Willmack’s Elevated cupcakes

introducing the san jose sharks class of 2026 !!!

Their laughs are so joyous, infectious, full of love and fun and fondness for each other

They truly have something special. Relationship, friendship, partnership, all of the above. We see such a small portion of their lives together and yet we have THIS many (plus many not included) moments of pure joy. They must have so so so many more that we don’t get to witness and that truly just makes my heart happy 🥹 I hope they keep each other forever.

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Honestly feel like this totally goes both ways though. Because there’s a reason Will was talking about Mack’s and his jerseys hanging next to each other in the rafters at SAP center literally 5 minutes into their rookie season. Talking about how he and Mack hopefully stay around San Jose for a long time and can maybe be what Jumbo & Patty are to them to other rookies in the future. Like that is honestly insane talk.

Them knowing they can tease and play fight but to never start a prank war between them (much more fun to gang up on everyone else anyway). Lifting each other up & defending each other in front of the media but they never have to compare. The blind chemistry.

I know there‘s lots of joking about Will’s harem and sure, they’ve played with Will before, most have known Will longer and they might even spend parts of the summer together and yet they can never really give him what Mack does. What Will craves - because that man loves competing and Mack will match him stride for stride without even having to be asked.

Their bond is absolutely unique and I like to think the both of them cherish it all the more for it.

You know, the thing about Willmack is that it wouldn’t make sense if it were unrequited. It wouldn’t make people raise their brows, scratch their heads, and fawn over what they’re witnessing if there were even the slightest imbalance in that dynamic; if the weight of their love tipped even a fraction more in one direction than the other.

So I completely agree. We all love to point out Mack’s bleeding, exposed heart for Will because that boy never takes care to hide it from the world. He says so little, but he shows so much. He just can’t help it. To Mack, Will’s like the puck: elusive, exhilarating, and impossible not to chase. Every time he sets eyes on him, something in him comes alive; his whole body conditioned to follow, to possess.

To Will, Mack’s an anchor. Not the kind that drags you down, but the kind that keeps you grounded and steady. A home base keeping Will ashore. Will, who yearns for a house with a big dog to protect him, who couldn’t fall asleep unless someone else was in the room, who didn’t even want to be alone with his own thoughts, is now building a home with someone who cherishes him and holds him through his worst nightmares.

//

Honestly feel like this totally goes both ways though. Because there’s a reason Will was talking about Mack’s and his jerseys hanging next to each other in the rafters at SAP center literally 5 minutes into their rookie season. Talking about how he and Mack hopefully stay around San Jose for a long time and can maybe be what Jumbo & Patty are to them to other rookies in the future. Like that is honestly insane talk.

Them knowing they can tease and play fight but to never start a prank war between them (much more fun to gang up on everyone else anyway). Lifting each other up & defending each other in front of the media but they never have to compare. The blind chemistry.

I know there‘s lots of joking about Will’s harem and sure, they’ve played with Will before, most have known Will longer and they might even spend parts of the summer together and yet they can never really give him what Mack does. What Will craves - because that man loves competing and Mack will match him stride for stride without even having to be asked.

Their bond is absolutely unique and I like to think the both of them cherish it all the more for it.

You know, the thing about Willmack is that it wouldn’t make sense if it were unrequited. It wouldn’t make people raise their brows, scratch their heads, and fawn over what they’re witnessing if there were even the slightest imbalance in that dynamic; if the weight of their love tipped even a fraction more in one direction than the other.

So I completely agree. We all love to point out Mack’s bleeding, exposed heart for Will because that boy never takes care to hide it from the world. He says so little, but he shows so much. He just can’t help it. To Mack, Will’s like the puck: elusive, exhilarating, and impossible not to chase. Every time he sets eyes on him, something in him comes alive; his whole body conditioned to follow, to possess.

To Will, Mack’s an anchor. Not the kind that drags you down, but the kind that keeps you grounded and steady. A home base keeping Will ashore. Will, who yearns for a house with a big dog to protect him, who couldn’t fall asleep unless someone else was in the room, who didn’t even want to be alone with his own thoughts, is now building a home with someone who cherishes him and holds him through his worst nightmares.

But of course, it's not like Will gets nothing out of this. He wouldn't be plastered to Mack's side if he didn't genuinely like Mack so much. Their personalities just mesh so well in ways that they both needed. I do think Will is incredibly anxious, and Mack provides him with intense protection and security. The pens fight completely sealed the deal for Will in that. Mack, who was basically their captain already, getting into a fight over a clean hit. Seeing red because someone hurt Will. Right before the Olympics roster was announced Mack was front and center showing the league that you DO NOT mess with Will because Macklin Celebrini will make you pay if you do. Besides how hot Mack looked fighting for him, I think it also gave Will a heart boner because of what it all meant. Someone stood up for him and that someone was Mack. The same guy who won't let reporters forget his college stats or that he was 4oa. Same guy who accepts no Will Smith Hockey slander. Same guy who looks at Will like he's a cookie he wants to eat but also hung the stars. Mack definitely feels like home to him.

And Mack always wanted to be someone's #1 but always felt like he was too much. Yet he's never too much for Will. He gets to break down and show his ugly side and Will is still there to help him through it. I think about Robyn's quote about Rick "he doesn't scare me" and how Celebrini men need that person who can handle their intensity. Will is the first and only person that's willing to do that for Mack. And all this to say is that they treat each other as partners. The lack of violence hockey players usually have with each other, the mutual respect of everything they have, they genuinely see each other as equals and it's insane to see that in guys so young who haven't even known each other for 2 full years yet.

They're soulmates. You can't tell me otherwise.

So I've talked about this A LOT (you can search #ivar stenberg on my blog if you're interested) but here's my final answer:

I want Stenberg.

I know all the arguments against. (Good defense is harder to find, Reid or Carels have the potential to be a top-pair D, Sharks desperately need D, Stenberg has a lower ceiling/ less flash than guys like McKenna, wingers are easier to find/ less valuable etc).

I know that, at this point, nearly ALL of the prospect analysts have San Jose picking defense. I know that Sheng Peng said the word at the Combine was San Jose were picking defense. I know that Very Smart People like Scott Wheeler are saying it's a coin flip between Chase Reid & Carson Carels.

But. Here are my arguments for Stenberg:

They can draft d from the 20th pick. My suggestions for the pick:

1. Ryan Lin- RD, offensive dman, ranked 17th in USA apparently, powerplay quarterback type but may be unavailable by the time we get to 20

2. Tommy Bleyl- RD, offensive dman, rankings vary but most are within the 20-30 range, an American kid tearing up the QMJHL, CHL rookie of the year 2026, breaking records for d-men in Q already, would be an absolute steal one day

3. Juho Piiparinen- RD, defensive dman, ranking vary, heavy hitter but low point production so it’s a bit risky to draft him, could be Mario Ferraro 2.0 (by that I mean, good blue line presence, peak point production in like 5ish years, wants long term but the Sharks may not agree-kinda situation)

4. Malte Gustafsson- LD, defensive dman, his rankings vary, also the Sharks have an abundance of LD so this one better be the last resort pick

5. Xavier Villaneuve- LD, offensive dman, Lane Hutson 2.0 is all I will say, but then again, the Sharks have too much LD in the up and coming roster, BUT he’s a stud so he’s also a steal for the team that picks him, he might fall because of his size just like Lane so we should all keep our eyes open about him 👀 (cough 2nd round pick cough)

Either trade the pick again for another established player and a 1st round pick OR draft a player at 27.