Macklin Celebrini, forward for the San Jose Sharks, defied expectations in his second season with an astounding 115 points, comprising 46 goals and 70 assists. This impressive feat followed his solid rookie performance of 63 points.
Celebrini’s stellar play secured him a spot on Team Canada for the 2026 Olympics, where the team earned a silver medal. Although Canada lost to Team USA in the final, Celebrini’s performance did not go unnoticed.
In recognition of his achievements, EA Sports announced that Celebrini would appear on the cover of ‘NHL 27′. This makes him the youngest player to feature on the cover in the history of EA Sports’ ‘NHL’ franchise. He is also the first San Jose Shark to gain this honor since Owen Nolan was featured on ‘NHL 2001’.
Being the youngest to adorn the cover is significant given that renowned players like Alex Ovechkin and Connor McDavid, though young when they appeared on their respective covers, were older than Celebrini. Interestingly, Sidney Crosby, another stellar player, has never been featured on a cover.
Fans hope that Celebrini can avoid any adverse effects of the so-called cover athlete curse as the Sharks aim to re-enter the playoff race. Last season, they narrowly missed the second wild card spot in the Western Conference, falling short by just four points.
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