Celebrini becomes Sharks' youngest captain

Macklin Celebrini has officially been named the captain of the San Jose Sharks, becoming the youngest captain in the franchise's history at just 20 years and 104 days old. This significant announcement was made on September 25, 2026, with previous Sharks captain Joe Thornton presenting him with the captain's jersey.

Celebrini, the 11th full-time captain for the team, has already established himself as a leader through his work ethic and relationships with teammates, as noted by General Manager Mike Grier and Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky.

Celebrini, who was the first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, broke Joe Thornton’s single-season franchise record with 115 points last season and was a finalist for both the Hart Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award.

His appointment as captain signals the Sharks' confidence in his abilities and reflects a commitment to building around a young core. Grier emphasized that Celebrini has already been a leader, organizing team activities and earning the trust of players across various age groups, while Celebrini affirmed that he aims to maintain his approach and share leadership responsibilities with teammates.