Two young stars, saddled with the highest of expectations, have risen to the top — together.
After a multi-point affair for Macklin Celebrini and a stellar four-point night for Connor Bedard, the young superstars from North Vancouver are now first and second in NHL scoring, respectively.
Celebrini, the first-overall pick in 2024, scored in the first period of the San Jose Sharks’ win over the Winnipeg Jets to tie Bedard for the scoring lead. The 19-year-old then went on to add a primary assist in the third period.
Prior to Friday’s games, Celebrini was tied for the league scoring lead with Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel at 21 points. Now, he stands alone.
With his 23 points this season, Celebrini, 19, has tied Wayne Gretzky (1980-81) and Steve Yzerman (1984-85) for most points by a teenager in his teamâ€s first 15 games of a season.
Jets defenceman Josh Morrissey was full of praise for Celebrini after the game.
“He’s an incredible young player,” Morrissey said, per Max Miller of Sharks Hockey Digest.
“Every time we’ve seen him over the last year and a half here, he’s just better every time we play him. You see the run he’s on here to start the year offensively. What has impressed me a lot, even going back to when we saw him last season, is just his all-around game. His hockey sense and defensive side of the game as well. For a young player with that much offensive skill, I think he plays a pretty solid 200-foot game, and that’s pretty impressive. He’s an elite young player. He’s only going to continue to get better, and that’s scary for the league.”
Meanwhile, Bedard dominated in the Chicago Blackhawks’ 4-0 win over the Calgary Flames as he contributed on every shot that ended up in the back of the net. The 20-year-old had the primary assist on each of the first three goals before shooting the fourth himself.
Bedard reflected on rising to second in scoring after Friday’s game, per Mark Lazerus of The Athletic.
“It’s not really something Iâ€m thinking about too much,” said the first-overall pick from 2023. “Obviously itâ€s a positive, I guess, But itâ€s so early. For me, itâ€s just keep growing my game, keep getting better in every area. Hopefully points keep coming, thatâ€d be great.”
Bedard’s 22 points in 15 games have helped lift the Blackhawks to a 7-5-3 record and fourth in the Central Division.
With the 2026 Milan/Cortina Olympics looming in February, and decisions about who will make the Team Canada roster coming even sooner than that, scoring performances like this from both Celebrini and Bedard won’t make decisions about who to bring any easier.
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