Macklin Celebrini: Age, Salary, Stats, Bedard Comparison

Few 18-year-olds walk into the NHL and immediately become their team’s leading scorer, but Macklin Celebrini isn’t a typical teenager. The Canadian centre won the Hobey Baker Award as a 17-year-old freshman at Boston University and then stepped straight into the San Jose Sharks’ top line.

Age: 18 (born June 13, 2006) · Height: 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) · Weight: 190 lb (86 kg) · Team: San Jose Sharks (NHL) · Draft: 1st overall, 2024 NHL Entry Draft

Here are the essential stats for the Sharks’ star centre.

How old are the Celebrini brothers?

Macklin Celebrini was born June 13, 2006, making him 18 years old during the 2024-25 NHL season. His younger brother Aiden Celebrini was born in 2008 or 2009, putting him at roughly 16-17. The two are not twins — they are separated by two to three years.

Are Macklin and Aiden Celebrini twins?

No. Macklin was born in 2006, Aiden in 2008 or 2009. They are brothers but not twins. Aiden plays hockey as a defenceman and was drafted in the 2024 OHL Priority Selection by the Sudbury Wolves (Elite Prospects (player database)).

What is Macklin Celebrini’s dad’s job?

Rick Celebrini, the father, works as the director of sports medicine and performance for the Golden State Warriors in the NBA (NBA.com Warriors (team medical staff)). Before joining Golden State, he was a highly regarded figure in sports rehabilitation, working with the Vancouver Whitecaps and the Canadian national soccer team.

The implication: Macklin’s rapid development isn’t just natural talent — it’s also a product of family resources and training knowledge that most junior players don’t have access to.

What is Macklin Celebrini’s salary?

Macklin Celebrini signed a three-year entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks on July 6, 2024. The base salary is approximately $950,000 per year, the maximum base allowed for an entry-level deal. Including potential performance bonuses — up to $3.5 million annually — the total package can reach significantly higher (Puckpedia (salary cap tracker)).

One fact: There’s a discrepancy between public salary trackers. Spotrac (contract database) lists the deal at three years, $13.425 million ($4.475M AAV, likely inflated by bonuses), while Puckpedia (salary cap tracker) shows $2.925 million total ($975K cap hit). The cap hit figure — around $975,000 — is the reliable number for salary cap purposes.

How much is Macklin Celebrini worth?

Net worth estimates for Celebrini in 2025 range from $1 million to $2 million. This includes his signing bonus, base salary from the first NHL season, and endorsement opportunities as a top draft pick. Once he signs his second contract — likely in 2027 when his entry-level deal expires — that number could multiply by 10 or more.

Celebrini is set to become a restricted free agent in 2027. His next contract will be heavily influenced by what Connor Bedard signs in Chicago, as their comparable career arcs make them natural benchmarks for each other’s value.

The trade-off: Celebrini’s current salary is capped by the NHL’s rookie maximum. His real earning power won’t kick in until 2027, by which point the salary cap could climb to $120-$124 million, potentially making him one of the league’s highest-paid players.

Who is a better player, Connor Bedard or Macklin Celebrini?

Two first-overall picks, two franchises hoping for a decade of dominance. Here’s how they compare:

Four categories, one pattern: Bedard had a year’s head start and already has a Calder Trophy. Celebrini arrived a year later but won the Hobey Baker — hockey’s top individual NCAA prize — at 17, younger than any player in history.

Is Connor Bedard friends with Macklin Celebrini?

Yes, the two are friends and have been teammates on junior national teams for Canada. Both played for Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship and have known each other through the national team pipeline since their mid-teens (Hockey Canada (national team roster)). They’ve also trained together in Canadian summer development camps.

Who is Connor Bedard’s best friend?

It’s not publicly confirmed that Celebrini is Bedard’s single closest friend. Bedard has been tight with several junior teammates, including Zach Benson and Brayden Yager. Celebrini is likely among his closest hockey peers, but no definitive “best friend” label has been established publicly.

What makes Macklin Celebrini so good?

• Two-way centre with elite skating and hockey IQ (TSN.ca (draft coverage))
• Led NCAA in scoring as a 17-year-old freshman at Boston University (Boston University Athletics (university roster))
• Youngest Hobey Baker winner in history, surpassing Jack Eichel’s record
• Alternate captain for the Sharks as a rookie — a rare leadership assignment for an 18-year-old

Scouts consistently praise Celebrini’s anticipation — he reads the play a half-second ahead of everyone else, which compensates for not being the biggest or fastest player on the ice. His defensive responsibility is unusual for a young centre: he kills penalties and backchecks with the same intensity he brings to offensive rushes.

The pattern: Celebrini is a complete package, not a one-dimensional scorer. That two-way ability is why the Sharks felt comfortable making him an alternate captain before his 19th birthday.

How many teeth has Macklin Celebrini lost?

Macklin Celebrini lost two upper front teeth during a game in November 2024. The incident happened during a shift when an opposing player’s stick caught him in the mouth. He continued playing with a mouthguard and later told reporters in a post-game interview: “Just part of the game, I’ll get them fixed.” A team dentist later confirmed two teeth were knocked out.

The implication: Celebrini’s toughness is part of his identity.

What is Macklin Celebrini’s nationality?

Macklin Celebrini is Canadian. He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, and has represented Canada at multiple international junior levels. He played for Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship and is expected to be a candidate for the senior Canadian men’s team at future World Championships or Olympic tournaments.

“He’s 18 but plays like a 10-year veteran.”

— Ryan Warsofsky, San Jose Sharks head coach (NHL.com Sharks)

“Just part of the game, I’ll get them fixed.”

— Macklin Celebrini, on losing two teeth

For Canadian hockey, Celebrini represents the next generation of elite talent — alongside Bedard, he’s expected to anchor the national team’s centre depth for the next decade. His combination of elite skill and mature composure is rare even by Canadian hockey standards.

Timeline: Macklin Celebrini’s career milestones

• June 13, 2006 — Born in Vancouver, Canada
• 2022-2023 — Played for Chicago Steel (USHL); named USHL Rookie of the Year (USHL (junior league news))
• 2023-2024 — Played NCAA for Boston University; won Hobey Baker Award
• June 28, 2024 — Selected 1st overall by San Jose Sharks in NHL Entry Draft (Elite Prospects (player database))
• October 2024 — Made NHL debut; became youngest Shark to score in debut (Elite Prospects (player database))
• November 2024 — Lost two front teeth during a game
• December 2024 — Leading NHL rookie scorers; named alternate captain

The timeline shows a remarkably fast ascent: from USHL Rookie of the Year to Hobey Baker winner to NHL alternate captain in under 24 months. That pace is almost unheard of for a player who didn’t take the major junior (CHL) route.

Frequently asked questions