- Macklin Celebrini is the youngest cover athlete in NHL video game history
- He’s the first Shark on the cover since Owen Nolan on NHL 2001
- Read below for the numbers behind Celebrini’s cover-worthy sophomore year
Macklin Celebrini is getting the cover treatment.
EA Sports named the 20-year-old Sharks center the cover athlete for NHL 27 on Tuesday, and he lands there as the youngest player the company has ever put on the front of the game.
We flagged the news as it broke:
Celebrini is the first Shark on the cover since Owen Nolan fronted NHL 2001, a 26-year gap for the franchise. He also bumps Trevor Zegras, who was 21 for NHL 23, as the youngest name EA has ever gone with.
The resume backs it up. Celebrini finished fourth in league scoring with 115 points in his second season, potted 45 goals, and outscored San Jose’s next-best forward by 56 points.
NHL 27 senior game design director Mike Inglehart talked about why the studio went with him.
“The cover athlete is always a big deal to the community, and this guy embraces everything NHL 27 is. He’s an elite player already at his age. He’s doing great things in the NHL level, also he’s made an impact with Team Canada at the Olympic level.”
That Olympic run stood out. As the youngest Canadian on the roster, Celebrini skated on a top line with Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, put up five goals and 10 points in six games, and came home with a silver medal.
Celebrini went first overall in 2024 and turned 20 last month. He’s the first solo cover athlete since Cale Makar on NHL 24, after EA leaned on the Tkachuk family last year and the Hughes brothers the year before. He’s also in line for a massive extension with the Sharks.
The full reveal trailer drops July 16 at 11 a.m. ET:
NHL 27 hits shelves September 4.
