The IIHF Worlds provides way more to 18-year-old Macklin Celebrini than the usual event. Just icing the rink with hockey greats Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon, the Sharks’ rookie is soaking up first-class lessons on and off the ice.Whereas Celebrini should still pretty much be transforming himself into a young pro, he has been demonstrating this unusually pondered air of maturity, composure, and competitive fire. This rare chance to train alongside two Stanley Cup champions can mold him into the next big NHL star.

Macklin Celebrini’s mentorship under Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon accelerates his development

Macklin Celebrini, who is on a journey from top draft pick to Calder Trophy finalist, is taking an exciting turn at the IIHF World Championship by skating with some of the game’s most talented veterans. Being placed on a line with Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby allowed Celebrini to learn through osmosis, observing Crosby’s positioning and discipline as well as leadership. Meanwhile, Colorado Avalanche star Nathan MacKinnon has provided some silent mentorship by saying in a recent interview that Celebrini is already “miles ahead” of where he was at that age.The difference between Celebrini and an ordinary athlete consists not only of his skills but also of his mind. Coaches and teammates have talked lavishly about his competitiveness, emotional maturity, and relentless will. Try to argue against 63 points in the first NHL season, six more in seven games at Worlds, and you will be shut down. But beyond the statistics, his impact on the locker room stands out even more. Ryan Warsofsky, who coached Celebrini through the season and is now leading the U.S.team at Worlds, described Celebrini as a man of natural leadership and elite mentality.The exposure to and immersion in a team like Canada, full of battle-hardened veterans, are only sharpening his instincts. Every moment spent together, from dinner sharing to practice to strategizing for game implementation, has become a building block in his development. Even at 18 years of age, comparisons to older professionals are already being made in his play and personality. Also Read: Can the trio of Andrei Svechnikov, Sam Reinhart, and Frederik Andersen win Game 1 of the NHL Eastern Conference Final?For Macklin Celebrini, the IIHF Worlds are not simply an international stage but rather a boot camp for greatness. With the amazing supervision of Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon, his education could have no other possible outcome than to put his skills on a stage that no training camp could. With this kind of coaching, it would not be crazy to foresee a fast revival of San Jose’s rebuild.