When the Toronto Maple Leafs face the San Jose Sharks on April 2, captain John Tavares plans to share a few words with Macklin Celebrini. They will likely be words of congratulations, reflecting the awe that Tavares and his teammates feel toward the 19-year-old's remarkable performance at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina.
Celebrini's Impact on the Olympic Stage
Celebrini has been one of Canada's standout players in Milan, demonstrating a level of skill and composure that belies his youth. In a thrilling 3-2 semifinal victory against Finland, Celebrini led Team Canada with eight shots on goal and assisted on Nathan MacKinnon's power-play winner with just 36 seconds remaining in the third period, securing Canada's spot in the gold-medal game.
Teammates and Opponents Take Notice
John Tavares expressed his admiration for Celebrini's play, noting that the young forward appears completely at ease on the international stage. "Yeah, it does blow him away," Tavares told the Toronto Sun. "He goes over there and he just looks so comfortable with who he is as a player and how he has to play. The stage isn't anything more than him just having fun and playing his game. Everywhere he goes, things just kind of happen."
Playing on a line with Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon, Celebrini has shown he can handle any challenge thrown his way. Through five games in Milan, he accumulated 10 points (five goals and five assists), ranking second in tournament scoring behind only McDavid's 13 points.
Exceptional Hockey IQ and Skill Set
Tavares highlighted Celebrini's exceptional hockey intelligence and diverse skill set. "His awareness and hockey IQ are off the charts," Tavares said. "The tremendous attributes with his skill set, whether it's puck-handling, playmaking, shooting—he's very strong and he wins a tremendous amount of puck battles. We've seen it in his first couple of years in the NHL but on a stage like that, it's pretty remarkable."
Veteran Perspective on Young Talent
Leafs winger Bobby McMann echoed Tavares's sentiments, expressing particular amazement at Celebrini's spatial awareness. "Incredible," McMann said. "I can't even imagine when I was that age... The part that's crazy to me is how well-developed he is with his spatial awareness on the ice, because that's usually something that you get when you play a longer time in the league. You look at guys that slow down, they're still playing because their spatial awareness around the ice is so good, but he has that at that age, and plus he has the elite skill. When you mix those two, that's how you are one of the best players in the world."
Celebrini's performance has not only impressed his NHL peers but has also positioned him as a central figure in Canada's quest for Olympic gold. His ability to excel alongside established superstars like McDavid and MacKinnon speaks to his maturity and talent level at just 19 years old.
The North Vancouver native's Olympic journey continues to captivate hockey fans and professionals alike, with his combination of youth, skill, and poise making him one of the most talked-about players in international hockey. As Canada prepares for the gold-medal game, all eyes will be on Celebrini to see if he can maintain his exceptional form on the world's biggest stage.
