Celebrini & Bedard vs. McDavid & MacKinnon: Who’s Better?

If you asked most NHL fans to name the top two players in the league, they’d probably go straight to Nathan MacKinnon (30) and Connor McDavid (28). Hard to argue — they’ve been running the scoring charts for years, and everyone knows it. But this season, something interesting is happening. Two kids, 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini and 20-year-old Connor Bedard, are starting to push their way into that same conversation about “who’s actually the best?”

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So I figured, why not take a quick look for ourselves? Put their numbers next to each other and see where things really stand as of December 9th. And honestly, the gap between these four isn’t nearly as wide as you might expect.

The Established Elite:

MacKinnon Sets the Pace

If anyone is putting up “best player alive” 2025-26 regular-season numbers right now, it’s Nathan MacKinnon. With 49 points in 29 games and a blistering 133 shots, he’s driving Colorado’s offense with the force of a one-man storm. His 18% shooting percentage and 21:39 average ice time show efficiency and workload converging at a superstar level. This is a player at the height of his powers, and the data backs it up.

McDavid’s “Quiet” Season, But Only By His Own Standards

Connor McDavid is having a so-so season, with 42 points in 29 games. Well, it’s so-so for him. For other NHL players, it would be a career season. His shots are down (87), his finishing hasn’t fully clicked (16.1%), and his plus-minus sits at –6, which is mostly a reminder of Edmonton’s uneven start. Still, 28 assists put him tied with Celebrini for the second-most in this group. Even in a “slow” year, he remains a machine.

The Phenoms Rise:

Celebrini’s Playmaking Pops

If you’re looking for the biggest surprise on the page, it’s Macklin Celebrini. The rookie sits at 43 points in 30 games, driven by an elite 28 assists—matching McDavid—and a sharp 18.5% shooting clip. He’s doing this while playing 20:10 per night on a rebuilding Sharks team. The numbers scream “future superstar,” but the efficiency says he might already be one.

Bedard Is Generating Shots Like a Superstar

This season, Connor Bedard is scoring goals and setting up his teammates. He’s already fired 98 shots and scored 18 times in 29 games, the kind of pace you’d expect from MacKinnon in his early years. His 18.4% shooting percentage is nearly unbelievable for a teenager facing nightly competition. Combine that with 22 assists and his 40 points stand as a declaration that he’s arrived.

Who Expected the Difference to Be So Narrow?

Looking at the totals side by side, something is becoming clearer. MacKinnon and McDavid aren’t pulling away; the kids are keeping up. Celebrini matches McDavid in playmaking. Bedard is nearly matching MacKinnon in shot creation. The next era isn’t coming—it’s here. And based on the numbers alone, the league’s balance of power may be shifting faster than anyone thought.

The NHL season offers a rare chance: a live, statistical showdown between two generations. The veteran players like MacKinnon and McDavid have dominated the league for years. But newcomers Celebrini and Bedard aren’t just showing up; they’re making their presence felt. Their game is faster, sharper, and more ready than anyone expected. Stack their stats against the veterans, and the gap isn’t nearly as wide as you might think.

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