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11 Vancouver things Macklin Celebrini can buy with his new $18.8M AAV salary

Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images

By Arielle Lalande

Aug 2, 2026, 12:00 EDTUpdated: Aug 2, 2026, 02:59 EDT

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This article and salary calculations were entirely human-written and calculated without the use of AI.

It may still be relatively quiet in the summer offseason, but Macklin Celebrini just became the highest-paid player in the NHL.

The Vancouver-born star forward of Team Canada and the San Jose Sharks just received a major payday from Sharks GM Mike Grier. For his first contract following his ELC, $94 million isn’t too shabby for a 20-year-old.

Celebrini is a well-known, born-and-raised Canucks fan. He grew up around the team, with his father, Rick, working with them in a health sciences capacity in the 2010s. Rick, now the director of sport medicine and performance with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, also worked with the Whitecaps at that time, meaning his children – including 2023 6th-round Canucks draft pick Aiden Celebrini – are Vancouver through and through.

Should Macklin Celebrini be inclined to spend an entire year’s salary in his hometown, what are some true BC activities for this BU alumnus to spend his cash on?

By the Numbers

Celebrini’s new five-year contract extension carries an eye-popping average annual value (AAV) of $18.8 million. Remember, all league salaries are paid in USD; at the current exchange rate, that makes for an annual salary of $26,306,464 in Canadian dollars.

How far can $26 million go in Vancouver? Let’s take a look.

1. Help build the new Canucks practice facility – $770,851 annually

Although new state-of-the-art practice facilities can cost hundreds of millions to construct, Celebrini can certainly lend a hand to the Canucks. Following reports this spring that the City of Vancouver and the Canucks were nearing an agreement on a new facility, an official memorandum of understanding was announced just this week. So, the practice facility is allegedly green-lit. There could be a few ways for Celebrini to lend a hand. Say, the naming rights to the rink, which could help alleviate the cost of construction. In 2009, MasterCard paid $525,000 CAD a year to put their name and logo on the Toronto Maple Leafs’ new practice facility and community arena, now called Ford Performance Centre. Adjust what MasterCard paid in 2009 to 2026 dollars; that is $770,851. Welcome to the new Macklin Celebrini Sports Performance Centre!

2. Buy the Sharks roster Vancouver Goldeneyes season tickets – $37,125

A great use of Celebrini’s time and salary would be taking his teammates to see the Vancouver Goldeneyes not just once, but buying them 15-game season tickets. Club-level season tickets behind the benches at the Pacific Coliseum for the upcoming season are $1,687.50 all-in. To buy a seat for all 22 players on the active Sharks roster would be a little under $40,000. As a bonus, the Sharks have an extra opportunity to see the Goldeneyes on the road, with PWHL San Jose set to begin its debut season this fall. If Celebrini was feeling generous, he could even spring for a box for his teammates down in San Jose!

3. Get a Nautical Sciences Diploma from BCIT – $21,806.03

Whether orcas or sharks, Celebrini cannot stay away from sea life. If he wanted to connect to this nautical theme even more, he could take a quick break from being one of the best hockey players in the world and pursue Nautical Sciences in a full-time, three-year program. After his time spent at Boston University, he might even get advanced placement into the program, and the total tuition for the entire diploma would be less than 1% of his annual salary. One percent indeed…

4. Buy out every BC Lions home game – $3,213,000

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The BC Lions recently announced a flash sale on season tickets for all six home games remaining on their schedule this season. After the CFL team was temporarily relocated from BC Place for FIFA World Cup events, they’re looking to bring fans back for what’s left of their 2026 campaign. The stadium’s upper bowl is closed for Lions games, meaning the total capacity of the remaining sections is 27,000. The current promotion offers six-game season tickets for $119, taxes and fees included. Celebrini could feasibly buy up every single seat at that price, and it would only cost roughly two months of his salary.

5. Buy the Vancouver Warriors. The whole team. – $13,995,450

The Warriors of the National Lacrosse League play their home games at Rogers Arena, which Celebrini is certainly familiar with by now. They are also owned by Canucks Sports and Entertainment (CSE). Although their franchise valuation is not publicly available, an educated guess can tally up an approximate value. The NLL’s Saskatchewan Rush sold to the ownership group of the Saskatoon Blades in 2021 for a reported $10 million USD. That is $13,995,450 CAD, meaning Celebrini could easily make a total ownership bid for the Warriors with less than one year’s salary, if he has entrepreneurial spirit.

6. Cycle the Seawall – $27,000

If Celebrini is an outdoorsy kind of person, he might enjoy a leisurely bike ride on the seawall. Plus, he would be able to shell out for a professional set-up. Between a Tour de France-ready professional bike and gear, including a helmet, Celebrini could be looking at a bill anywhere between $25,000 and $30,000 in Canadian dollars. An average of $27,000 CAD will probably do, though. With a top-of-the-line cycling set-up costing upwards of 14 to 15,000 Euros, and the exchange rate being what it is, the average price is steep. This may appear to be an unreasonable price tag for an amateur or literally anyone who has ever spent a normal day at Stanley Park, but Celebrini now has the money to pay for the best of the best; why not go for it?

7. Invest in new BC Ferries construction – $6,000,000

In 2025, the construction of four brand-new BC Ferries was announced, apparently to be completed by 2029. A fifth ferry was deemed unaffordable at the time, since the project was already likely to cost upwards of $1.5 billion. Suddenly, $18.8 million seems like small potatoes compared to major infrastructure investments. BC Ferries does not exchange naming rights to its vessels for financial contributions, but surely they would not turn down an investment from a homegrown resident. Celebrini wouldn’t need his name on a boat; he would be in it for the love of the game.

8. Ride the full Skytrain loop – $211.65

This may be a more subdued activity to do with his salary, but who knows, it could turn him into a transit enthusiast. An adult monthly pass from TransLink, valid across all three zones and all forms of transit, is a little over $200. If he ever needs to get over from his stomping grounds of North Van, he can hop on the SeaBus. That’s what being a $18.8 million AAV player can get you!

9. Buy a sensible condo in Coal Harbour outright – $1,200,000

No mortgage payments here, only condo fees. If young Macklin wanted to get out of Joe Thornton’s basement in San Jose – yes, he has been living with the retired Sharks legend for two seasons – he could dip his toes into the real estate market. For a two-bed, two-bath condo in Coal Harbour with stunning views, he would pay an average of $1.2 million in the current market. It could be a worthy investment if this buyer’s market ever becomes a seller’s market again.

10. Rent out the Vancouver Aquarium – $500,000

The Vancouver Aquarium is often privately rented out for various corporate events and even weddings. Who’s to say Celebrini doesn’t want to throw his 21st birthday bash in Canada? With a 2,000-person maximum capacity for the entire aquarium at, say, $250 per head, he could absolutely foot the bill.

11. Bask in the beauty of the Gastown Steam Clock – Priceless

This activity is free, timeless, and priceless. It would cost zero dollars of his brand new salary to stand incognito amongst tourists in Gastown and snap a photo for the ‘Gram every time it goes off every hour, on the hour. Well, at least as incognito as the highest-paid NHLer can be in his hometown.

Final Invoice

Even if Celebrini did all 11 activities on this list, he would still have $541.020.40 of his average annual salary left over for a little bit of spending cash. Whether he would use it to cover rent down in San Jose or to pay for flights back up to Vancouver to actually check off everything on this list is unknown. Still, if Celebrini’s contract is the harbinger of a new era for contracts, $18.8 million will surely one day be considered a conservative number across the league.

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