Macklin Celebrini Cards Heat Up After Sharks Captaincy

Macklin Celebrini’s rise is showing up in the hobby

The San Jose Sharks made Macklin Celebrini the first overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft out of Boston University, and his early production has quickly turned him into one of the most watched young names in hockey cards. After a rookie season that produced 63 points and 25 goals, Celebrini followed with an even bigger second season, scoring 45 times and adding 70 assists.

That on-ice growth has been matched by a sharp rise in his card market. Several of his top sales have climbed dramatically over the past year, and the Sharks naming the 20-year-old their youngest captain in franchise history only adds to the attention surrounding his hobby profile.

2024-25 Upper Deck Young Guns Outburst Gold 1/1 PSA Authentic

The Young Guns insert remains one of the most important rookie cards in the Upper Deck hockey market, and Celebrini’s 2024-25 Upper Deck Young Guns Outburst Gold 1/1 stands at the top of his list of notable sales. The card sold on Aug. 15, 2026, at Goldin Auctions for $1,281,000.

For collectors, the appeal of Young Guns is straightforward. It is the flagship rookie insert in Upper Deck hockey, and top players can see strong demand even when the cards are not serial numbered to extremely low totals. In Celebrini’s case, the one-of-one gold version pushed his hobby ceiling into rare territory.

For more collecting context, read Cooper Flagg Rookie Debut Patch Auto Sells for $8.04 Million.

2024 Upper Deck The Cup Rookie Patch Auto /99 Factory Encased

Upper Deck The Cup is one of the hobby’s premier high-end hockey releases, and Celebrini’s rookie patch autographs from the product have already drawn major attention. His Rookie Patch Auto /99 sold on Sep. 25, 2026, on Fanatics Premier for $132,000.

That sale marked a major jump from an earlier transaction on the same card type. A copy numbered 16/99 sold for $65,000 in May 2026. The patch was described as very similar, with the same four colors, which helps show how much Celebrini’s market moved over a relatively short period.

2024 Upper Deck The Cup Rookie Patch Auto /24 Factory Encased

Another Celebrini The Cup Rookie Patch Auto also posted a major result in 2026. A card numbered to 24 sold on May 9, 2026, at Goldin Auctions for $85,400.

That sale ranks as the third-highest sale of any Celebrini card mentioned here, and CardLadder has since valued it at more than $100,000. For collectors following his high-end market, The Cup has become one of the clearest indicators of how strong demand has been for his premium rookie cards.

2024 Upper Deck The Cup Monumental Booklet Rookie Patch Auto /6

Among Celebrini’s most visually striking cards is the 2024 Upper Deck The Cup Monumental Booklet Rookie Patch Auto /6. The booklet features an oversized patch that shows nearly the entire Sharks logo, making it one of the standout pieces in his early hobby run.

The card sold on Feb. 8, 2026, for $43,200. While it did not reach the same level as his top patch autos, the combination of booklet format, low serial number, and strong team branding made it one of the more memorable cards tied to his rookie season.

2024 UD Ultimate Rookie Tandem Shield Patch /2 with Will Smith and Celebrini

Celebrini also appears in one of the more exclusive cards from Upper Deck Ultimate. The 2024 UD Ultimate Rookie Tandem Shield Patch /2 pairs him with fellow Sharks rookie Will Smith and includes NHL shield patches from both players.

The card sold for $32,713 on Oct. 23, 2025. UD Ultimate is known as a high-end product with only four cards per box and a focus on autographs and low-numbered hits, which makes a dual rookie shield patch like this one especially appealing to collectors.

Will Smith adds another layer to the Sharks rookie market

Smith’s presence in the hobby gives collectors another young Sharks player to track alongside Celebrini. Smith posted 45 points in his rookie season, then improved to 59 points in his sophomore year. The two players have become closely linked in the card market because of their shared place in San Jose’s rebuild and their appearances together in premium products.

Even though the Sharks did not make the playoffs in the 2025-26 season, the team’s young core has given collectors a reason to pay close attention. Celebrini’s rise to captaincy and Smith’s steady production have helped make San Jose one of the more interesting teams to follow from a hockey card perspective.

Why Celebrini’s cards are drawing attention

Celebrini’s market has been fueled by a combination of draft pedigree, early production, and premium cardboard inventory. Being the first overall pick in 2024 gave him immediate hobby visibility, but his scoring totals have helped sustain that interest. The result has been strong demand across flagship rookies, high-end patch autos, and low-numbered booklet cards.

First overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft from Boston University
63 points and 25 goals in his rookie season
45 goals and 70 assists in his second NHL season
Named the youngest captain in San Jose Sharks history at age 20
Featured in major Upper Deck products including Young Guns, The Cup, and Ultimate

For collectors, Celebrini now sits in a rare position where performance, leadership, and premium card availability are all moving in the same direction. His biggest sales have already reached six figures, and the continued interest in his rookie-era cards suggests that the market will keep watching closely as his career develops.