Macklin Celebrini is on the cover of EA Sports NHL 27. Second Shark ever. Owen Nolan had 2001. Now it is a 20-year-old centre who just rewrote the franchise scoring book. Marketing finally caught up to the box score.
How he got there
Olympics with Canada in 2026: five goals (tournament lead), 10 points in six games, silver medal. IIHF Male Player of the Year for 2025–26. Captained Canada at the Worlds and finished second in scoring with 14 points in 10 games. That is a lot of hardware for someone who still gets carded at some bars.
First overall, then 115 points
Drafted first in 2024. Last season: 45 goals, 70 assists, 115 points in 82 games. Franchise record. Ted Lindsay finalist. San Jose went from 20 wins and 52 points to 39–35–8 and 86. That jump is why the cover exists.
If you are looking at the Pacific next year, start with whether his supporting cast can keep that climb honest. Covers do not score in April. Celebrini might.
