Sharks' Macklin Celebrini turned down $20.8 million contract option

Macklin Celebrini's five-year contract extension with the San Jose Sharks will kick in for the 2027-28 season, and it'll pay him quite handsomely.

It'll work out to $18.8 million per year for Celebrini, a new NHL record for annual average value in a contract.

It could've been more, though. The maximum that Celebrini could've signed a contract for this summer was $20.8 million per year.

Turns out, the Sharks would've paid Celebrini that if he asked. He just didn't ask.

That's what front office leader Mike Grier told reporters on Wednesday:

Grier says if Celebrini had demanded the maximum contract ($20.8 million AAV), #SJSharks would've given it to him

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It's notable to think about this on a couple of levels.

For one, the implication is that Celebrini never asked for the max, because Grier suggests the Sharks wouldn't have pushed back on that ask.

It also shows how willing San Jose is to ensure they have Celebrini around for as long as they can.

Yes, this could've been an eight-year deal and not just five years, and some fans are complaining that Celebrini didn't make a wholehearted commitment to the Sharks.

By the same token, he signed the five-year deal in front of him rather than playing hardball.

It has a chance to work out well for all involved, and while Celebrini could've taken an even bigger discount, that's not his obligation. 

The Sharks can just be happy that as the next five or six seasons roll along, they'll have Celebrini.

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