Category: Ice Hockey

With an arbitration date that had originally been set for Jul. 28, the Pittsburgh Penguins and one of their newly acquired forwards have reached a settlement agreement to avoid arbitration altogether.

Nicholas Robertson, who was acquired by the Penguins on Jul. 1 from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 2028 fourth-round pick, came to terms on a two-year deal worth $3.75 million annually. In 78 games with the Maple Leafs last season, the 5-foot-9, 180-pound left wing registered 16 goals and 32 points, and he has 48 goals and 88 points in 234 NHL games dispersed across parts of six seasons. 

Penguins Acquire Nick Robertson From Maple LeafsThe Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired Nick Robertson from the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Penguins elected to take a chance on Robertson when he became available as an RFA trade option on Jul. 1, and they were able to get an original trade deal across the finish line. Robertson requested a trade from the Leafs two summers ago, but Pittsburgh felt now was the right time to take advantage.

"To be honest, this morning, Nick came up," Penguins' assistant general manager Jason Spezza said on Jul. 1. "And, because we had the space and we had the ability and the picks to make the move quickly, we were able to move fast on it."

Robertson, 24, is the younger brother of Dallas Stars superstar winger Jason, who has also been the subject of trade rumors involving the Penguins. Nick joins a crowded cast of forwards for the Penguins, as they have also added Andrei Kuzmenko and Hendrix Lapierre and just signed RFA forward Egor Chinakhov to a three-year extension.

'There Were Some Pretty Legitimate Talks': Penguins, Stars Reportedly Discussed Robertson Trade Prior To Arbitration FilingA Pittsburgh Penguins trade target filed for arbitration on Sunday.

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Once upon a not-so-distant time, the Montreal Canadiens were all about Carey Price’s spectacular saves, but that’s no longer the case. On Monday, the NHL released an interesting graphic picturing the highest-scoring players in the league by areas on the ice, and the Habs have claimed two of the 12 areas.

Unsurprisingly, it’s captain Nick Suzuki and sniper Cole Caufield who lead the league in goals on the left side. Caufield scored five goals from the area nearer the net, where he has repeatedly shown just how good his hands can be when scoring in close this past season. As for Suzuki, he’s also scored five lamplighters from a bit higher in the zone and in close to the boards. The centre has indeed proved that he doesn’t need much of an angle to beat netminders.

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The list of dominant players in all areas is a who’s who of the best players in the NHL; Suzuki and Caufield are in excellent company. On the doorstep, Tyler Bertuzzi has scored nine goals for the Chicago Blackhawks; from the slot, Dallas Stars’ Wyatt Johnston has converted 27 times; from the right in close, Pavel Dorofeyev has beaten goalies seven times with the Vegas Golden Knights. On the left, around the faceoff circle, is Nathan MacKinnon’s territory; the Colorado Avalanche leader and Rocket Richard Trophy winner has scored 10 of his goals from there.

Macklin Celebrini has ruled the high slot with the San Jose Sharks, finding the back of the net 16 times from there. Around the faceoff dot on the right was Cutter Gauthier’s stomping ground; the Anaheim Ducks RFA has beaten goalies 11 times from there, while the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov has converted seven times from near the boards.

From the blueline on the left, it’s rookie of the year and New York Islanders gem Matthew Schaefer, who’s been the most productive with three goals; around the blueline in the middle of the ice, it’s the Lightning’s defenseman Darren Raddysh, who has shown the brightest with nine goals. On the right side of the blueline, the Avs’ veteran defenseman Brent Burns dominated with five lamplighters.

Only three teams had two players on the graphic: the Habs, the Avs, and the Bolts, but only Montreal and Colorado have retained both of their players. When the puck drops on the new season, Raddysh will no longer be in Tampa; he’ll be patrolling the Toronto Maple Leafs’ blueline.

You've got to give extra attention to these players in those spots on the ice! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/OgRzo22FrS

— NHL (@NHL) July 13, 2026

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At the 2026 NHL trade deadline, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired forward Elmer Soderblom from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick. This was after the 6-foot-8 forward had two goals and one assist in 39 games for Detroit before the trade.

While Soderblom struggled with the Red Wings before the trade, he undoubtedly changed things on that front after being dealt to the Penguins. In 20 games with the Penguins after the move, he posted five goals, 10 points, and 35 hits. With numbers like these, he proved to be a strong pickup to Pittsburgh's roster for the final stretch of the season. 

Given how well Soderblom played for the Penguins following the trade, he is a breakout candidate to watch in 2026-27. He showed plenty of promise after being traded to Pittsburgh, and it would be big if he kept this kind of play up for a whole season. If he did, he would emerge as a key part of the Penguins' top nine. 

With Soderblom being only 25 years old, the possibility of him hitting a new level next season should not be ruled out. It will be interesting to see what kind of season he has from here. 

It is no secret that the Chicago Blackhawks have formed a very strong prospect pool as they continue their rebuild. Due to this, they have many exciting youngsters in their system.

Eight Blackhawks prospects have made Scott Wheeler's new top 100 NHL drafted prospect rankings for The Athletic. Anton Frondell, Roman Kantserov, Sam Rinzel, Nick Lardis, Oliver Moore, Kevin Korchinski, Xavier Villeneuve, and Vaclav Nestrasil made the cut. 

Frondell and Kantserov each received rankings in the top 25. This is because Frondell landed the No. 18 spot, while Kantserov picked up the No. 23 ranking. 

Rinzel, Lardis, and Moore each landed spots in the top 65. Rinzel was ranked No. 49, Lardis picked up spot No. 57, and Moore grabbed the No. 62 ranking on Wheeler's list. 

Korchinski, Villeneuve, and Nestrasil rounded off the rankings for the Blackhawks. Korchinski picked up the No. 75 spot, Villeneuve was given the No. 79 spot, and Nestrasil just made the cut at No. 95. 

Overall, it is hard not to feel excited about the Blackhawks' future when they have so many promising prospects. It will be interesting to see how they all continue to develop from here. 

Nick Robertson’s has reportedly settled on a new contract.

The 24-year-old forward, who spent his entire NHL career with the Toronto Maple Leafs before being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 1, has agreed to a two-year contract worth $6.5 million ($3.25 million AAV), according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. The deal comes less than two weeks after Robertson, a restricted free agent, filed for salary arbitration and just days before his scheduled July 28 hearing.

For Robertson, the agreement provides the stability he has chased since breaking into the league as a highly touted 2019 second-round pick (53rd overall). Drafted out of the OHL’s Peterborough Petes, the Pasadena, California native was long viewed as a dynamic, undersized winger with high-end skill and speed. Early stints with the Leafs were interrupted by injuries and the Maple Leafs’ crowded forward depth, sending him back to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies for extended development stretches in 2020-21 and 2021-22.

The persistence paid off. Robertson gradually carved out a more regular role, showing he could play a gritty, responsible game while chipping in offensively. Over 234 NHL games,  all with Toronto, he has produced 48 goals and 88 points. His most recent campaign in 2025-26 was his most complete: 78 games, 16 goals and 32 points, numbers that reflected both increased ice time and a growing comfort level in the league’s middle six.

Nick Robertson and Pittsburgh have a settlement

2 x $3.25M for him

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) July 14, 2026

That production made him a logical arbitration candidate after he earned $1.825 million in 2025-26. With the Maple Leafs facing their own cap and roster decisions, Toronto shipped the pending RFA to Pittsburgh on the opening day of free agency. The move gave the Penguins a young, cost-controlled forward with NHL experience and upside, while clearing a roster spot and cap flexibility for the Leafs, while reuniting him with former Maple Leafs GM Kyle Dubas.

Now with his new club, Robertson will slot into a Penguins forward group looking for secondary scoring and energy. Pittsburgh avoided the uncertainty of an arbitration hearing by locking him in at a reasonable number that reflects his recent output and the organization’s view of his long-term fit. The deal runs through the 2027-28 season, taking Robertson to one more year of restricted free agency at the expiry of the deal.

For a player who once symbolized the Leafs’ prospect pipeline frustrations, the contract represents both validation and a fresh start. Robertson has shown he can score at the NHL level when given consistent opportunity. In Pittsburgh, with a new coaching staff and a different set of expectations, he’ll have another chance to prove it ,  this time with the security of a twoi-year deal in hand.

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The New York Islanders have signed 2026 first-round pick Malte Gustafsson to his three-year entry-level deal, the club announced on Tuesday morning. 

#Isles announce that they have signed defenseman Malte Gustafsson to a three-year entry level contract.

— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) July 14, 2026

Gustafsson, the 13th overall pick, will be playing one more season in the SHL for HV71 before coming over to join the Islanders' organization. 

We'll see if that plan has changed. 

The 18-year-old Swedish defenseman, standing at 6'4 and weighing 203 lbs, plays an annoying brand of hockey. For his size, he's incredibly mobile, has top-notch hockey IQ, and also has the physical ability to shut down the best players on the other team. 

Islanders Select Left-Shot Defenseman Malte Gustafsson With 13th Selection In 2026 NHL DraftThe 6’4” Swedish blueliner brings elite skating and three-zone versatility to New York’s pipeline, fresh off a dominant showing as an international shutdown force for HV71.

The 18-year-old Swedish defenseman, standing at 6'4 and weighing 203 lbs, plays an annoying brand of hockey. For his size, he's incredibly mobile, has top-notch hockey IQ, and also has the physical ability to shut down the best players on the other team. 

Although Gustafsson does want to add more offense to his game, that's not his specialty.

He should be viewed as a future Adam Pelech replacement. 

New Gm. New era. Time’s are changing in Utica, as well as the big club. What Devils prospects appear poised to ride the wave of change and make their NHL debuts this season? Let’s take an early look.

Anton Silayev

First, let’s address the elephant in the room. One of Sunny Mehta’s first moves was to announce the inevitable signing of LHD Anton Silayev to his ELC. Silayev is a smooth-skating 6’7 giant with offensive instincts, who after a record-setting campaign, struggled after a coaching change in Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod limited his ice time and usage last season in the KHL.

The left defense position is currently stacked at the NHL level and even if either Brendan Dillon or Jonas Siegenthaler end up moved this summer, Topias Vilen appears poised to make his case, and recent acquisitions Declan Chisholm and Vladislav Kolyachonok add to the crowded field of competition. None of these players should preclude Silayev from the NHL roster though, and while Silayev may spend some time getting acclimated in the AHL to start the season, odds are we will see the Russian giant in New Jersey soon.

Amadeus Lombardi

One of GM Sunny Mehta’s earliest moves was to acquire 23-year-old center/winger Amadeus Lombardi from the Detroit Red Wings for a fourth round pick in the 2026 draft. GM Mehta made it clear in press conferences that acquiring Lombardi was not only a depth move, but a “bet” that the player is ready for the NHL. With that high praise, Lombardi should be given every opportunity to win a spot on the Devils roster. We will know more in camp, but after 81 points in 92 games the past two seasons for the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL, the speedy center seems to be a bet worth taking. Time will tell if it pays off.

Jakub Malek

With the plan seemingly to run a three goalie-carousel in New Jersey between Jake Allen, Nico Daws, and newly-acquired David Rittich, the odd man out seems to be Jakub Malek, who should be earning the lion’s share of starts in Utica to start the season. But for how long? Malek, who won the Ian Anderson Award for most-improved player on the Comets this past season for his strong play down the stretch, would be the obvious choice of a replacement should one of the aforementioned netminders falter or go down with an injury. Malek has succeeded just about everywhere he has played and despite a slow start adjusting to North America, has shown flashes of brilliance at the AHL level in his first season. Sunny Mehta appears more willing than past GMs to let the dice roll with a fresh face in net. All these signs point to this being the year we get a look at Malek in New Jersey.

Matyas Melovsky

With some revamping at the center position, Matyas Melovsky has slid down the depth chart a little bit, but is still a strong candidate to earn a look at the NHL at some point this season. Listed amongst Utica Comets “prospects to watch”, Melovsky had a strong rookie showing scoring 10 goals and 16 assists in 55 games, slowly working his way up the lineup and even earning power play time towards the end of the season when the 22-year-old put up 7 points in his last 7 games. While unlikely to earn a spot out of camp, if Melovsky is able to build off that late season success, there is a good chance this defensively reliable, two-way centerman could make his NHL debut as an injury call-up.

Your Take

What do you think? Will this be the year Cam Squires breaks out? Could Ethan Edwards make a push despite a crowded field on the left side? How about newly-acquired Ben Steeves or Etiene Morin earning a look? Any other candidates for a NHL debut? Let us know in the comments below.

The Pittsburgh Penguins should consider adding another left-shot defenseman to their roster this off-season. After trading away Parker Wotherspoon and not re-signing Ryan Shea, they could use more depth on the left side of their blueline. 

With it now being two weeks since the start of NHL free agency, there are not too many notable UFA defensemen still available for the taking. However, there is an interesting potential option in defenseman Carson Soucy. 

Soucy split this past season between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders, where he recorded five goals, 12 points, 91 blocks, and 105 hits. This was after the 6-foot-4 blueliner posted four goals, 13 points, 106 blocks, and 115 hits in 75 games split between the Vancouver Canucks and Rangers during the 2024-25 season. 

While Soucy does not produce much offense from the point, he is more known for being a defensive defenseman who kills penalties and throws the body. With this, he could be a decent veteran blueliner for the Penguins to add to their depth. 

If the Penguins signed Soucy, he could slot nicely on their second or third pairing. He would also offer them another option to work with on their penalty kill because of his steady defensive play. 

On a short-term and affordable deal, Soucy could be worth bringing in for the Penguins. It will be interesting to see if they make a push for him this off-season.

In terms of adding new talent this off-season, the Montreal Canadiens have been quiet. While this is the case, they still have plenty of time to change that before the start of the season.

When looking at their current roster, one of their top needs is another defenseman for their right side. Due to this, one player who the Canadiens should consider targeting this summer is Calgary Flames defenseman Zach Whitecloud.

With the Flames being in a rebuild, questions about Whitecloud's future with the Flames have come up. If the Flames do make him available, he is a player who should be on the Canadiens' radar. 

If the Canadiens acquired Whitecloud, he would provide them with another solid option for either their second or third pairing. Furthermore, because of his strong defensive play, he would be a clear choice for the Habs' penalty kill if brought in. 

Whitecloud would also be more than a one-year rental for the Canadiens if they acquired him this off-season. This is because he has a very affordable $2.75 million cap through the 2027-28 season. That is a bargain price for a solid right-shot defenseman like him. 

In 78 games last season split between the Vegas Golden Knights and Flames, Whitecloud posted two goals, 15 assists, 17 points, 124 hits, and 140 blocks. 

Three Pittsburgh Penguins prospects have made Scott Wheeler's new top 100 NHL drafted prospects rankings for The Athletic. This is because Harrison Brunicke, Rutger McGroarty, and Will Horcoff have made the cut. 

Brunicke was given the No. 74 spot on Wheeler's list. It is understandable, as he has the potential to become a key part of the Penguins' blueline in the future. The 2024 second-round pick played in his first nine career NHL games last season for Pittsburgh, where he scored one goal. With the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last season, he posted one goal and eight points in 11 regular-season games and two goals and seven points in 15 playoff games. He also had two goals and 24 points in 24 games in the WHL with the Kamloops Blazers in 2025-26. 

McGroarty was given the No. 84 spot on Wheeler's rankings. This comes after the 6-foot-1 forward posted three goals and six points in 24 games with Pittsburgh last season. He took a notable step forward in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season, posting 10 goals and 34 points in 30 games. With numbers like these, it is hard not to feel optimistic about his future in Pittsburgh. 

As for Horcoff, he landed the No. 92 spot. The 2025 first-round pick had a strong year with the University of Michigan, recording 25 goals and 39 points in 40 games. The potential for the 6-foot-5 forward become an impactful player in the NHL is there. 

It wasn’t by accident the Colorado Avalanche wrapped up all their existing Restricted Free Agent loose ends before the start of the 2026-27 league year. However, after trading for Fabian Lysell from the Boston Bruins in late June, one more contract to take care of was put back on their plate.

The 23-year-old right wing had concluded his four-year Entry Level Contract but didn’t hold any arbitration rights so it was really up to the Avalanche to negotiate with Lysell in good faith after extending him a qualifying offer and it didn’t take long to reach an agreement on a one-year two-way contract for the upcoming season.

We have signed forward Fabian Lysell to a one-year deal 📝 pic.twitter.com/HQbLznE47l

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) July 13, 2026

As always, there’s a lot of clues on the outlook for Lysell in the details of the contract with a $850 NHL cap hit and $190k guaranteed minor league salary. The relatively low guaranteed money on this two-way deal puts the right winger at the bottom of the list as far as financial commitment from the Avalanche. Both Gavin Brindley and Taylor Makar were given identical two-year contracts which are two-way in the first year. Their NHL cap hit is $875K and minor league salaries are $200K with a $300K guarantee. Oddly enough the Lysell deal is nearly the same as the one-year contract Ivan Ivan received in Boston. One upside on the $850K cap hit is that makes Lysell is the cheapest call-up option to the Avalanche.

The #GoAvsGo signed 23 y/o F Fabian Lysell to a one year two-way contract

NHL: $850K
Minors: $170K
Guaranteed: $190K

42P in 57GP – AHLhttps://t.co/rhReVhNmYt

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) July 14, 2026

The Columbus Blue Jackets have had many goalies play for them since 2000, but only 13 have played in over 20 games. From Ron Tugnutt to Jet Greaves, and everyone in between, a wide variety of goaltenders have worn the Union Blue.

But who were the most obscure goalies to ever play in a game for the CBJ? Let's take a look.

1. Brian Boucher - Yes! THAT Brian Boucher. He played in 3 games for the Jackets in March of 2007. He went 1-1, allowed 9 goals, posted a GAA of 3.79, and a save % of .866. He went on to play another 6 seasons in the NHL. 
2. Fred Brathwaite - He played in 21 games for Columbus during the 2003-04 season. He had a record of 4-11-1 with a GAA of 3.37 and a save % of .897. After his stint with the CBJ, he would never play in the NHL again. 
3. Wade Dubielewicz - Dubielewicz played in 3 games for the Jackets from January to March of 2009. He went 1-2, allowed 10 goals, posted a GAA of 3.56, and had a save % of .870. He went on to play only three more NHL games after his time with Columbus. 
4. David LeNeveu - LeNeveu played one game for the Jackets on April 3, 2011. He gave up two goals to the Blues on 12 shots. He finished with a GAA of 6.00 and a save % of .833. He would never play another NHL game after his only game with Columbus. 
5. Ty Conklin - Conklin played in 11 games for the Jackets during the 06-07 season. He finished with a 2-3-2 record, gave up 27 goals, had a GAA of 3.30, and had a save % of .871. He played another 5 NHL seasons after he left Columbus. 

Honorable Mention

• Allen York - 11 Games Played
• Martin Prusek - 9 Games Played
• Tomáš Pöpperle - 2 Games Played
• Shawn Hunwick - 1 Game Played 

Every team needs backup goalies, and every now and then, they need to have a random third or even fourth goalie step in and take some minutes. But it seems like over the years, the CBJ has had a revolving door for goalies. 

The Jackets' goalie prospect pool isn't especially deep right now, but they do have two young Russians who will be about 4-5 years apart. They also have Evan Gardner and Nolan LaLonde in Cleveland. Gardner is projected to have a better career than LaLonde, but we'll see what shakes out in the next few years. 

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Two weeks have passed since the beginning of the NHL free agency period, and future Hall of Fame forward Patrick Kane remains unsigned. 

Kane, who signed with the Detroit Red Wings as an unrestricted free agent in December 2023, subsequently signed a one-year contract on June 30 of both 2024 and 2025, and has spent the last two and a half seasons wearing the Winged Wheel. 

And while Kane spoke openly at the end of the 2025-26 campaign about his interest in remaining with Detroit, circumstances may have changed, especially in the wake of Dylan Larkin's explosive trade request that went public in early June. 

In mid-April, Kane expressed interest in running it back in Detroit. 

“I think there is mutual interest for me to come back and continue my career here. It’s been a great spot for me, my family, and my son, and I’ve definitely enjoyed my time here," Kane said in April during Detroit's season-ending media availability. "But there’s no rush. I’ll talk things over with my agent and my family, and we’ll see how everything plays out.

“I’d love to be part of the solution that gets this team over the hump. We have a good team here, and we can win. I think this team is better than some teams that are in the playoffs.”

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Larkin had a similar sentiment, saying he wants to remain with Detroit and be part of the solution that gets them back to the postseason.

However, Larkin had a change of heart and officially requested to be moved by GM Steve Yzerman, who confirmed the report that was first made public by NHL Insider Elliotte Friedman in early June. 

While there remains an avenue for Kane to return to the Red Wings after testing the market, his potential departure would represent yet another blow to Detroit's offense. 

In 67 games last season, Kane produced 16 goals and 41 assists for 57 points, ending the year fifth among Detroit's leading point producers.

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Arber Xhekaj could have filed for arbitration, but he chose not to, and that’s likely part of the reason why Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes is getting calls about the gritty defenseman. According to BPM Sports and RG.org’s Marco D’Amico, multiple teams have called to enquire about the supersized defenseman. At 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, the blueliner of Albanian descent brings a special mix of skills to the table but is one of the victims of the congestion at the Habs’ blueline.

Clearly, the organization is aware of what it had in Xhekaj and what he can bring to the table, but there seems to be a bit of a disconnect between what the executives think about the eldest Xhekaj and what the bench boss thinks. While Hughes has always been firm about not wanting to trade him away, Martin St-Louis barely uses him when he dresses him. The big defender didn’t see a single game of action in the third round of the playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes, and in his last game against the Buffalo Sabres, he spent only 1:52 on the ice.

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While Xhekaj is a great teammate who never complains about the situation, the fact that he didn’t file for arbitration, which means he remains eligible to offer sheets, suggests he’d be willing to go somewhere where he’d see more action. The Canadiens already have four left-shot defensemen signed for the upcoming season in Mike Matheson, Lane Hutson, Kaiden Guhle and Jayden Struble. That’s not even taking into account the fact that Adam Engstrom is knocking on the big league’s door. Matheson, Hutson and Guhle are all signed long-term.

It would be easier for Xhekaj if he were a right-shot rear guard, but he isn’t, and he did look 100% comfortable when the Habs tried to play him on his off-side. Noah Dobson is the only right-shot who’s signed long-term with the Canadiens. The organization hopes that David Reinbacher will be able to graduate to the NHL this season, while Alex Carrier will be playing the last year of his deal. Russian right-shot prospect Bogdan Konyushkov has also been signed this offseason. While he will spend the season in the KHL, the plan is for him to come over afterwards, and he, too, could challenge for a spot in the lineup for the 2027-28 season.

It’s more than likely that Xhekaj’s representatives want to know what the plan is for him in the organization, but they’re not having the conversation with the right people. The GM can sign you to a contract, but he cannot guarantee how much ice time you will get. That’s up to the coach. It’s a tricky situation Xhekaj finds himself in. There’s no doubt that he likes the team and where it’s headed, especially since his brother could soon make the jump to the NHL, but if he thinks about his future as an NHL player, it may be better for him to land on a team that won’t be reluctant to both use and trust him.

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Sharks star Macklin Celebrini becomes youngest ‘NHL 27' cover athlete in history originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Macklin Celebrini’s list of 2026 accolades just got one item longer.

The Sharks center was unveiled Monday as the cover athlete for EA Sports’ “NHL 27,” becoming the youngest player in league history to earn the honor at 20 years old — surpassing Trevor Zegras, who was 21 when he covered “NHL 23.”

The next generation is here. Macklin Celebrini is the youngest NHL cover athlete in history.

Tune in for the #NHL27 Reveal Trailer July 16 at 11 AM ET: https://t.co/jihAWdWaXPpic.twitter.com/C1LkKxBfu2

— NHL (@NHL) July 14, 2026

Celebrini only is the second Sharks player ever to grace the cover, following Owen Nolan, who appeared on “NHL 2001” — a gap of 25 years.

The recognition caps a season that redefined what San Jose expected from its former No. 1 overall pick. Celebrini surpassed Joe Thornton’s franchise scoring record, which had stood for nearly two decades, finishing with 115 points — 45 goals and 70 assists — in 82 games, good for fourth in the NHL. He was a Ted Lindsay Award finalist alongside Connor McDavid and Nikita Kucherov, an award voted on by his peers for the league’s most outstanding player.

MACKLIN CELEBRINI MAKES HISTORY 🦈

With his 115th point of the season, the 19-year-old has set a new single-season franchise record for the San Jose Sharks! pic.twitter.com/MgivC0afR6

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 17, 2026

The accolades extended well beyond San Jose this year. Celebrini represented Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics as the youngest NHL player on the roster, led the tournament in goals with five, and became the first NHL player in history to convert a penalty shot at the Olympic Games — helping Canada capture the silver medal. He later was named captain of Canada’s roster at the IIHF World Championship, finishing second among all scorers with 14 points in 10 games, and was named the IIHF’s Male Player of the Year for the 2025-26 season. He also is a nominee for Best NHL Player at this year’s ESPY Awards.

Two seasons into his career, Celebrini already has drawn comparisons to the league’s biggest stars. The cover of “NHL 27” might be the least surprising accolade on the list.

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