It is no secret that both San Jose Sharks forward Macklin Celebrini and Chicago Blackhawks forward Connor Bedard are from Vancouver.
They didn’t have a ton of contact during the 24-25 NHL season, but have been spotted on the ice together this summer.
During their first matchup against each other, both players said that Bedard reached out to Celebrini after he was drafted. The Sharks forward also told reporters what makes Bedard so special, and vice versa.
“He’s always been a superstar,” Celebrini told reporters. “Whenever we were younger, he’s always been the kid you see now. I think it’s just flourished and kind of grown from there.”
“He’s a dynamic player,” Bedard said about Celebrini. “I know coming in as an 18-year-old is tough and obviously it’s a good league, so I’m glad to see his production and his impact on games has been awesome. It’s been fun to watch.”
Both endured tough seasons with their respective franchises. The San Jose Sharks signed one of Bedard’s former linemates, Philipp Kurashev.
During his introduction to Sharks media members, Kurashev described Bedard’s ability to handle pressure as one of his best traits.
For now, the two No. 1 picks will hope their seasons will be better on a team basis next season. For Bedard, the 25-26 season might carry extra weight, as he’s eligible for a contract extension.
Following the upcoming season, the San Jose Sharks will be able to sign Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith to a contract extension. Their first day of eligibility for an extension is July 1, 2026.
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