REPORT: Celebrini ‘All But Guaranteed’ To Be Next Sharks Captain

Per Emily Kaplan of ESPN, San Jose Sharks superstar Macklin Celebrini is “all but guaranteed” to be the franchise’s 13th captain.

Celebrini, 19, was named as an alternate captain for the 2025-26 season. After an amazing rookie season, the Sharks’ No. 1 center followed it up with a record-breaking 115 points and almost carried his team to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

While playing for Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Championship, Celebrini was named captain. At the time, the San Jose Sharks centerman was the youngest player on the roster. Since then, Porter Martone has joined the team and is now the youngest player. But the key addition to the squad was Sidney Crosby, Celebrini’s idol and true captain of Team Canada. Although Crosby joined the roster, reports indicated that Crosby insisted on Celebrini keeping the ‘C’.

Like in 2025, the duo played together on the same line. During that tournament, Crosby requested to play with the Sharks’ rising star. Crosby would get his wish and play center on a line with Celebrini. Now the roles are reversed, at least on the ice, as Celebrini is centering a line with Crosby on his wing.

Canada faces Finland in the Semi-Final on Saturday, and Celebrini leads all Canadian skaters in the tournament with 12 points (6 goals, 6 assists) in eight games. During Canada’s quarter-final match against Team USA, Celebrini scored a beautiful game-opening goal. The San Jose Sharks franchise centerman’s goal would hold as the game-winner. Canada defeated the USA 4-0.

Celebrini has been endorsed by his Sharks teammates to become the next captain. During the team’s exit interviews, Tyler Toffoli and Ryan Reaves believe that Celebrini has what it takes to be an NHL captain.

I don’t see a reason why not. I mean, he leads by example,” Toffoli said. “When you work as hard as he does, and how intense and everything that he brings, I definitely don’t see a reason why not.”

“I don’t know what else he could possibly do,” Reaves said. “We talked about it before, his leadership on the ice is, I’ve seen it before. I saw it in a guy named Sidney Crosby, number one. So, pretty good comparison.”

Now, Celebrini is learning from the best at Worlds. Clearly, Hockey Canada is priming the Sharks star to be the next face of the nation, and Crosby is the one teaching him.