The NHL is in a great place right now. Nearly every team has been competitive this season, the standings are as tight as they have been in years, and the league’s roster of superstars continues to grow thanks to the emergence of top young talent.
As a result, there are some great prize races going on across the league, none more compelling than the battle for the Hart Trophy. Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon are once again trading blows in the scoring race, putting up video game numbers each night. That said, this isn’t just a two-man conversation, as one name remains with them: Macklin Celebrini.
San Jose’s first overall pick in 2024 had a phenomenal rookie season, but has somehow managed to outdo himself with an explosion in year two, already bursting onto the scene as one of the best players in the world.
His play and production have been the driving force behind the Sharks’ surprising presence in a playoff spot as the calendar turns into the new year, which is why insider Frank Seravalli has him as the front-runner to take home the league’s most prestigious regular season award.
said Seravalli:
“If I were to fill out my Hart Trophy ballot today, Macklin Celebrini would indeed be number one on my ballot. It is the most valuable to his team. The San Jose Sharks are one point ahead of the division lead. He has 37 points more than his closest teammate, he is on pace for 127 points this year. And without Macklin Celebrini driving the bus – and maintaining it and washing it – guess what? The San Jose Sharks are a lottery team this year. They are in the bottom three of the league.”
The 19-year-old was nothing short of spectacular in his second NHL season, compiling 67 points (24 goals, 43 assists) in his first 43 games.
Macklin Celebrini’s Hart Trophy Case
Seravalli makes a strong case for Celebrini, and if he is able to drag San Jose into the postseason while maintaining this level of production, there is little doubt he will at least be among the finalists for the award.
The problem is what stands in his way. McDavid and MacKinnon are both at the height of their powers and are playing perhaps the best hockey of their careers, which is saying something considering how dominant they have been for years.
What Celebrini does have in its favor is context. McDavid has Leon Draisaitl. MacKinnon has Cale Makar. Both play on teams with clear Stanley Cup hopes. Celebrini, meanwhile, does this with a much thinner supporting cast on a team with little to no expectations of even making the playoffs – and doing so as a teenager.
We know voters love a good story, and what this kid has done so far in 2025-2026 ticks all the boxes, so at this point it shouldn’t even be a surprise to hear his name in these types of companies.
Next: Insider highlights that Boone Jenner is a trade deadline for oil companies
#Insider #Macklin #Celebrini #leading #Hart #Trophy #ahead #McDavid #MacKinnon