Analyst Believes There Could Be a New Best Player in the World Next Year

Connor McDavid has been the consensus best player in the world since almost the moment he stepped foot in the NHL, and for the majority of that time, it hasn’t been much of a debate.

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That remains the case as he heads into Year 12, where he’ll turn 30 in January. However, the league is filled with young talent, and one analyst believes there’s a particular young star who could possibly even surpass McDavid as the best player in the world as early as next season: Macklin Celebrini.

Bryan Hayes of TSN made the case that if Celebrini continues to build on his tremendous first two NHL seasons, there’s a real chance he takes over the mantle as the league’s No. 1 player.

Hayes said:

“As of now I’d have Connor one, I’d still go McDavid one, I might have him two on my list, like he (Celebrini) might be number two. Like it’s projecting for next year I get it, MacKinnon, Kucherov, Makar, Hughes, I get it, Draisaitl. But I mean if he grows on what he did last year there’s a legitimate chance he’s the best player in the league next year, like a real chance Celebrini’s the best player in the league,”

The 20-year-old Celebrini racked up 115 points (45 goals, 70 assists) in 82 games played during his sophomore season.

It’s hard to argue with Celebrini eventually pushing for the title of best player in hockey. That being said, it may not come as soon as next year, and that’s not because of him, but rather because of just how good McDavid still is.

The Oilers captain was as dominant as ever in 2025-26 and has shown no signs of slowing down. So, if Celebrini wants to reach that level and even push McDavid aside, he’ll need to do something very special, because No. 97 in Edmonton isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

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