Is the Connor Bedard - Macklin Celebrini debate over?

Connor Bedard is watching the Olympics from his couch while his childhood friend and training partner Mackin Celebrini is putting on a show with Team Canada in Milan, Italy. Jon Cooper made it clear that not only play, but also familiarity, was pivotal in the selection process.

So, based on play alone, Bedard should have been in Italy, but the staff doesn't know him very well because of his decision to skip the World Championships in favor of specialized training. Celebrini didn't play for Cooper, but was selected by Doug Armstrong for the team. Hopefully, we see Bedard in the World Championships sometime soon.

So, back to the debate...

First, let's compare the World Junior Championship stats for each:

Bedard: 7 GP, 9 G, 14 A - 23 Pts

Celebrini: 5 GP, 4 G, 4 A - 8 pts

Then, there are the most recent stats from the World Championships for both players, Bedard in 2024, Celebrini in 2025:

Bedard: 10 GP, 5 G, 3 A - 8 Pts

Celebrini: 8 GP, 3 G, 3 A - 6 Pts

Statistically, Bedard dominated in the WJC while both were equally effective in their World Championship runs. However, we should keep this in mind:

Don't jump the gun

Overall, we can't compare the parties if one isn't present to prove itself in this debate. The Crosby-Alexander Ovechkin debate will continue forever, but this is when both parties have competed in every stage: Stanley Cup playoffs, Olympics, World Championships, etc. Both players, in their prime, were given similar stages to prove themselves, making it easier to debate who, among the two, is better.

It is currently unfair to say the debate is over, as we cannot see how Bedard performs on hockey's biggest stage. As of this writing, Celebrini is proving himself in Italy, but no one can truly say that Bedard wouldn't be able to replicate that performance with a superstar showing of his own. Before we say Celebrini is "without a doubt" better than Bedard, let's make sure both have shown themselves in each situation and wait until AFTER their careers to bring this debate back. We also can't use current NHL stats, either, as both were neck and neck in the top five before Bedard went down with an injury.

The only way to properly debate which of the two players is better is wait for the career to be over. As far as the Crosby-Ovechkin debate goes, their careers are likely over in the next season or two to come. We can properly debate who is better than in the 2014 debates. We also cannot say one player is better than the other, whether it is in their prime or whatever, until both have proven themselves on the same stage and have retired. Don't jump the gun and crown one over the other just yet.

So, until both guys are retired, sit back and enjoy watching the two superstars light up the league for, hopefully, the next two decades. Once both call it and hang up their skates, we can start this debate back up again.