“If Macklin Celebrini had asked for the maximum, we would have given it to him.”

This morning, Macklin Celebrini signed a five-year contract extension. The contract, which won't take effect until 2027–28, will pay him $18.8 million per year.
As of today, that will make him the league's highest-paid player in a year… though he could be surpassed by then.
Obviously, it makes sense that the Sharks weren't afraid to pay him, given just how special a talent he is. That said, the amount was somewhat surprising, considering that the forward seemed open to leaving money