"I'm done being a fan of this franchise" "We're so back": NHL fans react as Sharks sign Macklin Celebrini to entry-level contract

By Nestor Quixtan

Modified Jul 06, 2024 22:54 GMT

NHL: NHL Draft — NHL fans react as Sharks officially sign Macklin Celebrini to entry-level contract (IMAGN)

The San Jose Sharks signed Macklin Celebrini, the 2024 first-overall pick, to an entry-level contract. The deal is for three years at $13.425 million, according to CapFriendly. The contract carries a $925,000 cap hit, with $3.5 million in bonuses.

The deal was met with enthusiasm from the Sharks’ fan base. However, some fans weren’t too thrilled about the deal.

“3 years for a guy with no NHL experience? I’m done being a fan of this franchise man i can’t do it anymore,” one fan said.

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“Sharks fan, we officially got a bust player,” a fan wrote.

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“I know everyone wants to believe he is the next Crosby but he needs to bulk up a lot. He was very weak on the puck in the scrimmage,” this fan chimed in.

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However, not all fans doubted the Macklin Celebrini signing. Many fans were excited about Macklin Celebrini becoming a member of the San Jose Sharks.

“Oh, we are so back,” a fan expressed.

“This is our Stanley Cup,” another fan tweeted.

“Can we finally purchase the jersey?” this fan posted.

While the contract does not guarantee that Macklin Celebrini will be in the Sharks’ lineup this upcoming season, the deal seals Celebrini becoming a member of the San Jose Sharks.

Macklin Celebrini to decide on NHL future soon

Signing Macklin Celebrini to an entry-level deal is a big step toward ensuring the highly-touted prospect enters the NHL. However, the 18-year-old is still eligible to return to the NCAA at Boston University.

As such, Celebrini is faced with a major decision: Return to college or play in the NHL?

When asked about his future, Celebrini merely replied (via ESPN):

“Yeah, that’s coming up.”

Celebrini’s words underscore the significant decision he must make. While joining the NHL is tempting, there’s no need to rush things. But fans shouldn’t expect Celebrini to dwell on his decision one way or another.

“I’ll make the decision pretty quick here," he said. "Just trying to enjoy this camp, and after that, I guess it’s time to make a decision.”

The comments come on the heels of Celebrini’s participation in the Sharks’ prospect camp.

In all likelihood, the Sharks will do everything they can to support Celebrini’s development.

About the author

Nestor is an NHL and MLB writer at Sportskeeda with over 10 years of experience. Growing up in Toronto, he became an avid Maple Leafs and Blue Jays fan, but also admires the New York Islanders and Los Angeles Dodgers for their dominance in the 80s. Holding an Economics and Education major, Nestor’s passion for writing and sporting events led him to take up reporting about the sport professionally.

Nestor credits the Leafs’ playoff runs in the early '90s as having a lasting impact on him. His favorite players are Doug Gilmour and Mike Bossy, as he feels they were tough, talented leaders, while Pat Burns is his favorite coach of all time for always preaching a fast-paced game.

Growing up in Canada, it was natural for Nestor to become interested in ice hockey and he played Minor Hockey as a teenager, which has given him a unique perspective on the sport. Nestor has mastered the art of how to best present facts and he also has a knack for knowing which sources can be trusted, and which can't for stories.

When he is not writing about Canada’s national passion, Nestor enjoys running and hiking.

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Edited by Ribin Peter