next

The Sharks will look to snap the Boston Bruins' 13-game home winning streak when the two teams meet on Thursday night.

The takeaway

Celebrini's Olympic experience has helped him develop the patience and maturity needed to lead the Sharks' surprising playoff push, and his performance has put him in contention for the Hart Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player.