Macklin Celebrini headlines San Jose’s youth surge ahead of 2026-27 NHL season

Macklin Celebrini will headline San Jose’s youth movement when the Sharks, Barracuda, and PWHL San Jose open the 2026-27 season.

What’s driving San Jose’s hockey buzz?

The Sharks’ draft weekend in late June turned heads when general manager Mike Grier swung picks to land top talent. San Jose used its second- and ninth-overall selections to add future stars, then moved up to grab the 21st pick. The crowd roared when Laila Edwards announced the club’s top picks from the stage at SAP Center. The Sharks’ pipeline now bristles with young names like Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, and Rory Guilday.

Why Macklin Celebrini matters now

Celebrini, the 2024 Calder Trophy runner-up, remains the face of San Jose’s rebuild. The 20-year-old center led the Sharks in scoring as a rookie last season and headlines a core that also includes top-10 pick Will Smith. Fans can watch Celebrini and Smith on back-to-back nights-or even in doubleheaders-at SAP Center. The Sharks’ front office insists the future is bright, and the numbers back it up.

Who else is stepping up in San Jose?

The Barracuda added Jake Gustafson in the sixth round, a Junior Sharks product who could push for AHL minutes this fall. PWHL San Jose inked Brooke Bryant, another California native who climbed through the same youth ranks. The Sharks’ draft-day trades and college-style signings show a club betting on homegrown talent. Even the PWHL squad now mirrors the NHL team’s youth-first approach.

What comes next for Celebrini and the Sharks?

San Jose opens training camp in mid-September with Celebrini, Smith, and Edwards as the headliners. The Sharks aim to climb from last season’s 14th-place finish in the West. SAP Center’s lights will burn late this winter as the club pushes for playoff contention. For now, the message is simple: the future is here-and it’s fast, physical, and very young.