Macklin Celebrini’s Sharks Contract vs. Connor Bedard’s Blackhawks Deal

The San Jose Sharks have made a significant move by announcing a five-year, $18.8 million contract extension for their standout forward, Macklin Celebrini. Selected first overall in the 2024 NHL Draft, Celebrini has quickly established himself as one of the league’s elite players.

This announcement comes less than two weeks after Connor Bedard, who was the first overall pick a year earlier, secured his own extension. Bedard’s deal, also a five-year agreement, carries a cap hit of $15 million. As a restricted free agent, Bedard’s contract takes effect immediately, while Celebrini’s will not kick in until the 2027-28 season.

In terms of performance, Celebrini has outpaced Bedard in the early stages of their NHL careers. His impressive statistics—70 goals and 108 assists for 178 points in 152 games—give him a higher points-per-game average than Bedard’s 75 goals and 128 assists for 203 points. Moreover, Celebrini has demonstrated superior defensive skills, marking himself as a more complete player on the ice.

However, Bedard’s previous season was notable for a breakout performance, despite being hampered by an injury that sidelined him for a month in December and January. At the time of his injury, Bedard was in the top five in league scoring, but Celebrini capitalized on the opportunity to extend his lead during Bedard’s absence. Bedard still managed to finish with a solid 30-goal point-per-game season, but it paled in comparison to the remarkable year Celebrini had with the Sharks.

This raises the question: is Celebrini worth $3.8 million more than Bedard in today’s market? Both players are now among the top five in the NHL regarding average annual value, yet Bedard’s contract is significantly lower. Celebrini’s AAV will account for 16.5% of the Sharks’ salary cap, while Bedard’s will be 14.4% of the Blackhawks’ cap, a situation that could benefit Chicago in their roster-building efforts.

The contracts stem from the ripple effect of the Philadelphia Flyers’ offer sheet to Anaheim Ducks forward Leo Carlsson, who was selected second in Bedard’s draft class for $18 million. This prompted both franchises to react accordingly. The extra $3.8 million that Chicago has at its disposal could prove crucial for general manager Kyle Davidson and his team as they continue to develop their roster.

If Bedard can maintain his trajectory and reach Celebrini’s level, while also staying healthy, the Blackhawks will have made a savvy decision in securing his services at a lower cap hit. As the salary cap increases in the coming years, both players may find themselves underpaid, but Bedard’s commitment to the Blackhawks has already shown promise for building a competitive future.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.