Macklin Celebrini missed the San Jose Sharks’ 5-0 loss to the Dallas Stars on October 6, 2026, after a lower-body injury forced him to sit out despite participating in warm-ups, per NHL.com and NBC Sports Bay Area.
The San Jose Sharks” 5-0 defeat to the Dallas Stars on Monday night took a sharper sting when star center Macklin Celebrini was scratched due to a lower-body injury, despite taking part in pregame warm-ups. The 20-year-old, who had scored 183 points in 154 career games, left the ice early during the morning skate and was ultimately ruled out, according to Sharks coach Ryan Warsofsky. It didn't happen in warm-ups,
Warsofsky told SJ Hockey Now, acknowledging the team had been managing the injury for “a little bit.”
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Impact of Celebrini's Absence Is Felt Immediately
Celebrini’s absence was felt immediately. The Sharks mustered just two shots on goal in the first period, with the Stars dominating 26-14 and winning 25 of 44 faceoffs. Darnell Nurse, a 13-year NHL veteran, called the loss a wake-up call: We didn’t do enough of that tonight.
Will Smith, who took over as center in Celebrini’s absence, admitted the Sharks just got to be better.
Celebrini had played in every game of the 2025-26 NHL season for San Jose and last missed a game on November 2, 2024, due to a hip injury, according to NBC Sports Bay Area. Prior to Monday’s game, he had not missed a game in nearly two years.
Warsofsky described Celebrini’s injury as “day-to-day,” though the exact cause remains unclear. The coach declined to specify how long the team had been managing the issue, stating, Still being evaluated.
Despite the injury, Celebrini was seen walking around practice on Tuesday but did not skate. The Sharks’ next game is a road matchup against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday, with Celebrini’s status still uncertain. A San Jose Sharks’ PR tweet on October 6, 2026, confirmed Celebrini was out with a lower-body injury, marking his first absence since the 2024-25 season.
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Player Quotations and Game Analysis
Celebrini’s absence left a void in the Sharks’ offense, which had relied heavily on his playmaking. In their first two games of the season, he contributed five assists on nine goals. Without him, the team struggled to generate momentum. He's obviously a big part of the team,
Smith said. We needed a better effort than that tonight.
Nurse echoed the sentiment, adding, Good veteran team over there who's won a lot of hockey over the years and played the right way, so to play against a team like that, you got to do it also.
The Stars’ dominance was evident in their special teams play, holding the Sharks to 0-for-2 on the power play while allowing no goals on three penalty kills. Despite the loss, Warsofsky praised his team’s practice intensity, saying, I loved our practice.
However, the coach emphasized the need for adjustment: Just simplifying our game a little bit, obviously.
Celebrini had previously recorded three assists in a 4-3 overtime win against the Florida Panthers on October 4, 2026, and two assists in a 5-4 overtime win against the Los Angeles Kings on October 6, 2026, according to NHL.com.
Next Steps and Uncertainty
The Sharks face a critical test against the Blues on Thursday, with Celebrini’s availability still in question. Will Smith, who practiced at center in Celebrini’s absence, expressed optimism about his role: I’m super-excited. Played [there] my whole life, so I’m ready to go.
However, the team’s ability to adapt without its top-line center will be a key factor in their performance. For now, the focus remains on Celebrini’s recovery, with the Sharks hoping to avoid a prolonged absence from their star forward. Smith, the 2023 No. 4 pick, practiced at center on Tuesday, with Warsofsky noting, He’s got some experience with it.
The coach also mentioned that Smith’s skating and involvement in the game would benefit from the shift.
Celebrini’s status for the Thursday game remains unclear, but if he is unavailable, the Sharks will rely on depth players like Ty Dellandrea, who replaced him in Monday’s lineup. Warsofsky emphasized the need for the team to step up and fill in for big pieces when they're not out there,
acknowledging the challenge of replacing a player who ranked fourth in the NHL with 115 points (45 goals, 70 assists) in 82 games during the 2024-25 season. The Sharks are scheduled to practice in St. Louis on Wednesday at 12 PM CT, with further updates expected before their matchup against the Blues.
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More on Macklin Celebrini
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