How Sharks' Macklin Celebrini's Skating Allows Him To Be The Next Face Of The NHL
In today's NHL, the greatest strength a player can have is his skating.
Whether that's straight line speed, agility, or their acceleration, being able to skate faster than your opponents creates separation and allows players to find time and space in a game that doesn't provide much.
You don't have to search far to find evidence of skating being the most vital trait. Take Connor McDavid, the best player in the NHL. He's faster than everyone on the ice and processes the game quicker than everyone. Think of Nathan MacKinnon, Cale Makar, the Hughes brothers, and even the 2025 first overall pick, Matthew Schaefer.
Ranking The NHL's Three Ted Lindsay Award Finalists
Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, Lightning right winger Nikita Kucherov and Oilers center Connor McDavid are the NHL Players' Association's Ted Lindsay Award finalists in 2025-26.
Let's look at his shooting. Celebrini possesses a lethal one-timer, highlighted by his 77th percentile hardest shot and his 87th percentile of average shot speed.
His one-timer allows him to be dangerous off the puck. But with the puck, Celebrini uses his wrist shot to score. His release is lightning-quick, accurate, and heavy, but he can move the puck closer or farther from his body to change the angle, avoid defenders, and manipulate goaltenders.
Additionally, Celebrini has numerous examples of receiving the puck in traffic in the slot, making one touch before finding the back of the net.
We touched on how his deft hands allow him to avoid checkers, but he also uses them when passing. Whether it's saucer passes, area passes, or slip passes through skates and stick, everything Celebrini does is in hopes of moving the puck into the middle of the ice.
Celebrini possesses the puck protection skills and edgework that Sidney Crosby has used to be so successful, along with exceptional skating and shooting.
At just 19 years old, Celebrini already has a 45-goal, 115-point season under his belt. That almost feels like it's going to be the baseline of a healthy season for Celebrini, who will likely go on to win multiple Hart and Art Ross Trophies.
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This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 12:00 PM.