Future NHL stars eligible for extensions

Several young NHL players are approaching eligibility for contract extensions, impacting their teams' future strategies. According to The Hockey News, Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks is a standout candidate, having recently finished top-three in voting for the Ted Lindsay Award and fourth in Hart Trophy voting.

With his impressive performance, Celebrini's extension could make him one of the NHL's highest-paid players. Kirill Marchenko from the Columbus Blue Jackets has consistently scored over 20 goals in his seasons and is also under consideration for a significant extension, which could alter the trajectory of the Blue Jackets organization.

Matvei Michkov of the Philadelphia Flyers had a solid rookie season but faced challenges in his sophomore year, potentially influencing his extension timeline. The Sharks also have Will Smith, who posted 24 goals and 59 points in his second season, and the New York Rangers are evaluating Will Cuylle, who demonstrated power-forward abilities and a solid two-way game last season.

The decisions made regarding these players' contracts will significantly shape the future of their respective teams, as highlighted by The Hockey News.