The two most recent No. 1 NHL Draft selections have found themselves being compared to one another more and more over the past month-plus.
Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard and San Jose Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini are ushering in a new wave of NHL stars, and the two generational talents are set to be matched up against each other for years to come.
Here’s my Bedard vs. Celebrini tale of the tape and breakdown of their statistics to this point of the 2024-25 NHL season.
NHL Hart Trophy Odds
| To win MVP |  |
 |
|---|---|---|
| Connor Bedard | +30000 | +30000 |
| Macklin Celebrini | +30000 | +30000 |
Odds as of 1/10/25
Bedard vs Celebrini tale of the tape
| Statistical Breakdown |  Connor Bedard |
 Macklin Celebrini |
|---|---|---|
| Goals per 60 | 0.82 | 1.27 ✅ |
| 5-on-5 goals per 60 | 0.65 | 1.05 ✅ |
| Points per 60 | 2.75✅ | 2.74 |
| 5-on-5 points per 60 | 1.76 | 2.1 ✅ |
| Individual point percentage | 75.5% | 80% ✅ |
| 5-on-5 individual point percentage | 76% | 88.9% ✅ |
| Power-play points | 17✅ | 8 |
| Shots per 60 | 7.42 | 10 ✅ |
| 5-on-5 shots per 60 | 6.31 | 8.39 ✅ |
| 5-on-5 goals for percentage | 45.5% | 47.4% ✅ |
There is no comparison on the surface statistics, with San Jose Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini almost topping Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard across the board. Additionally, the gap in the five-on-five numbers is particularly telling, and Celelbrini’s 88.9 individual point percentage is tied for 11th among NHL regulars.
Still, Bedard is in the midst of a heater with 22 points — eight goals — across his past 20 games, and he’s only missed the scoresheet five times during the run. His 3.29 points per 60 are 31st in the league during the stretch, and well ahead of Celebrini’s 54th-ranked 2.88 mark.
I am also anticipating Celebrini to cool down the stretch. He only played 38 regular season games with Boston University last year, and the physical grind of an 82-game season will take its toll on the rookie as the year continues.
So, don’t be surprised if Bedard closes the gaps and potentially passes Celebrini in several of these metrics when it’s all said and done in April.
| Advanced Statistics | Connor Bedard |
Macklin Celebrini |
|---|---|---|
| 5-on-5 Corsi For percentage | 44.1% | 45.5% ✅ |
| Adjusted Corsi For percentage | 43.6% | 44.3% ✅ |
| 5-on-5 Relative Corsi For percentage | -1.5 | 2.2 ✅ |
| Shot attempts per 60 | 14.3 | 18.3 ✅ |
| 5-on-5 shot attempts per 60 | 12.1 | 14.4 ✅ |
| Penalties drawn per 60 | 0.52 | 1.18 ✅ |
| 5-on-5 expected goals percentage | 43.4% | 45.5% ✅ |
| 5-on-5 PDO | 100.3 ✅ | 99.4 |
The Sharks and Blackhawks respectively rank 32nd and 31st in Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5, so it isn’t surprising to see poor ratios for both Celebrini and Bedard.
I do, however, particularly value Celebrini’s respectable 1.7 relative CF% at 5-on-5 because it means he’s positively contributing to San Jose’s possession when on the ice based on the teammates he’s skating with and the opponents he’s matched up against.
It’s also impressive to see the gap in shots and attempts, in addition to penalties drawn per 60. Further evidence the San Jose rookie is a true game-changer.
Bedard vs Celebrini verdict: Enjoy
Bedard’s mini-slump to start his sophomore campaign has quickly been silenced by his highlighted 20-game heater. Similarly, Celebrini has arrived on the brightest stage as advertised.
While it’s incredibly easy to fall into these player comparisons, it’s also what makes fandom fun, and I’m happy Bedard and Celebrini have shown off to start their early careers and are garnering the attention they deserve.
Additionally, while it’s also incredibly easy — and often lazy — to use player comparisons, I see a lot of Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby in Celebrini’s game. The skating ability, creativity off the rush, deceptive shot and 200-foot prowess all jump off the screen.
I do find Bedard far more unique, but I see a lot of former Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane in Bedard’s cerebral offensive vision. Bedard’s shooting arsenal is next to incomparable, but I suspect we’ll see it replicated by a generation of scorers in the years to come.
It’s far too early to crown either Bedard or Celebrini the superior player, so instead why not look at the stocked-full trophy cases of Crosby and Kane, and let’s hope Bedard and Celebrini are able to have lasting careers and play to their potential while filling up trophy cases of their own.
Celebrini is the betting favorite in the Calder Trophy odds, after Bedard hoisted the hardware last spring. And, just like Crosby and Kane did following their rookie campaigns.
The final verdict is the NHL is in good hands with Bedard and Celebrini headlining a slew of young stars set to make their respective mark on the league.
So, let’s sit back, enjoy, and revisit the Bedard vs. Celebrini tale of the tape again and again because, after all, it’s what makes fandom fun.
