San Jose just made Macklin Celebrini the centerpiece of its rebuild. Now the attention is shifting to the next big internal deadline: Will Smith’s future with the Sharks.
Celebrini’s five-year extension, reportedly worth $18.8 million annually, immediately reset the conversation around San Jose’s young core. The 19-year-old is coming off a historic season, and the deal gives the Sharks a clear financial blueprint: lock in elite talent early, then build the supporting cast around it. )
That puts Smith in an intriguing spot. The former No. 4 pick remains a major part of the organization’s long-term plan, but his next contract could become much more complicated after Celebrini’s record-setting number. If Smith takes another step offensively, San Jose may have to decide whether it wants to pay him like a premium second star—or risk creating another expensive negotiation down the road.
There is no confirmed agreement or firm timetable for Smith, so this is still speculation. But the timing is impossible to ignore. Celebrini’s extension has turned every upcoming Sharks negotiation into a referendum on the team’s new salary hierarchy, and Smith is the first name fans will watch. If the Sharks want a clean runway for their young core, getting Smith settled sooner rather than later could be their next major move.