
Rising Stars Make Their Mark
A look at the emerging talent in the World Junior Summer Showcase, the record‑breaking contract for the San Jose Sharks star, and the broader impact on the sport.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Macklin Celebrini across Hockey.

A look at the emerging talent in the World Junior Summer Showcase, the record‑breaking contract for the San Jose Sharks star, and the broader impact on the sport.
With the 2026‑27 NHL season opening on September 29, analyst Matt Larkin unveils his comprehensive top‑300 rankings, highlighting the safest bets, breakout candidates and sleepers across forwards, defensemen and goaltenders.

Recent contracts, trade chatter and training‑camp updates across the league set the stage for a busy summer.

The latest round of free‑agency moves, draft selections and contract disputes is reshaping rosters across the NHL, while prospects from Montreal and Vancouver eye debuts and veteran players seek new homes.

Macklin Celebrini inks a five‑year, $94 million deal, becoming the NHL’s highest‑paid player and reshaping the San Jose Sharks’ future.

Macklin Celebrini, the San Jose Sharks' rising star, has agreed to a landmark five-year extension worth $94 million, making him the highest-paid player in league history. The deal reflects his breakout sophomore season and the organization's confidence in his long-term impact.

Macklin Celebrini has signed a five‑year, $94 million contract that makes him the highest‑paid player in NHL history, while the San Jose Sharks aim to translate his emergence into a sustained playoff push.

Macklin Celebrini signs a five‑year, $18.8 million‑average‑annual‑value extension, becoming the NHL’s highest‑paid player by AAV when it begins in 2027‑28.

Twenty‑five prospects with United States Hockey League experience will gather in St. Paul for a week‑long camp that will shape the roster for the 2026 Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton.

Europe has historically dominated the World Cup, with six of the last eight tournaments being won by European sides. This pattern reflects more than just recent success; it is the product of deep‑rooted traditions that have shaped the sport on the continent for decades. Soccer’s appeal lies in its simplicity and low cost. A ball, a patch of grass and a handful of friends are enough to spark a match, which is why the game has spread to every corner of the globe. Yet those very qualities are wrapped in European rituals, from club histories to national narratives that date back centuries. At the centre of this ecosystem is FIFA, the Zurich‑based governing body that wields enormous influence over the sport’s commercial engine. The organization has mastered the art of turning a global tournament into a revenue‑generating spectacle, charging premium prices for broadcasting and sponsorship rights. The rest of the world often fields semi‑promising up‑and‑comers, aging veterans and opportunistic players who hope to make an impact on the biggest stage. While talent exists everywhere, the structural advantages held by European football ecosystems remain difficult to replicate. Commercialization is a double‑edged sword. Brands from across the globe, including Apple, Tesla and Shopify, have begun to associate themselves with the sport, but the financial barriers to entry remain high. Fans are willing to pay the steep costs because the tournament’s mystique endures. Sports are perpetual novelties; they are constantly discussed, endlessly marketed and never lacking in audience. The World Cup, despite its staggering price tags, continues to attract a global viewership that fuels further investment. Europe’s strategy moving forward is to double down on the advantages it already possesses — infrastructure, talent pipelines and a culture that prizes the beautiful game. This plan aims to keep the continent at the forefront of international competition. Canada does not enjoy the same historical foothold in soccer, and it currently lacks a coherent plan to exploit the sport’s global growth. Instead, the nation’s most reliable sporting advantage is hockey, a game that is not only deeply embedded in the culture but also the only completely self‑sustaining sport in the country. Figures such as Sidney Crosby illustrate the enduring legacy of Canadian hockey, while emerging talents like Macklin Celebrini signal a continued pipeline of world‑class players. In contrast, soccer’s global icons — including Lionel Messi — highlight a different kind of international stardom that Canada has yet to tap. The article argues that rather than chasing a sport in which it has no entrenched advantage, Canada should concentrate resources on hockey, leveraging its domestic strengths and the commercial appeal that the sport already commands.

Macklin Celebrini’s breakout season earns him the honor of covering EA Sports’ NHL 27, marking a milestone in the franchise’s history.

The latest analytics spotlight left‑side goal‑scoring zones, highlighting Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield’s dominance for Montreal and the broader pattern across the league.

At just 20, Macklin Celebrini appears on the cover of EA Sports’ NHL 27, joining an elite list of young athletes and signaling a new era for the franchise.

A Vegas Golden Knights fan explores cost‑effective cities for a hockey‑focused getaway, highlighting San Jose, Seattle and Salt Lake City.

The NHL announces Macklin Celebrini as the youngest athlete ever on an NHL game cover, while Matthew Schaefer, at 19, could surpass that record for the next edition.

From July 23‑27, 24 USHL players will converge in Minnesota as USA Hockey narrows the pool for the upcoming Hlinka Gretzky Cup in Edmonton.

Macklin Celebrini becomes the youngest player ever to headline EA Sports’ NHL 27, marking a historic moment for the San Jose Sharks and the league.

Macklin Celebrini, the NHL 27 cover athlete for EA Sports, discusses his new contract, the impact of Leo Carlsson's record‑breaking deal, his chemistry with Will Smith, and his hopes for a playoff run, while sharing his love for Drake, country music, and golf.

A rare 1/1 Macklin Celebrini Young Guns Gold card is being auctioned through Goldin Auctions, with a floor price of $600,000 CAD and the potential to become the first modern hockey card to break the $1 million barrier.

At 20, Celebrini becomes the youngest cover athlete in NHL 27 history, while contract talks and trade speculations swirl around Carlsson, Larkin and other emerging superstars.

The San Jose Sharks are poised for a pivotal season as owner Hasso Plattner’s financial backing fuels major roster upgrades, a revamped defense and a deep forward group, all converging on a goaltending tandem that could finally end a seven‑year playoff drought.

The NHL 27 cover athlete reflects on his rising profile while the article revisits key off‑season moves, front‑office appointments, and the outlook for several teams.

EA Sports announces that veteran hockey announcer Darren Pang will provide commentary alongside John Buccigross in the forthcoming NHL 27, while San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini graces the game's cover. The full trailer is slated for release on July 16.

Upper Deck will launch the 2025‑26 Parkhurst Hockey Set in physical form on July 15, 2026, bringing back a design that has defined the brand since its debut in 1951. The set includes special chase cards that spotlight rookies such as Ivan Demidov and Connor McDavid, as well as tributes to Hall‑of‑Famers like Maurice "Rocket" Richard and Wayne Gretzky.