Islanders Star Becomes Latest NHL Player To Reveal Offseason Training With Sharks Macklin Celebrini

Mat Barzal skated with Macklin Celebrini this offseason.

New York Islanders star Mathew Barzal is a native of British Columbia. During the summers, he goes home to train in the offseason, and this time, that included San Jose Sharks superstar Macklin Celebrini. 

Celebrini had quite the offseason training, living with the Hughes brothers and training with several other NHL talents while in BC. 

Per Stefen Rosner, Barzal trains with Connor Bedard, Kent Johnson, Alex Kerfoot, Danton Heinen, and junior, collegiate, and overseas players.

"Skated with him for the first time this summer," Barzal told Rosner. "He's a super talent. His edge work, his shot, his passing...he's a superstar."

Barzal's high praise didn't stop there.

"Well, I think he's got all the tangibles," Barzal said. "He's got every tool. But I think what separates him is his work ethic. I think even if you watch him in the NHL, the way he competes on pucks and battles -- I saw that in the summer -- he's got endless potential."

Barzal won the Calder Trophy for Rookie of the Year in 2018. That season, Barzal had 85 points (22 goals, 63 assists) in 82 games.

Celebrini could be on his way to a Calder Trophy this season with 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists) in 35 games. 

I could tell that he's very talented, a lot of skills, and they have a lot of good young guys over there. The future seems to be bright for [that] franchise," Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said. "Before the success will come, there'll be a little bit of plain, but there's a lot of talent out there."

Barzal and the Islanders have been struggling recently, with a 4-6 record in their last ten games. However, the young star has scored points in six of the previous seven games.

Stay updated with the most interesting San Jose Sharks stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Make sure you bookmark THN's San Jose Sharks site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

Three Keys To A Sharks Victory Over Islanders

Lengthy Suspension Given To Former Sharks Prospect

Sharks Injury Update: Kovalenko & Kostin Are Still In San Jose