Macklin Celebrini is putting together excellent Hart Trophy case
The San Jose Sharks have been one of the surprise teams of the 2025-26 NHL season now that officially two months have passed since Opening Night.
After finishing last year with a record of 20-50-12, the Sharks are already approaching last season’s win total with a mark of 14-13-3, tied for fourth in the Pacific Division and firmly in the hunt for a wild card spot in a tightly-packed Western Conference.
It’s largely due to the growth of 2024 first overall pick Macklin Celebrini, who has entrenched himself as one of the NHL’s elite with 43 points in his first 30 games played after an impressive three-point effort in a road win against a contending team in the Carolina Hurricanes on Sunday.
On Monday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, host Tyler Yaremchuk and co-host and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton discussed Celebrini’s breakout and his rapidly strengthening case for consideration for the Hart Trophy as the league’s MVP.
Tyler Yaremchuk: Let’s kick things off as we do every week here on the show with our Man of the Weekend Award, and Hutts, I’m going to go first because Macklin Celibrini just did it again. A three-point performance for the Sharks’ leader… He’s been on the ice for 51 goals this year, so not only are his 43 points second in the NHL… But of all the goals that he’s been on the ice for this year, he’s factored into 84% of them. The only player in the NHL who is right with him, [Connor] Bedard’s at 83%… We are now 30% of our way through this season, he’s still sixth in the odds board for MVP… I think Macklin Celibrini has a hell of a case to be the league’s most valuable player right now.
Carter Hutton: Yeah, I do agree with you. You know what’s going to hurt him? The fact that he plays for the San Jose Sharks too… He is a guy that has done so well… He’s a well-rounded player, right? He isn’t just this offensively-minded player. He’s a complete guy, so it’s been a lot of fun to watch.
You can watch the full segment and the rest of the episode here…