With young players, especially franchise talents, pressure is often a concern. For the Sharks’ own generational talent, Macklin Celebrini, the anxiety seems to easily roll off his back. Having just turned 20 a few weeks ago, Celebrini’s youth is constantly at the center of the conversation.
Today, the IIHF announced Macklin Celebrini was named Male Player of the Year. At only 19, Celebrini became the youngest player to ever represent Team Canada at the Olympics (with NHL participation). Several months later, he was named Canada’s captain at the World Championship. These things considered, it’s safe to say Celebrini handles pressure well.
At the Olympics, Celebrini recorded 10 points (5G, 5A) in six games played. This is impressive in its own right, especially considering his age, however it’s even more impressive when the Sidney Crosby factor is taken into account. During the Olympics, Crosby suffered an injury. This injury forced Celebrini to fill his role, specifically on the top power play unit, a role with big shoes to fill. However, Celebrini handled the stress with grace and skill and helped lead the team to a silver medal.
Months later, Celebrini was named captain at the World Championship. This was a decision voted on by the entire team, Sidney Crosby included. Celebrini receiving the “C” marked the first time Crosby didn’t have it since 2010, officially passing the torch to the young superstar. In this tournament, Celebrini notched 14 points (6G, 8A) in 10 games played. Again showing his leadership qualities and ability to handle pressure.
Aside from his play on the international circuit, which earned him his newest accolade, Macklin Celebrini was the heart and soul of the San Jose Sharks. Not only did he break Joe Thornton’s franchise single-season point record with 115 points (45G, 70A), Celebrini was the only player on the team to break 60 overall points, 40 assists, and 30 goals. Clearly the most valuable player to the organization, this earned him fourth in Hart (most valuable player to his team) voting. He also finished second in Ted Lindsay voting, the award for best player in the league voted on by his peers, showing how much the rest of the league admires him.
Age is just a number, especially for Macklin Celebrini. While other 20-year-olds are worried about college courses and friends, Celebrini is worried about leading the Sharks to a playoff spot. With the weight of the world on his shoulders, Celebrini is handling the pressure just fine.
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