Macklin Celebrini is the new face of EA Sports’ NHL 27, and the San Jose Sharks forward is making history with the assignment.
EA Sports announced Tuesday that Celebrini will be the game’s cover athlete, making him the youngest player ever to land the cover at 19. He also becomes only the second Shark to appear on the franchise’s cover since the series began in 1991, the same year San Jose entered the league. The first was former Sharks standout Owen Nolan, who was featured on NHL 2001.
Celebrini’s rise has been fast and loud. In only two seasons, he has gone from promising young talent to one of the most dangerous offensive players in the NHL.
After a solid rookie year, the Vancouver native took another leap for a Sharks team chasing a Stanley Cup Playoffs berth for the first time in seven years. San Jose fell short of a Wild Card spot in the Western Conference, but Celebrini still piled up 45 goals and 70 assists in 82 games.
His 115 points ranked fourth in the league.
His impact wasn’t limited to the NHL season. Celebrini also delivered on the international stage, first at the 2026 Winter Olympics with Canada.
He made the roster and, in six games, scored five goals and totaled 10 points. That led all skaters in goals and put him second in tournament scoring behind Connor McDavid.
Canada reached the gold medal game before losing to the United States in overtime.
He was back in the maple leaf again in the spring, this time captaining Canada at the IIHF Men’s World Championship. Switzerland didn’t bring a medal, but Celebrini still put together a strong tournament with six goals and 14 points in 10 games. He finished second in points and tied for third in goals, and later earned the 2026 IIHF Male Player of the Year award.
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