CHICAGO – Perhaps Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard will always be compared to one another.
They were both labeled generational-type talents when they selected first overall in the NHL Draft, with Bedard going to the Chicago Blackhawks in 2023 and Celebrini to the San Jose Sharks the next year. They’re from the same hometown, are both in the Western Conference, and are the faces of their respective franchises.
“I think it’s good for the game to have that,” Bedard said of the comparison. “Stuff like that’s fun for fans and obviously brings interest into the game.”
But maybe it’s not the players who should be compared to one another. Going forward, maybe it’s their teams.
“I’m sure the fans like it. They want to (see) those types of stories,” Blackhawks coach Jeff Blashill said Sunday when asked about the two stars. “The reality is, though, is the comparison over the years should be about the Chicago Blackhawks and the San Jose Sharks.”
If that’s the case, then the Sharks have jumped ahead of the Blackhawks, at least for the moment.
The Blackhawks and Sharks, who play each other for the first time this season at the United Center on Monday, have been NHL’s 31st and 32nd place teams, respectively, each of the last two years.
While Chicago appears headed toward a sixth straight spring of playoff-free hockey, thanks to a recent slump, San Jose, with Celebrini leading the way (and an 11-4 overtime record), is eyeing its first postseason appearance since 2019.
The Sharks (27-22-4) have already raced past last season’s win total (20), have seen some improvements with their goaltending and have averaged a half-goal per game more than last season. Some of general manager’s Mike Grier’s moves – either trades or signings – have flopped, but several others have worked out, as he’s added some quality experience to an impressive cadre of younger players.
With his team in contention, Grier on Jan. 19 also took the bold step of acquiring forward Kiefer Sherwood, a pending unrestricted free agent, from the Vancouver Canucks for two second round draft picks. He’s also reportedly shown interest in trading for skilled New York Rangers winger Artemi Panarin and signing him to an extension.
Of course, the Sharks wouldn’t be in this position without Celebrini, who enters Monday fourth in the NHL in scoring, with his 79 points in 53 games putting him in the Hart Trophy conversation.
“He’s having such a good career and he’s such a great player, but it doesn’t happen by accident,” said Bedard. who spent some time this past offseason skating with Celebrini. “He puts in a ton of time and effort. For both of us, getting to compete against each other every day, having that competition — we’ve got a great group of guys that skate in the summer — it’s always fun.”
Asked if Celebrini’s success motivated him, Bedard said, “I’m rooting for him to do well. We’re both our own people, our own players. I work on my game. I’m not kind of comparing myself too much to other guys.
“I’m rooting for him to be great, and I’m trying to be the best version of myself.”
Bedard, too, has taken a big step forward this season, especially with his skating. He has 52 points in 42 games and would likely have stats closer to Celebrini’s had he not sustained a shoulder injury in December that cost him 12 games.
Still, even with Bedard back, the Blackhawks have floundered.
The Blackhawks were 19-19-7 and three points out of a playoff spot on Jan. 11, a day after Bedard returned. But they’ve since gone 2-6-2 to fall out of the race. With 27 games left, they enter Monday nine points back of the Los Angeles Kings (23-17-14) for the Western Conference’s second and final wild card spot.
After he brought a handful of veteran players in 2023 and 2024 who largely didn’t work out, Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson has now charged into a youth movement, with Bedard, winger Frank Nazar and defensemen Alex Vlasic leading the way.
In recent months, both ESPN and The Athletic ranked the Blackhawks’ prospect pool as the fourth best in the NHL. Both outlets also had the Sharks at No. 1.
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Asked about that process, Bedard said, “as players, I don’t think we really look at it as rebuilding. We try to go win every game. We’ve got a lot of great players, a lot of young players coming up, a lot of guys that aren’t here yet. But that’s more for management to look at.”
With some young cornerstone pieces in place, there’s certainly a chance that, in time, the Sharks and Blackhawks can become two of the best teams in the Western Conference. But right now, if the focus is on the teams, and not the individuals, one looks a little further along than the other.
“It’s Blackhawks versus Sharks. I don’t think (Celebrini or I) really look at that if you ask him the same thing,” Bedard said when asked if he had been looking forward to playing Celebrini on Monday. “Obviously, I’m looking forward to seeing him just off the ice and saying hi, but it’s just another game.”
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