Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini named IIHF Male Player of the Year

One of the game’s biggest budding superstars has received an exceptional honor. On Thursday, the International Ice Hockey Federation announced that San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini has been named the 2026 IIHF Male Player of the Year. Celebrini beat out the likes of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck (USA, Winnipeg Jets) and forward Sebastian Aho (Finland, Carolina Hurricanes), as well as Canada teammate Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers). In a ballot of nearly 200 members, Celebrini garnered 40.8 percent of the vote, exactly half of Hellebuyck’s 20.4 percent. The Vancouver native had quite the 2025-26 season. He was the youngest player on…