Macklin Celebrini: Salary, Contract, Family, and Early NHL Career

There’s something about the way a top pick walks into an NHL locker room, and Macklin Celebrini — selected first overall by the San Jose Sharks in 2024 — is already carrying that weight comfortably. This article covers his salary, contract timeline, family background (including the twin rumor), and his friendship with Connor Bedard.

Age (as of 2025): 18 ·
Height: 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) ·
Weight: 190 lb (86 kg) ·
NHL Draft Year: 2024 (1st overall) ·
Current Team: San Jose Sharks

Here are Celebrini’s fundamental stats and bio details.

Are Macklin and Aiden Celebrini twins?

It’s a common question that pops up in online searches: because both brothers are in the hockey spotlight and their names sound similar, many assume they share the same birthday. The short answer: they are not twins.

Who is Aiden Celebrini?

• Aiden was born in 2004, making him about two years older than Macklin (Wikipedia).
• He is a goaltender for Boston University, where he started his college career before Macklin arrived (Boston University Athletics).
• Their father, Rick Celebrini, is a renowned sports physiotherapist who currently works for the Golden State Warriors (Wikipedia).

What other Celebrini family members play hockey?

• Beyond Macklin and Aiden, no close relatives are known to play professionally. Rick Celebrini was a soccer player, not a hockey player (Wikipedia).
• The family’s sports lineage is strong: Rick’s work with elite athletes influenced Macklin’s development (Sportsnet).

What is Macklin Celebrini’s salary and is he a millionaire?

His entry-level contract structure is straightforward by NHL standards, but performance bonuses and his overall star power push his total compensation into seven-figure territory.

What is the maximum entry-level contract in the NHL?

• Celebrini signed a three-year, $2.925 million entry-level contract with a cap hit of $975,000 per season (PuckPedia).
• The NHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement sets the maximum base salary for an ELC at $975,000 for 2024-25, plus signing bonuses and performance bonuses (NHL.com).
• Celebrini’s signing bonus and achievable “A” bonuses could push his total annual value above $4 million (Daily Faceoff).

Who is the lowest paid NHL player?

• The league minimum salary for the 2024-25 season is $775,000 (NHL.com).
• Players on two-way contracts or in the minors may earn less, but the NHL minimum floor protects all rostered players (CapFriendly).
• Celebrini’s base salary is well above the minimum, and with bonuses he is easily a millionaire in annual earnings (PuckPedia).

Is Connor Bedard friends with Macklin Celebrini?

Yes, the two top picks share a well-documented friendship that dates back to their time with Hockey Canada’s youth program.

Did Bedard and Celebrini play together growing up?

• They were teammates on Canada’s U18 team at the 2023 IIHF World U18 Championship (Hockey Canada).
• They did not play together on the same regular junior or professional team before the NHL (Wikipedia).
• Bedard is a year older (born 2005) and was drafted 1st overall in 2023; Celebrini followed in 2024 (Wikipedia).

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

• Both are centers, making the comparison direct but early in their careers (Daily Faceoff).
• By the end of the 2025-26 season, Celebrini had reportedly surpassed Bedard in point totals (Daily Faceoff).
• Most analysts agree their long-term impact will be shaped by team construction and health (TSN).

Two recent No. 1 picks, one positional overlap, one clear pattern: both are franchise centers, but Celebrini’s rookie production has edged ahead in the early returns. The table below lays out their contracts and early impact side by side.

Macklin Celebrini’s Career Timeline

• June 13, 2006 — Born in Vancouver, BC (PuckPedia)
• 2023-24 Season — Played at Boston University, won Hobey Baker Award (Wikipedia)
• June 28, 2024 — Drafted 1st overall by San Jose Sharks (NHL.com)
• July 2024 — Signed entry-level contract (PuckPedia)
• October 2024 — NHL debut (PuckPedia)
• Late 2025 / Early 2026 — Opened to extension talks, broke franchise points record (ESPN)

What’s Confirmed and What’s Unclear

Confirmed facts

• Macklin and Aiden are not twins (Wikipedia)
• Celebrini signed a 3-year ELC with $975,000 cap hit (PuckPedia)
• He was drafted 1st overall in 2024 (NHL.com)
• He and Connor Bedard are friends and former U18 teammates (Daily Faceoff)
• His father is Rick Celebrini, Warriors physio (Wikipedia)

What’s unclear

• The exact total of his signing bonus (not always public) (PuckPedia notes base, but bonus details are often private)
• Final terms of any contract extension (not yet signed) (ESPN reports talks ongoing)
• The definitive “best player” outcome between him and Bedard (careers still early) (Daily Faceoff captures the debate)
• Exact point totals for Celebrini’s second season (not publicly finalized)
• Net worth estimates vary and are not officially confirmed

The clear facts outnumber the uncertainties, but the biggest unknowns — extension terms and career trajectory — will define his legacy.

What the Experts Say

“We haven’t really had any talks or discussions yet.”

— Macklin Celebrini, speaking to reporters on extension talks (ESPN)

“I want to commit to this team and be here, and I love it here.”

— Macklin Celebrini, in his exit interview (San Jose Hockey Now)

Celebrini had passed Bedard in point totals at the time of the report, suggesting his second-year production already outpaced the Blackhawks star.

— Daily Faceoff analysis (Daily Faceoff)

The trajectory is clear: Celebrini’s rookie and sophomore seasons have him positioned as a cornerstone for San Jose. For a franchise in rebuild, the choice is straightforward — lock up their young star long-term, or risk losing him in a few years. The implication for Sharks management: start the extension conversations early, because the price tag only rises.

For more details on his personal background, see Macklin Celebrini age and family for a comprehensive profile.

Frequently asked questions

For Sharks fans, the takeaway is clear: Celebrini is the real deal, and the sooner the team locks him in long-term, the better.