Sidney Crosby knows exactly what it’s like to be a first-overall draft pick entering the NHL as a teenager with immediate expectations.
The 38-year-old lived through it and thrived, going on to become someone we now consider one of the best to ever play the game. Macklin Celebrini has a long way to go, but his rookie season puts him on a trajectory of being a star player in the league for years to come.
The 2024 first-overall pick has injected new life into the San Jose Sharks, looking like the franchise-altering prospect he was made out to be and then some. His performance even caught the eye of his idol, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins 19 years before him.
Sidney Crosby praised Celebrini when asked about his chances of making Team Canada’s 2026 Winter Olympic team at orientation camp. TSN shared the clip on X (formerly Twitter).
“Yeah, I think he’s an incredible player. Just his all-around game at his age is pretty impressive. He’s committed defensively, competes hard, he’s got a pretty mature game for his age. I think having that experience at Wolds can only help; I’m sure he built confidence from that. I know being on the ice with him and then seeing him out there day to day and what he puts into it, I’m sure that’s something that’s made him a better player right away. As the year went on last year, he got better and better, and that’ll be a big building block. He’s earned the right to be in the conversation,” Crosby said.
Sidney Crosby had high praise when asked about Macklin Celebrini’s Olympic hopes. 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/gynX9V80d0
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 27, 2025
The 19-year-old finished third in Calder Trophy voting in 2024-25 after a 63-point (25 goals, 38 assists) rookie season despite playing only 70 games.
Crosby and Celebrini have chemistry
Sidney Crosby and Macklin Celebrini may be separated by 19 years in age, but their combination of experience and youth meshed quite well at the World Championships.
The two were put together on a line early in the tournament and lit up the scoresheet with several highlight reel plays, including this one.
I can’t stop watching this angle of Celebrini’s no-looker to Crosby.🍎 #TheFutureIsTeal #SJSharks pic.twitter.com/Soh4trNraZ
— SnipeCity420 (@SnipeCity420) May 17, 2025
He’ll have to earn his spot on Team Canada, but if Macklin Celebrini plays anywhere close to the level he did in year one as a pro, then there’s no reason he shouldn’t be on the roster and potentially on the captain’s left wing in Italy.
