San Jose Sharks defenseman Luca Cagnoni (42) celebrates with Will Smith (2) and Alexander Wennberg (21) after scoring in overtime against the Florida Panthers at SAP Center on Thu Oct 1, 2026 (AP News photo)
From My Notebook Sharks and Celebrini Make History
By Amaury Pi-González
Macklin Celebrini, the 20-year-old center for the San José Sharks, is the youngest captain in team history and the youngest in the NHL. On July 29, 2026, Macklin Celebrini also signed the largest-ever contract in San José Sharks history: a five-year extension for $94 million, averaging $18.8 million per season. A contract that runs from the 2027-28 season to the 2031-32 season.
“I think five was just the right number. Just all different factors with where our team is going and having that flexibility. We’re all really excited with where we’re going and what we’re building. So just kind of keeping a little bit more flexibility for everyone. It’s not really a bad thing,” said the young captain of Los Tiburones de San José after signing the historic contract.
The Celebrini era has just begun, and San José Sharks fans are as excited as ever in their 35-year history. As Sports Anchor for Telemundo CH 48 San José, I covered their first-ever game; I could not forget it since it happened on October 4, 1991, my birthday, as they lost to the Vancouver Canucks 4-3.
The game took place in Cow Palace, Daly City, just blocks south of San Francisco, their temporary home for their first two seasons, 1991-93, while the San José Arena (today SAP Center) was being built. I often visited with cameraman Ignacio Navarrete at the site where the SAP was being built; we also interviewed businesses around downtown about the economic impact of an NHL franchise in the most populated city in the Bay Area, San José.
In 2016, Los Tiburones made it to the Stanley Cup, losing 4 games to 2 to the Pittsburgh Penguins and the great Sidney Crosby. San José was dressed in Teal for the occasion, a memorable one, and the first Stanley Cup I ever covered.
Today, 10 years later, the team seems poised and ready to run and go far in the postseason, perhaps back in the Stanley Cup; yes, they have that potential.
Los Tiburones On Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 1:00 PM, against the Ottawa Senators, the Sharks will celebrate their tenth annual Los Tiburones Night, honoring Hispanic Heritage in San José, home to over 30% Hispanics in the Bay Area with over 2 million Hispanics.
As a Latino, I am proud of this team’s commitment to the Hispanic community, and I am looking forward to being part of another Los Tiburones Night with this young franchise. The flavor of Fiesta, Food, Music, and Spanish broadcasting on the air!
Get used to these names; they will bring the excitement for Sharks fans during this season and years to come: Macklin Celebrini, Will Smith, Luca Cagnoni, Yaroslav Askarov, Toffoli. Goodrow, Graf. – Arriba Tiburones!
Quote: “I skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been”. Wayne Gretzky.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
