Macklin Celebrini isn’t just living up to the hype - he’s redefining what it means to be NHL-ready at 19. According to Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky, the rookie center is already knocking on the door of superstardom, and he's doing it with a game that’s as complete as it is electric.
“He is very close to being a superstar in this league,” Warsofsky said in a recent interview. And it’s not just about the points - though those are piling up, too. It’s how Celebrini is doing it that has the Sharks buzzing.
Let’s start with the numbers. Celebrini tallied 63 points in 70 games during his rookie campaign - good enough to earn NHL All-Rookie Team honors and the league’s top rookie award.
This season, he’s off to an even hotter start: 32 points in just 22 games. But Warsofsky isn’t just impressed with the stat sheet.
What really stands out is Celebrini’s commitment to playing the full 200 feet.
“He plays with winning habits,” Warsofsky emphasized. “He’s physical, which is unheard of for a 19-year-old center. He plays on both sides of the puck with intensity, and he’s creating at a high rate.”
That kind of two-way maturity is rare in young players, especially ones carrying the offensive load. But Celebrini isn’t just producing - he’s setting the tone. Warsofsky pointed to the center’s off-ice habits as a major reason why the Sharks’ culture is shifting in a positive direction.
“He sets the pace,” Warsofsky said. “He’s the first guy in the gym, the first guy working on his body.
He takes his nutrition seriously. That’s when you really start growing your organization.”
It’s a leadership style that doesn’t need a letter stitched on the jersey. Celebrini leads by example - in the weight room, in practice, and during the grind of a long NHL season. And that grind is the next test.
“This is a long season,” Warsofsky noted. “You’re not going to have your legs every night. So when you don’t feel it, can your B-game still be effective?”
That’s the learning curve for any young player - figuring out how to contribute even when the highlight-reel moments aren’t there. For Celebrini, it’s about finding ways to impact the game even when the puck isn’t bouncing his way. Warsofsky believes that once he nails down that piece of the puzzle, the rest will fall into place - and fast.
“He’s learning along the way,” Warsofsky said. “But he’s already doing things that veterans take years to figure out.”
The Sharks have a lot of work ahead as they continue to build their roster and identity. But with a player like Celebrini leading the charge - on the ice and in the locker room - they’ve got a cornerstone they can believe in.
Not just a future star, but a culture-setter. A tone-setter.
And maybe sooner than later, a franchise player in every sense of the word.