Overview
- Macklin Celebrini, who signed the five-year, $94 million extension on July 29, will carry an $18.8 million average annual value that begins counting against the cap in 2027–28.
- The deal is heavily front-loaded, paying roughly $89.1 million in signing bonuses and about $4.9 million in base salary over the contract’s term.
- Celebrini accepted less than the theoretical maximum of about $20.8 million per year, a choice that helps preserve roughly $34 million of projected cap space for the Sharks in 2027–28.
- San Jose presents the extension as the organizational pivot from rebuild to contender, and Celebrini said ownership and management showed faith that helped prompt his long-term commitment.
- League observers say the $18.8 million AAV establishes a new benchmark for elite young RFAs and will put upward pressure on comparable negotiations next offseason, especially for rising stars like Matthew Schaefer.