Report: Sharks’ Celebrini explains decision not to pursue maximum salary

Macklin Celebrini very well could have pursued the maximum salary on his new deal. Instead, the 20-year-old star centre opted to go a more team-friendly route when he inked a five-year, $94 million contract extension with the San Jose Sharks this off-season. Set to kick in for the 2027-28 season, Celebrini’s upcoming contract carries an average annual value of $18.8 million, the highest in NHL history. The maximum salary a player can sign for in the NHL is 20 per cent of the team cap, currently $20.8 million per season. As Celebrini told NHL.com, it was important to him to…