Macklin Celebrini Makes History With ‘NHL 27’ Cover

San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini defied expectations in his second season, achieving what many athletes yearn for—a remarkable performance that surpasses their rookie accomplishments. Celebrini, now 20, boosted his points from 63 in his first season to an impressive 115 points, consisting of 46 goals and 70 assists.

This feat contributed to his selection for Team Canada at the 2026 Olympics, where they earned a silver medal following a loss to Team USA. His exceptional skills have now earned him the privilege of appearing on the cover of ‘NHL 27’ by EA Sports, marking him as the youngest player ever to have this honor. Celebrini is the first Sharks player to be featured since Owen Nolan’s cover appearance on ‘NHL 2001’.

This achievement not only highlights Celebrini’s talents but also underscores the changing landscape of the gaming world, contrasting the past era of purchasing physical copies with the current digital downloading trend. Such a transition may be puzzling for younger generations who are accustomed to accessing games online.

Comparing Celebrini to other hockey stars, we note that while Alex Ovechkin and Connor McDavid appeared on covers during their early NHL years, neither was as young as Celebrini. Surprisingly, Sidney Crosby has never graced a cover, despite his prominent career.

Sharks fans now wait anxiously, hoping that Celebrini avoids the infamous cover athlete curse, which suggests players featured may encounter challenges soon after. Optimism remains for a promising season, as the Sharks barely missed the playoffs last year, falling short of the second wild card spot by only four points.