Should Macklin Celebrini Win MVP if the Sharks Make the Playoffs?

Macklin Celebrini is having an outstanding season in only his second NHL year. The 19-year-old center is performing at a level that only hockey legends Wayne Gretzky and Sidney Crosby have matched among players his age, all while helping a struggling San Jose Sharks team that has missed the playoffs for six straight seasons regain its place in the NHL. Despite entering the season as one of the favorites to finish in last place for the third straight year, as of April 3, the Sharks are in the second Western Conference wild-card spot with games in hand on most teams.

Given Celebrini’s brilliance and San Jose’s surprising resurgence, should the teenage superstar win the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league’s most valuable player? Sharks’ Success Comes From Celebrini’s Skill Now that the season is nearing the end and Celebrini hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down, it’s time to seriously consider whether he can win the NHL’s most prestigious individual award. Celebrini wouldn’t have jumped into the discussion at his age if he wasn’t racking up the stats.

He’s been one of the league’s most consistent and dependable scorers all season. View this post on Instagram Playing in all 74 games this season for San Jose, Celebrini has 40 goals and 65 assists for a total of 105 points. He is fourth in the NHL in points, sixth in goals, and eighth in assists.

Despite his age and relative inexperience, he is also tied for seventh among forwards in time on ice per game. But his numbers aren’t just empty calories—they directly impact the Sharks’ fate. Look at San Jose’s recent games against Columbus, St.