Sidney Crosby has seen countless talented rookies in his storied NHL career, yet the San Jose Sharks’ 19-year-old forward Macklin Celebrini has impressed the Penguins captain in a unique way. With 34 points in 24 games, Celebrini has quickly emerged as one of the league’s brightest young stars.

The Sharks have benefited from his breakout performance, holding an 11–9–3 record and sitting firmly in playoff contention. Beyond stats, teammates and rivals alike have noticed Celebrini’s combination of intelligence, passion, and on-ice maturity.

“His hunger, his passion for the game (and) how hard he works,” Crosby told The Athletic. “He’s an incredible player. Just his all-around game at his age is pretty impressive. He’s committed defensively. He competes hard. He’s got a pretty mature game f

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