Max Miller
Macklin Celebrini is the NHL’s highest-paid player after the San Jose Sharks signed him to a five-year contract worth $94 million.
With an $18.8 million cap hit, Celebrini passes Anaheim Ducks center Leo Carlsson for the highest-paid player. Carlsson signed an offer sheet with the Philadelphia Flyers to earn his $18 million AAV.
For the Sharks, Celebrini is a better player and is already considered one of the best players in the world. GM Mike Grier met with the media Wednesday afternoon to go through the details of this historic contract. Grier admitted that Carlsson’s offer sheet changed the landscape of the deal, but not by a terrible amount.
“It was good working with Pat [Brisson], Mack, and his family to get through this. A couple of weeks of listening to each other a little bit and seeing where they were at and going over it with Hasso [Plattner],” Grier said. “It came together at a decent pace. We’re really excited to get it done and happy to have Mack here committed for the next five years.
[I] just want to really thank Hasso for his continued support and generosity. All the money and resources he’s put into the organization and the team to help us succeed and give us everything we need to build this team the way we would like, and hopefully build a championship-caliber team.”
Grier’s thanks to San Jose Sharks owner Hasso Plattner can’t fall on deaf ears. Plattner is already footing most of the bill for upgrades to SAP Center. All while still making a heavy investment in the on-ice product.
When asked why both sides were comfortable with the $18.8 million AAV, Grier didn’t hesitate. The GM said they were willing to pay the maximum. A player can sign for a maximum of 20% of a team’s total salary cap. Celebrini took 16.6% of the cap.
“I don’t think you know Hasso would have hesitated to give him [the max] if that’s what he asked for,” Grier said. “Again, very, very appreciative and happy that Mack decided to leave us take a little bit less and give us some flexibility. Have some extra cap dollars down the road as we go on.”
Now why five years for the San Jose Sharks’ best player? Well, that seems to be the going rate for top talent these days. Connor Bedard, Carlsson, and now Celebrini have all left themselves a chance to assess the NHL’s financial landscape and get paid a second time. It also gives these young players a chance to hit the open market at the peak of their play.
“I think it works for both sides. It shows Mack’s commitment to the organization and to his teammates and to the fans here,” Grier said. “To give it five more years after this year to see where we’re at and see if we’re evolving, growing, winning games, and competing for championships. [That’s] what we all want and what Macklin especially wants. It allows a little time to keep building this thing up and to see where it can go. At the same time, it leaves Mack some flexibility to see where the team is and where the cap’s going.”
Grier, who has a family history in sports management, offered an interesting angle on why he was comfortable paying Celebrini such a high amount.
“One of the things I was taught early on from my dad and my brother is when you do extensions, if you’re going to do a long-term extension with someone and going to pay him a lot of money, you’ve got to bet on the person first and foremost,” Grier said. “In this case, I think you couldn’t bet on a better kid than Mack. I think if it does anything, it’ll motivate him just to be even better than he already is. But I don’t think it’ll change him at all. He’s a self-starter. It’s July, and we’re already trying to kick him off the ice because he’s on the ice too much, working on his game. He’s not someone I’m worrying about the money and payday changing who he is.”
Celebrini’s extension is the first step in securing the Sharks’ future core. While not committing to him being the next captain, there is little doubt that he will wear the ‘C’ for the San Jose Sharks.
Next up for the Sharks, signing Will Smith and Collin Graf. Grier touched on them too, but those are for a separate story.
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