Sharks' Macklin Celebrini turned down $20.8 million contract option

Macklin Celebrini's five-year contract extension with the San Jose Sharks will kick in for the 2027-28 season, and it'll pay him quite handsomely.It'll work out to $18.8 million per year for Celebrini, a new NHL record for annual average value in a contract.It could've been more, though. The maximum that Celebrini could've signed a contract for this summer was $20.8 million per year.Turns out, the Sharks would've paid Celebrini that if he asked. He just didn't ask.That's what front office leader Mike Grier told reporters on Wednesday:Grier says if Celebrini had demanded the maximum contract ($20.8 million AAV), #SJSharks would've given it to him— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) July 29, 2026MORE: Dylan Larkin trade 'frontrunner' revealedIt's notable to think about this on a couple of levels.For o