Macklin Celebrini's $94-million extension will make him the highest paid player starting in 2027-28 and it gives Toronto an idea of just how expensive Gavin McKenna might be.
Wednesday morning came with the news that the San Jose Sharks and superstar forward Macklin Celebrini have come to terms on a five-year, $94-million extension with an AAV of $18.8-million.
-
The extension doesn't kick in until 2027-28 at which point, Celebrini will be the highest paid player in the NHL ahead of Leo Carlsson who makes $18-million AAV (though another star could surpass him by then).
-
Macklin Celebrini's five-year deal changes the market for young NHL superstars
It's a well-deserved pay raise for the 20-year-old. After a stellar 2025-26 campaign where he put up 115 points (45 goals, 70 assists), 33 power-play points, and a 48.6% face-off win percentage, and continued his above average possession numbers he has cemented himself as one of the league's brightest young stars.
Celebrini didn't take the full length of the deal and is looking to cash in just as he's about to hit his prime years - a calculated move for the Vancouver native.
But it just goes to show you that along with Carlsson's contract that the league has shifted to a model where young players are taking medium-length deals with an immediate financial gain in order to not only raise their stock, but also give themselves a chance to earn even more in their prime.
It's the same thing that Auston Matthews did in 2024 essentially when he signed a four-year deal worth $13.25M AAV. He chose a contract that allowed him to keep his options open later, but work with the team in the present - much like Celebrini is with San Jose, albeit at a much higher price tag attached.
If this is the benchmark for young players in the NHL, then we can expect Gavin McKenna's next extension to potentially come at a very high price.
The Maple Leafs may very well face the same decision with Gavin McKenna
While Toronto doesn't have to worry about things until McKenna's ELC expires in three years, once that timeframe is up, they have a lot to think about.
For comparison, Celebrini put up 63 points in 70 games his rookie season then exploded for the aforementioned 115 points this past year. If McKenna follows the same trajectory - 60 points as a rookie then 90-100 points the following season then Celebrini's deal could be a relatively similar comparison.
By the time McKenna needs to sign his next deal he will be 21 years old, so if he were to sign a five-year deal like Celebrini did, that pushes him into his prime years with a new contract ready to be signed. At that point he may be out of Toronto's price range, so they may want to convince him otherwise.
He can sign a seven-year deal (the max under the new CBA) which would guarantee that Toronto gets him through his prime and avoid free agency, but the price jumps up exponentially. If he were to be making for argument's sake - $20-million per season for five years - that would no doubt go up if the Maple Leafs want to keep him longer.
Though there is always a chance the team is successful in that timeframe and perhaps convinces McKenna to sign for a little cheaper but given his talent and future potential it's very unlikely.
Celebrini's contract isn't forecasting exactly what McKenna is going to get, but it does set a precedent for what he could earn if he turns out to be everything the Maple Leafs believe he can be.
How much per season will Gavin McKenna make on his next deal?
Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Maple Leafs cut ties with 2025 draft pick after just one year