NHL Network Ranks Celebrini Third Among Top Centers

Macklin Celebrini just vaulted from the NHL Network’s bottom of the barrel to No. 3 in its preseason top‑20 centers list, and honestly? I’m still shaking from that jump. It feels like a miracle wrapped in a contract clause: 82 games, 45 goals, 70 assists, a point total that nearly doubled his rookie season’s 63, plus a +8 differential while posting fourth‑in‑NHL points, tied for fourth in goals and seventh in assists. The Sharks finished with 39 wins and 86 points, going 26-6-2 when Celebrini scores and 37-18-5 when he has at least one point—yet the league’s biggest story isn’t the standings, it’s that he’s now the highest-paid player in the NHL on a $94 million deal. I’ve watched other centers get their moments: I said last week the Alabama win merchandise becomes the most interesting backup in the Big 12 overnight; this is a different kind of roster construction—by sheer talent, not by injunction or courtroom drama. The NHL Network’s list is the fourth of nine parts, and Celebrini landed at No. 3 after a breakout 115‑point second season, outpacing his rookie tally of 63 while being a Canadian silver‑medalist at the 2026 Olympics and captain for Canada at the World Championships. That’s not just a jump on the prior year’s No. 19; it’s a breakout arc for the kid now standing on a podium of contracts and accolades. Connor McDavid is No. 1 with 138 points, Nathan MacKinnon No. 2 with 127, Leon Draisaitl No. 4—Celebrini sits between them like the quiet kid who finally got the spotlight he’s earned. And let’s be real: if the Sharks win a playoff series this year, it’ll feel like a standing ovation because the world finally saw what we’ve been missing. The contract is five years, $94 million, beginning next season—more cash than most players ever see in a single draft class. I’m not shocked he’s third; I’m entertained that the network finally gave a platform to the guy who turned a shaky start into a championship‑ready veteran. The Sharks are seventh straight without a playoff berth; is Celebrini the spark they need, or just another name on a list? I’ll be watching every game, hoping his points keep climbing and his contract stays intact—because when you’re this good, losing money isn’t an option.