Macklin Celebrini Contract Extension Watch Sets the Market for Will Smith

The Macklin Celebrini contract extension conversation is arriving faster than most teams would like, because the San Jose Sharks are staring at two cornerstone forwards whose next deals could define the franchise’s next era. Celebrini looks like the easy case. Will Smith, meanwhile, is the one everyone around the league is watching for clues.

Macklin Celebrini Looks Like The Surest Bet In San Jose

If there is a prediction to make right now, it is that Celebrini gets paid early and handsomely. His value is already tied to more than raw production, because he represents the centrepiece of the Sharks’ rebuild, the player the organization can build identity, pace and belief around. San Jose does not appear to be in a standoff here. The likely outcome is simple: when the number is right, the Sharks will move quickly.

That is what makes the Celebrini situation feel different from a typical young-star negotiation. The market around him matters, but it may not move his camp much. San Jose knows what it has, and players with this level of franchise importance usually do not linger on the open market of contract posturing. The prediction is a long-term extension that rewards his status as the face of the team and removes any unnecessary drama before the season starts.

Will Smith’s Deal Feels Like The Real Pressure Point

Will Smith is the fascinating one. His 24-goal, 59-point season, along with eight power-play goals and 17 power-play points, gives him a strong case to push for major money. He is not being asked to carry the entire offence in San Jose, but he has already shown he can produce in a top role and be a meaningful driver on the man advantage. That kind of profile gets expensive quickly.

The fit analysis here is less about whether Smith deserves a rich extension and more about where the Sharks land in the market. His camp is almost certainly looking at comparable young forwards and trying to understand where Smith fits relative to the next wave of high-end contracts. The prediction is that San Jose eventually keeps him, but the final number could creep upward if the league keeps rewarding young scorers at the top of the lineup.

For the Sharks, the implication is significant. Celebrini and Smith are supposed to grow together, but the cost of keeping both at their peak may test the club’s flexibility later. Right now, San Jose can afford patience. Eventually, it will need certainty.

Cutter Gauthier And Leo Carlsson Could Quietly Set The Table

The most important outside factor may not be in San Jose at all. Cutter Gauthier’s next contract in Anaheim could influence how the market is read by Smith’s side, especially if Gauthier lands near the top tier after a breakout year. Leo Carlsson’s $18 million deal already frames the conversation for elite young talent, and Gauthier’s number could either confirm that ceiling or soften it depending on where he signs.

That does not mean Smith will be paid the same as Gauthier, but it does mean every fresh deal in that cluster of young stars becomes part of the negotiation stack. If Gauthier signs high, Smith’s ask rises with it. If he lands closer to a lower range, San Jose gets a little more room to keep its structure intact.

What It Means For The Sharks And The Market

San Jose does not need to rush, and that is the most important takeaway. There is no public pressure point, no sign of panic, and no reason to force a decision before the market settles. But this is exactly the kind of situation that can shape a rebuild’s next phase. A clean Celebrini extension would give the Sharks clarity. A more complicated Smith negotiation would reveal how aggressively they plan to spend on their young core.

The most likely outcome is that both players stay in San Jose, with Celebrini’s number set first and Smith’s deal following once the wider market clarifies. The wildcard is Gauthier, because one contract in Anaheim could alter the tone for multiple teams. By the time the dust settles, the Sharks may have the start of their core locked in, and the rest of the league will be reading the fine print with them.