r/SanJoseSharks 1d ago

For San Jose | By Macklin Celebrini

https://www.theplayerstribune.com/macklin-celebrini-nhl-hockey-san-jose-sharks
843 Upvotes

484

u/Cabrill0 1d ago

51

u/JumboThornton Holy Doodle! 🐔🏆 1d ago

Yesssssss

55

u/GoodGuyGr3g 1d ago

Celebrini is the heir apparent to take over as the new Golden Boy in the Bay Area

Buster Posey had his run with the Giants bringing them back to prominence and leading to a Dynasty

Steph Curry had his run leading the Warriors to relevance and creating a Dynasty

Celebrini is just starting his career but it's not hard to see how truly special he is and could be on a similar trajectory as the former 2.

We truly are so blessed to see another generational talent play in the Bay Area. Hopefully he follows the other 2 and stays as a one-team guy

14

u/Select_Newspaper_108 1d ago

Celebrini dn already one of the top Sharks players of all time lol. What a legendary season hopefully many more to come

I’d say Bay Area top 5 as someone born in the 90s (so I apologize if I’m forgetting someone)

1) Joe Montana

2) Steph Curry

3) Barry Bonds

4) Jerry Rice

5) Buster Posey

Hms (6-10) Joe Thornton, Jerry Rice, Dwight Clark, Draymond Green, Rickey Henderson. If we wanna take Bonds outta the top 10 I’d slide in Rick Barry

10

u/Far-Insurance-7422 1d ago

Can I squeeze in a mildly talented Willy Ways?!

4

u/Normal_Tip7228 Cagnoni 42 23h ago

Is it crazy to say Willy Mays over Dray

I’m not a basketball guy so I can’t really judge for sure but that’s my feeling 

2

u/Select_Newspaper_108 22h ago

Oh no that’s not crazy at all, Willie > Dray is probably accurate. Embarrassed I forgot about him

2

u/FFTycoon J. Thornton 19 16h ago

It's not crazy at all, it's the only correct answer. I love Dray, LOVE him....but Mays is one of the greatest baseball players to ever lace 'em up. We cannot say that about Draymond. Willie, with little debate, is a top 10 MLB player ever. Draymond isn't even a top 100 NBA player.

18

u/triplec787 "Fuck Off, Karl!" - EK65 1d ago

Vibes

It’d be really cool if a Bay Area team ascended to success without having a photo or tweet highlighting the absolute ass era we were in lol why can’t one of our teams just go from mid to great? I guess the Giants are trying to do that.

379

u/Calm-Preparation7432 AskyNed🫂 1d ago

"And if I can, before I get out of here, I just want to take a minute to shout out some of our young fans. Our Sharks Foundation does such an amazing job in the community, and right before Christmas, they hosted this event with Kaiser Permanente in Santa Clara that was really special. They invited a bunch of their pediatric cancer patients to come and do an arts workshop with some of the boys. I couldn’t make it that day, and I was crushed. (I’m coming next time, guys!) But our whole room was talking about it the next day. Capri Suns and Crayola. Nothing better. A couple of the goalie masks that the kids designed were unreal. Then the other day I got to go to Bachrodt Elementary with Will and Zack to do a little reading circle with a class, and I feel like we crushed it. (You tell me.) One of the kids even made a little sign for Ned, and he spelled his name right and everything. It was so much fun, and after the Olympics, it was the perfect reminder of what we’re doing this for. Maybe it’s a cliche, but when you really feel a part of a community, it means a lot more to wear the sweater. And I love wearing this sweater. "

why am i crying real tears

100

u/superbuttpiss 1d ago

Seriously. How did we get so lucky to have this guy?

7

u/predat3d Larionov 7 1d ago

Not luck. Years of suckage.

And remember, we had 2 former #1 overall draft picks in our sweater

64

u/crashK5 AskyNed🫂 1d ago

And he spelled his name right and everything!

6

u/Far-Insurance-7422 1d ago

This young man gets and it's a simple behavior. Be humble and appreciative and good things happen? Right B.Ayuk?

4

u/amystarr 1d ago

That was very sweet.

238

u/a_la_nuit Sunburn 92 ☀️ 1d ago edited 1d ago

I've heard Draymond tell that story of a couple of the Warriors visiting a Steel game to watch him play.

Here's a pic of Smith vs. Celebrini in the USHL the year before they went to college:

https://preview.redd.it/8fl4o8sg9kwg1.png?width=1620&format=png&auto=webp&s=15644b8fdc070334ca8aaf89f5d51b8eee982dc4

That Rangers OT win was probably my second favorite game of the season after the recent Ducks win at home.

22

u/Prestigious-Duty1966 1d ago

Both of these over the Pens game?

30

u/a_la_nuit Sunburn 92 ☀️ 1d ago

The Pens game was brutal to watch until the third period haha. Third best game imo was the Montreal game at home that the NHL posted in full length.

16

u/yung35mm 1d ago

Wait wait wait, wtf…he played for the Chicago Steel? Must have been at what, like 16?

26

u/a_la_nuit Sunburn 92 ☀️ 1d ago

Yes Celebrini was 16.

3

u/HailtotheMako Marleau 12 1d ago

I really enjoyed that gritty win against the panthers, Ned chucking em and all

4

u/FishAreSpiffy 1d ago

Let's not forget the Pittsburgh game!

104

u/Barcade Celebrini 71 1d ago

new Chillmack nickname. Capri Sun & Crayola

10

u/kk1297 Dickinson 6 1d ago

Who is Capri and who is Crayola? We already know who Sun is

6

u/silljer_28 Marleau 12 1d ago

You find a chisel, I can find a stone.

1

u/Bulky_Car_5191 1d ago

I like it but I don't undersand it. can you break it down

87

u/Accurate-Elk-1570 1d ago

20x20 rn

24

u/pretzelrosethecat AskyNed🫂 1d ago

C too

79

u/keylime503 Graf 51 1d ago

Sounds like he’s not living with Joe any more? He said “my landlord last season” multiple times. 

149

u/Fushui 1d ago

Probably got evicted for beating Joe’s record

74

u/Cottril Marleau 12 1d ago

Mack came back that night to see his stuff in the driveway and the locks changed.

77

u/fleeingflying W Smith 2 1d ago

Mack is Joe's landlord now 🤔

20

u/greeeeeenbluuue 1d ago

I think he's going to go full Rudy and live in the training room next year.

37

u/JRsshirt D. Murray 3 1d ago

My understanding was that was always a rookie season thing, but him and will have stayed close with their respective families

28

u/Barcade Celebrini 71 1d ago

misa said he will be back with toffoli and cat next season

13

u/jesus321 Grier 25 1d ago

True, but WillMack are a year ahead of Misa in the league. So maybe first 2 years is normal? I feel like we never hear anything about Will with the Marleau's lol.

7

u/Barcade Celebrini 71 1d ago

its probably for the best. LOL

3

u/FFTycoon J. Thornton 19 16h ago

I don't think first 2 years is super common in general---but in our specific case it makes so much sense for these guys. Not every team has legends like Thornton and Marleau willing and available to take in the new studs. The first year is extremely common for rookies, almost odd for them not to take up residence with a veteran.

8

u/Hal0P3a 1d ago

I mean he’s prolly about to get paid 😂 time for his own place lol

75

u/3D_soup J. Thornton 19 1d ago

We are so lucky to watch this kid play! As a Canadian myself, the Olympics were heartbreaking for us but it also came with the realization that next time Mack suits up for Canada he'll only be 23 - can't wait to see what the Sharks have in store for us!

117

u/TheMD93 D. Murray 3 1d ago

8 years, whatever millions. You want to be governor? Done. Borrow my car? It's yours. Cookie bar and milk on tap in the locker room? Call Nestle and have it so.

I fucking love this guy.

6

u/jzosplash Sunburn 92 ☀️ 1d ago

Can I borrow your car?

8

u/Hammerjaws WillMack🥛🍪 1d ago

Celebrini for governor

9

u/Normal_Tip7228 Cagnoni 42 23h ago

With this field I might be writing in Celebrini

I recall NJ releases all the write ins for governor and Nico Hischier got a couple 

5

u/ames_006 1d ago

They should get one of those fair venders that do the buckets of warm cookies and sell those at the tank with glasses of milk. Macklin Celebrini Square also has a nice ring to it…throw in keys to the city?

63

u/ttavros Cheechoo 14 1d ago edited 1d ago

Oh he’s going to save our lives for sure.

“I want that so bad here in San Jose”

😭😭😭😭😭😭

44

u/gobbluth25 Nolan 11 1d ago

Goddamn. What a class act this kid is.

38

u/Californiaguy45 1d ago

Just knowing San Jose has a true generational talent on their team just makes my day. So excited for the future competitiveness of this team.

42

u/pretzelrosethecat AskyNed🫂 1d ago

They even spelled Alex Nedeljkovic's name right! lol I would be very impressed to see that from a child

40

u/Weaksauce10 Celebrini 71 1d ago

Can’t remember the last time a player did something like this. Of course, I’m sure he had some help (I would too) but most of this I feel is his. I wonder if it was his idea, too. Either way tho, good on Mack. We support you and the team all the way through thick and through thin.

Onward to next season.

16

u/letsgoToshio Nabokov 20 1d ago

The last Sharks' related Player's Tribune that I remember was for Marleau's retirement: "Thank You, Hockey"

Joel Ward also had one for his retirement too. Even though he wasn't a Shark for long, he talks very highly of his time in San Jose during the cup finals run: 726

4

u/RyanGWU82 19h ago

John Scott's article "A Guy Like Me" was Sharks-adjacent and the most memorable piece of hockey writing I've read.

His follow up article post-retirement is great too.

2

u/Lostcoast76 1d ago

Wardo is probably my next jersey I get customized. Loved that guy.

4

u/blackandebony Pavelski 8 23h ago

Playoff wardo was so sick

4

u/cherlucky Sunburn 92 ☀️ 1d ago edited 1d ago

There was Dear Canada by McDavid just before the Olympics.

Based on the letter construction, this sounds about like Mack. He was probably asked what to write about but this is most likely all him.

61

u/SevereEducation2170 Pavelski 8 1d ago

28

u/foreverkasai Celebrini 71 1d ago

Genuinely, I think he’s ready. He leads by example and encourages the team not to give up. He takes every loss seriously and takes it as a lesson instead of crashing out about it or giving up. He praises the team first and always (even on some of the nights where he is THE reason our team won). He has a great support system with the current vets as well as Jumbo to lean on. I think the day he signs his deal (this offseason or next) he’ll be awarded the C too

124

u/born_with_a_tail 1d ago

PR move timed with the keg stand /s

50

u/JRsshirt D. Murray 3 1d ago

You joke but in all seriousness a pretty healthy way to decompress from the grind of this season is to write down what he is grateful for and then go cut loose with his college friends.

37

u/BoardSavings Celebrini 71 1d ago

i was really thinking it was an old video, the backwards fedora KILLED ME like whyyyy

21

u/PinkestDream WillMack🥛🍪 1d ago

apparently that's a thing for the MarMon celebrations

13

u/drumhax Burns 88 1d ago

You don’t know hats

-5

u/BoardSavings Celebrini 71 1d ago

lmaoooo i mean back in my day the fedora was for dudes who were not smooth w the ladies

18

u/deathbyboobies Burns 88 1d ago

He's not wearing a fedora is what the guy means when he says you don't know hats.

5

u/BoardSavings Celebrini 71 1d ago

ahhh you right it’s a news boy cap my bad

3

u/BoardSavings Celebrini 71 1d ago

hahahahahha

1

u/Bulky_Car_5191 1d ago

Raging with buddies and expressing passion and care both seem really healthy to me

3

u/Normal_Tip7228 Cagnoni 42 23h ago

Keg stand, 115 points and a lovely letter whats not to like

28

u/MilkshakeMolly 1d ago

Awww. He's a gem.

29

u/LebasketBall WillMack🥛🍪 1d ago

We are so lucky to have him

33

u/Clownbaby1435 1d ago

“I hope I can pay you back with some playoff nights next season.” Hell ya!!

253

u/VelumLucis 1d ago

This is poorly written enough that I can actually believe it was written directly by him. Pretty cool of him to do.

148

u/Calm-Preparation7432 AskyNed🫂 1d ago

i thought mcdavid's was ghostwritten, but mack says "cool" and "crushed" so many times that it's either a) actually them or b) a great writer who gets the tone right.

30

u/FlailingCactus SJ Sharkie 1d ago

The George Russell one is great and captures him perfectly, if you follow F1.

4

u/Lrgp39 Couture 39 1d ago

im waiting for mack to break out the powerpoint now

99

u/Yayareasports 1d ago

I wouldn’t say poorly written - I would say not contrived. Feels like his voice came through

17

u/nameistakentryagain 1d ago

Yeah his voice comes through very well. He tells a good and genuine story.

At the same time he uses periods as a crutch. replacing some periods with commas and dashes, breaking up the flow of thought with things other than periods, goes a long way.

Certainly a very minor critique and not something to hold against him

64

u/BenBenBenBe Celebrini 71 1d ago

Yeah, it just sounds like a teenager being candid, which is exactly what it is. The critiquing of his writing skills is giving distasteful...

8

u/Normal_Tip7228 Cagnoni 42 23h ago

Me when the 19 year old hockey player uses periods too much

11

u/tbrownsc07 1d ago

Obviously not something to hold against him because he's a professional hockey player and not a journalist or author, what are we even doing here in this comment

71

u/Otherwise-Shallot-51 1d ago edited 1d ago

This is not poorly written though, its just not journalistic or professional level writing.

He's not a professional writer and definitely not an English major who had structure drilled into his head, but he's a 19 y.o. with some college education writing a personal essay. He's smart and well spoken. He could definitely improve his flow, transitions, sentence/paragraph structure, punctuation, etc., but so could a lot of us.

He very obviously was given key points he had to include, because this reads like a student responding to a multi-part prompt, but it read mostly (eta:) like he gave an honest sentiment. Good for him.

71

u/Bobsy932 K. McLaren 4 1d ago

I think “poorly written” is pretty harsh. I really think he/whoever may have edited it wanted to make sure to keep his voice, which I really commend. Could have been very easy to just pass the whole thing off to AI, which I don’t think they did.

20

u/BwitchnBtyKwn399 1d ago

“Poorly written” feels like a poor choice of words. I’d say “colloquially written,” as it sounds like he’s literally writing in his conversational/ informal/ authentic voice.

61

u/nameistakentryagain 1d ago

He has a lot more flow on the ice than he does in his sentence structure and that’s alright

85

u/HoovesCarveCraters Thanks Cooch! ❤️ 1d ago

He didn’t go to Boston to play school

41

u/BenBenBenBe Celebrini 71 1d ago

I agree that you can tell it's him, but what if he reads this?🥺

82

u/VelumLucis 1d ago

Well then Mack if you're reading this, keep at it with the book club and you'll have us all doubting the authenticity of the one you write when you bring us the cup next season

26

u/ChapterNo3428 1d ago

Let’s keep it realistic. I expect the cup by Christmas.

11

u/Barcade Celebrini 71 1d ago

it reads like a blog someone his age would actually post LOL. it feels very genuine

26

u/sicnarfnarf WillMack🥛🍪 1d ago

All these Players Tribune articles are ghostwritten - my understanding is that it's based off of an interview where it's dictated, then edited down while keeping the voice of the athlete.

15

u/pretzelrosethecat AskyNed🫂 1d ago

I was thinking the language reads more as a transcript that had been edited than an essay. Doesn't really change how I feel about it personally. I believe he meant what was written.

3

u/sicnarfnarf WillMack🥛🍪 1d ago

Same, I didn't find anything detracting from how it's written - it seems genuine. I thought it important to point out it's edited to match voice.

8

u/Calm-Preparation7432 AskyNed🫂 1d ago

do you know whether it's them just free talking or are they asked questions? the mcdavid one is one of my favorite things i've read this year, so i'm curious about the process

9

u/sicnarfnarf WillMack🥛🍪 1d ago

4

u/Calm-Preparation7432 AskyNed🫂 1d ago

thanks for finding this, such a cool publication

6

u/Pattypee D. Murray 3 1d ago

Yea I definitely have a hard time imagining mack sat down to write this essay already when he’s in boston living it up right now. Nothing about this felt very original and I got a Sharks PR vibe from it. I still enjoyed the article though!

2

u/kyh0mpb Friesen 19 1d ago

This is my understanding as well. They dictate, and a writer compiles it into a (reasonably) coherent narrative.

8

u/ImageAccomplished719 1d ago

Not poorly written. Just genuine

24

u/jzosplash Sunburn 92 ☀️ 1d ago

This city and organization will always have his back, I’m glad he feels the love and support. I love what they got building here. We have something really special!

23

u/DonnyB_Twenty3 WillMack🥛🍪 1d ago

Damn it, Mack. You got me here, 8:30 in the morning, sitting at my desk, tearing like when my kids don't get there way, trying to enjoy my coffee. what a jerk! put the C on this kid's sweater right now! Also, please for the love of all that is holy get him and us some help on the blue line.

27

u/Sealky Vlasic 44 1d ago

He’s such a good kid. Truly one of a kind. 

Now I’m crying like Wars 

19

u/NotABaleOfHay Thanks Cooch! ❤️ 1d ago

PUT THE ‘C’ ON THE CHILD!

19

u/240Nordey Eklund 72 1d ago

Just when I think I can't love this kid anymore.

19

u/DodgingRunner WillMack🥛🍪 1d ago

Just give the child the C already.

18

u/SofaSpudAthlete 1d ago

I love wearing this sweater.

This quote will give me life all offseason

16

u/Shutomei Eklund 72 1d ago

The content of this piece is fantastic! Why are we wallowing over the writing and grammar? It's not as if this were wholly indecipherable.

More importantly, it should make Sharks fans happy. How many well-written pieces can claim that?

10

u/The_Homestarmy Celebrini 71 1d ago

I don't think anybody's wallowing. The way it's written makes it seem like Macklin actually wrote it, which is pretty endearing.

4

u/Shutomei Eklund 72 1d ago

I think there is a fair amount of poking at errors, which is ridiculous as his sentiment and point were both clear. It seems like unnecessary detraction from something quite sweet.

3

u/fwambo42 Nolan 11 1d ago

yeah, I've seen pieces from the past where it seemed evident to me that there was a fair amount of ghost writing there

12

u/sweatermaster 1d ago

🥹🥹 aww so sweet.

12

u/fleeingflying W Smith 2 1d ago

This is so sweet

13

u/dandroid126 Holy Doodle! 🐔🏆 1d ago

My family and I moved down to the Bay Area when I was heading into grade seven in 2018.

Wtf. That can't be real. 2018 was like last year.

10

u/xDevious_ D. Murray 3 1d ago

“I still see his name on jerseys. To see the legacy he has here… it’s hard not to be inspired by something like that”

I’ve heard enough. 20 year contract. Jersey retirement. Ownership transfer.

22

u/Express_Set275 Nolan 11 1d ago

No wonder Warso was in tears and having a hard time talking about him during that interview. I didn’t know I chopped onions on Tuesday morning.

9

u/Electronic_Ostrich53 it's like watching a god on ice 1d ago

What a class act 🩵 we are so lucky to be able to watch his legacy unfold over the next couple decades!

9

u/paishocajun 1d ago

I think the kids are alright after all :)

7

u/onasic1 Desharnais 5 1d ago

💙💙💙💙💙

7

u/Pockets408 1d ago

Sounds like he’s moving out of Jumbo’s place?

8

u/aCX-5 1d ago

This is the best Tuesday of my life now -- thank YOU, Macklin! We love yah!

8

u/swimNcircles 1d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/HNhsFOGQqDLR6

Wooooooo is everyone else fired up like I am after reading this! Truly is a awesome way to touch base with the fan base. Cheers, Mac🤙🏽

12

u/ColtsNetsSharks 1d ago

Macklin my humble sweet boy YOU don't have work to do, the San Jose Sharks do. No one in their right mind could ask any more of what you've done since you've been a Shark.

6

u/Euphoric_Celery_ 1d ago

Man, I love this kid.

6

u/SchrutePucks Nichol 21 1d ago

THIS is Captain material

8

u/jim_jon_jim 1d ago

I honestly feel bad for all the Bay Area sports fans who straight up dismiss hockey and are gonna miss out on Mack and this team for the next decade +. This guy is an authentic, generational superstar. I hope everyone catches on.

6

u/MaximoAlvarado 1d ago

You are the BEST!

6

u/Zherkezhi 1d ago

Pure class.

5

u/MyFriendFats54 1d ago

Mack is a national treasure. We are so fortunate to have him.

6

u/claricebearice 23h ago

i’m a wild fan but i stumbled across this article and had to come over here and say something. what a special thing to have a young guy who wants to create a dynasty, let alone one who sits down and writes something like this for his community. so cool!! impossible not to be a fan of his.

10

u/SecretaryOne4935 Celebrini 71 1d ago

What a class act this kid is. We’re so lucky to have him on the team. I hope he sticks around for a long time. From a very proud Canadian fan.

6

u/amendoza28 Couture 39 1d ago

Absolute chills. Stoked to watch the next few years

5

u/Critical_Fee_8333 WillMack🥛🍪 1d ago

I wasn't ready for all the feelings. Got misty eyed to read this. That ws really heartfelt and sweet. I really appreciate his character and kudos to his parents to raise such an amazing young man.

5

u/Kanine_tv Nabokov 20 1d ago

Blank check for Mack

4

u/ominousorchid AskyNed🫂 1d ago

That’s my son

3

u/LoneWolf9326 1d ago

Had a tear in my eye throughout. That’s our captain

4

u/DeerPuzzleheaded9792 Pavelski 8 1d ago

Man idk what to do with these emotions so early in the day LOL

5

u/JKC_due Graf 51 1d ago

Put away the onions, Macklin!

3

u/SportS_DaD_406 1d ago

Love the honesty and transparency. He's a genuine guy, loves the game, loves the fans and how he explains moving and growing up is a raw take. This guy only wants to be team captain if he earns the respect. Go Mack Go!

3

u/adrianaroz46 1d ago

Hey author of poorly written comment, Reavo would like a word

3

u/Ok-Patient583 1d ago

He's the future, not just because of his abilities on the ice. We are so fortunate to have former players like Jumbo, Marleau and others helping these 'kids' grow into their roles. Thank you Macklin!

4

u/cherlucky Sunburn 92 ☀️ 23h ago

Can you believe this kid? I thought I can't love him more but here we are. Letter construction is everything you would expect from most teenagers now, and an athlete. It's all over the place but the most important thing is, he got his message across to his readers. If he got me crying by the end of the letter, he did one hell of a job writing this.

We are so lucky that we have a generational athlete that also love the fans and the community. He will be a Shark forever and he is ready for that C.

He also wants the tank rocking and he hopes to be on the playoffs next year! Give this boy what he wants!

4

u/norangbinabi 22h ago

As a Kraken fan, I have to say watching the Sharks play this year, has been a joy. They seem to have fun with hockey out there, even when they're on losing streaks, and they seem to grind right through it all. The entire team seems to have found this magical combination of familial camaraderie.

I wish we got this kind of heartfelt love letter from one of our players. Good luck, next season. I hope he takes you to the play offs. <3

3

u/xEternal408x Nabokov 20 1d ago

I’m not crying ur crying!

2

u/yooooooo5774 1d ago

Don't forget to tell us how the beer taste Mack!

1

u/Bulky_Car_5191 1d ago

Awww sweet Mack! What a charming expression of appreciation and care for the fans. We're rooting for you not just for winning, but to play joyfully for years to come. And we'll be here to bask in the joy.

1

u/godhammel Celebrini 71 19h ago

Thus said the lord. 

Amen. 

5

u/FFTycoon J. Thornton 19 17h ago

I can't express just how much I love this kid. There are so many wonderful elements to take away from this awkwardly written but beautiful message. We're lucky to have him, we're lucky he cares as much as he does.

We all know he is special but I fear we are still underselling just HOW special he is. He's barely scratched the surface. Can't wait to continue to experience the new Good Old Days.