Sidney Crosby believes Macklin Celebrini deserves to be mentioned for the 2026 Olympic workforce. The 2 performed collectively on the 2025 IIHF World Championship earlier this yr.
Canada misplaced to Denmark within the quarterfinals, however Celebrini impressed many and helped Canada end first in Group A. He completed with six factors (three objectives and three assists) and a plus-minus 9 ranking in eight video games.
Crosby instructed The Athletic’s Chris Johnston i n an interview that Celebrini has earned the fitting.
“He’s (Celebrini) earned the fitting to be within the dialog,” Crosby stated. “He’s an unimaginable participant. Simply his all-around recreation at his age is fairly spectacular.”
Celebrini’s NHL rookie season with the San Jose Sharks added to his case. He was named to the 2024-25 NHL All-Rookie Workforce in June. Celebrini scored 25 objectives and 38 assists for 63 factors in his first season. He additionally led rookies in scoring per recreation.
Sidney Crosby praised the younger middle’s maturity and work ethic.
“He’s dedicated defensively, he competes laborious,” Crosby stated about Celebrini. “He’s acquired a fairly mature recreation for his age. I feel having that have at worlds can solely assist. I’m certain he constructed confidence from that.”
Sidney Crosby additionally famous that taking part in with him every day in the course of the worldwide event confirmed his effort. He believes the expertise at Worlds gave Celebrini confidence.
“I do know being on the ice with him, after which seeing him on the market daily and what he places into it, I’m certain that’s one thing that’s made him a greater participant immediately,” Crosby stated. “Because the yr went on final yr, he acquired higher and higher, and that’ll be a giant constructing block.”
The 18-year-old from North Vancouver was drafted No. 1 in 2024. He scored in his NHL debut and later recorded a hat trick (5 factors) in opposition to the Minnesota Wild in April. So, his influence is already clear, and all these elements make Celebrini a critical choice for Workforce Canada.
Sidney Crosby had no ‘recommendation’ for Celebrini throughout World Championship
In Could, when requested to present recommendation to Macklin Celebrini, Sidney Crosby spoke about his maturity. He stated Celebrini has dealt with issues very nicely.
“I do not actually have a lot recommendation,” Crosby stated, for Celebrini, through NHL.com. “He is dealt with it fairly nicely. He is mature. He loves the sport. Likes to compete. He cares about each side of the sport on each side of the puck… I feel he is heading in the right direction.”
Crosby added that Celebrini doesn’t want a lot recommendation, since he’s managing expectations and stress successfully at a younger age.
Edited by nagpaltusharn25