Top draft picks collide as Connor Bedard's Blackhawks face Macklin Celebrini's Sharks

For the first time in their young NHL careers, Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini will go head-to-head as the Chicago Blackhawks continue their four-game road trip in San Jose against the Sharks.

It's a marquee matchup fans have been waiting for all season.

Macklin Celebrini was injured in the first two meets against the Blackhawks this season. Now the two generational talents will square off at the SAP Center for their last meeting of the regular season.

Bedard, the 2023 first-overall pick, has been the face of the Blackhawks' rebuild and is putting together a strong sophomore season. The 19-year-old leads Chicago in assists (35) and points (52).

He broke a seven-game point drought with an overtime in Chicago's 4-3 win over Utah last Friday.

On the other side, Celebrini, the 2024 first-overall pick, has had a great first season with San Jose and stepped up as the Sharks' top offensive weapon. The 18-year-old forward tallied 48 points (20 goals, 28 assists) in 54 games played this season.

Mutual Respect

Before they face off in tonight's game, the two North Vancouver natives spoke about playing against one another.

Macklin Celebrini, who grew up competing with Connor Bedard, is also looking forward to their first NHL showdown.

"For sure it's going to be great," he said. "Them and us, we have away to go before it's a high-level rivalry where we're both in a playoff spot and maybe we face each other in the playoffs."

Where do these teams stand heading into tonight's matchup?

The Bedard-Celebrini matchup may be the headline for tonight's game, but both teams are in rebuild mode and sit near the bottom of the standings.

Chicago (20-36-9) has shown signs of potential, recently putting together a five-game point streak (3-0-2) before being shutout 3-0 by Colorado on Monday.

Ryan Donato has been an offensive force for the Hawks this season, leading the team in goals (23). The 29-year-old is in the final year of a two-year $2 million contract he signed with the Blackhawks on July 1, 2023 and has been a key contributor alongside Connor Bedard. His future in Chicago remains uncertain as he'll be an unrestricted free agent after this season.

San Jose (17-40-9), like Chicago, are in a rebuild, but this season has been tough for them. The Sharks have lost three straight games, including a 3-2 loss to the Nashville Predators Tuesday, and currently sit last in the NHL standings with 43 points.

Despite this, the team has seen some bright spots this season.

Macklin Celebrini (20 goals, 28 assists) and William Eklund (14 goals, 34 assists) are tied for the team lead with 48 points. Will Smith has also been a bright spot this season for San Jose with 33 points (12 goals, 21 assists) in 58 games played. The 19-year-old enters Thursday's game on a four-game point streak (2 goals, 3 assists).

This marks the third of a eight-game homestand for San Jose.

3 Keys to the Game:

1. Shutdown Celebrini and Smith: Despite not playing on the same line, Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith have developed strong chemistry on the ice especially on the power play. Shutting down the dynamic duo will be key in this game.

2. Strike on the Man-Advantage: The Blackhawks power play ranks seventh in the league (25%) but has struggled of late, going 0-for-8 in their last three games. Going up against a team like the San Jose Sharks, Chicago will need to convert on the power play.

3. More of Connor Bedard: Bedard has 3 points (1 goal, 2 assists) in his last five games. He will need to produce tonight for the Blackhawks to snap their two-game skid.

How to Watch:

Puck drop starts at 9:30 p.m. CST on CHSN+ and all CHSN markets. Also the game will stream on ESPN+, though blackout restrictions may apply.