- Mike Grier says Leo Carlsson’s offer sheet changed things “a little bit” on the Macklin Celebrini extension
- Grier says Celebrini could have asked for the $20.8 million max and San Jose would have paid it
- Read below for Grier’s full comments and the money Celebrini left on the table
Philadelphia’s offer sheet on Leo Carlsson never had San Jose’s name anywhere on it. It still moved the price on Macklin Celebrini.
Sharks general manager Mike Grier met with reporters Wednesday evening, hours after the club handed Celebrini a five-year, $94 million extension. He was asked how much this summer’s offer sheet market shaped the number.
“The offer sheet obviously changed things a little bit.”
The Flyers put a five-year, $90 million offer sheet in front of Carlsson earlier in July before Anaheim matched. That parked an $18 million cap hit at the top of the league and handed every young star’s agent a brand new comparable. Celebrini’s $18.8 million clears it, though his deal does not start until 2027-28.
Grier made a point of saying the 20-year-old never chased the ceiling. A player can sign for up to 20 percent of the cap, which works out to $20.8 million against the 2026-27 number.
“On our side with Macklin, we were preparing for everything. With what he’s done in his first couple years in the NHL and in the Olympics and the World Championship and everything, he would’ve had every right to ask for the max 20%. We’re very thankful he was willing to give us some flexibility and take a little bit less and leave some money on the table to help us continue to grow our team.”
Asked whether ownership would have signed off on the max, Grier did not hedge. He said he believes Sharks owner Hasso Plattner would have written it.
“I don’t think Hasso would’ve hesitated to give him that if that’s what he asked for.”
Watch Grier’s full media availability from Wednesday:
Celebrini earned the right to ask for whatever he wanted. He scored 45 goals and put up 115 points in 82 games during his age-19 season, a Sharks single-season record.
He finished fourth in league scoring, fourth in Hart Trophy voting and was a Ted Lindsay Award finalist.
Skipping two million a year is real money for a club still filling out a roster around him. Will Smith is the next contract Grier has to sort out, and Collin Graf sits in the same pile.
San Jose has not made the playoffs since 2018-19. Celebrini is signed through 2032 to fix the drought.
