Chicago Blackhawks

Celebrini and Bedard Scoring Race Feels Like Something Bigger

Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard traded huge nights to battle for the NHL scoring lead; the league’s next generation is here.

by
NHL Trade Talk
November 8, 2025

It’s official — the kids have taken over the NHL scoring race. Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard sit atop the NHL’s scoring race with 23 and 22 points, respectively. It’s clear that the future of the NHL is here.

In two dramatic Friday night showings, 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks and 20-year-old Connor Bedard of the Chicago Blackhawks traded highlight-reel performances, flipping the league leaderboard back and forth in real time.

Bedard factored in on all four of Chicago’s goals in a four-point night (one goal, three assists) that briefly pushed him to the top of the NHL’s scoring race. With that effort, Bedard hit 150 career points, becoming the youngest Blackhawk ever to do so and the 11th-youngest player in NHL history to reach the milestone.

Let's check in on the scoring race:

1. Macklin Celebrini – 23 points
2. Connor Bedard – 22 points

The future is now. ⭐ pic.twitter.com/4RFRTr7hVd
— NHL (@NHL) November 8, 2025

Celebrini answered, scoring a game-tying goal and getting a primary assist on the winner, reclaiming the top spot with 23 points in 15 games. That total ties him with Steve Yzerman (1984–85) and Wayne Gretzky (1980–81) for the most points by a teenager through the first 15 games of a season.

A New Generation Is Taking Over the NHL

The back-and-forth duel between Celebrini and Bedard feels like the start of something bigger. Both forwards are already drawing comparisons to generational greats — not just for their production, but for the way they’re driving their teams’ offense , taking over games, and scoring their goals.

Bedard and Celebrini lead the NHL scoring race

The Bedard goal, for example, wasn’t just any goal. He stripped Morgan Frost of the puck as he tried to skate out of the defensive zone, immediately turned on the jets, and then scored a beauty on a dek to beat goaltender Dustin Wolf. It was more than just a pretty goal; it was everything you could ask from a player.

Fans across social media are calling for both players to represent Team Canada at the next Olympics, while others noted these aren’t the only two young stars making noise. Rising stars like Leo Carlsson and Ivan Demidov are closing the gap.

For now, though, the scoring race is a two-man sprint between two teenagers rewriting the league’s record books — and proving that the NHL’s future isn’t coming. It’s already here.

Next: McDavid on Oilers’ Urgency and Need to Close Out Games