Macklin Celebrini: A Force to Be Reckoned With
Published: April 02, 2026 at 6:49PM EDT
The Bay Area experienced a jolt early Thursday morning, a 4.6 magnitude earthquake that rattled nerves and woke up members of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Leafs winger Steven Lorentz, a former San Jose Shark, recounted the experience with a grin: “Woke me up and then I thought the whole place was coming down. I don’t want to say it’s ‘cool’ because it’s a little bit scary, but I guess I’m an earthquake survivor again.” Rookie Easton Cowan, on his first California road trip, was less prepared, initially dismissing the tremor before learning of its magnitude. Even coach Craig Berube slept through the seismic activity, quipping, “No clue…I was out.”
Shifting Earth, Shifting Hart Trophy Landscape
However, the earth wasn’t the only thing shifting. Hours before the earthquake, the Hart Trophy race saw a significant tremor of its own. San Jose Sharks centre Macklin Celebrini delivered a stunning four-point performance, leading the Sharks to a 4-3 victory over the Anaheim Ducks. The SAP Center erupted with “MVP” chants for the sophomore sensation.
But does the 19-year-old from Vancouver truly belong in the Hart Trophy discussion? According to Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe, “Absolutely. I don’t know how he’s not in it, just what he’s done with the turnaround of this team.”
From Last Place to Playoff Contenders
The Sharks’ resurgence is largely attributed to Celebrini’s impact. After finishing dead last in the NHL last season with 52 points, San Jose now boasts 77 points, just one behind the Los Angeles Kings for the final wildcard spot in the Western Conference. McCabe, who leads the Leafs at plus-13 this season, noted he watched Celebrini “take the game over” during the Sharks’ win.
Currently, FanDuel lists Celebrini as the third choice (+1500) for the Hart Trophy, behind Nathan MacKinnon and Nikita Kucherov, with Connor McDavid close behind. His performance at the Olympics in Milan further solidified his elite status.
“A kid of that age and what he’s doing, it’s right here,” said Berube, pointing to his head. “He’s smart. He’s a very intelligent player. He goes to the Olympics to play with a guy like McDavid and different guys, MacKinnon, and stuff, and the coach keeps putting him out there with those guys, and using him, and they want to play with him. You have to have intelligence.”
What Makes Celebrini Special?
Celebrini’s 105 points this season are a staggering 51 more than his closest teammate. Rookie Easton Cowan, who played with Celebrini on Team Canada at the 2024 World Juniors, praised his strength on the puck. “He doesn’t lose many battles. You kind of just see how many battles he wins and it creates chances for him.”
Sharks Surge and Leafs Prepare for Battle
The Sharks have won three straight, fueled by their home-ice advantage and Celebrini’s leadership. “The fans are here,” Celebrini told reporters. “It’s loud. We’re winning games and we’re making a push. This is exciting.” The SAP Center’s intimate atmosphere is proving to be a formidable challenge for visiting teams.
The Toronto Maple Leafs, coming off an emotional overtime win in Anaheim, face a different challenge: maintaining intensity. Berube emphasized the need for individual effort to generate the necessary emotion.
Cowan’s Continued Growth
Despite a disappointing season for the Leafs, rookie Easton Cowan continues to impress. Berube highlighted his emotional investment and relentless work ethic. Cowan, currently on the top line with Tavares and Nylander, has even caught the attention of Toronto Blue Jays players George Springer and Ernie Clement, who lauded his grit and determination.
Lineup and Goaltending
Anthony Stolarz will start in net for the Leafs, boasting a strong record against the Sharks. Lorentz will return to the lineup, while Pezzetta will be a healthy scratch.
Projected Leafs Lineup:
- Cowan – Tavares – Nylander
- Knies – Groulx – Maccelli
- Joshua – Domi – Robertson
- Lorentz – Quillan – Jarnkrok
- Rielly – Carlo
- McCabe – Ekman-Larsson
- Benoit – Myers
- Stolarz starts
