Count Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard as being among those impressed with the NHL debut of San Jose Sharks rookie Macklin Celebrini last week. Celebrini, the top pick in this year’s NHL draft, scored his first professional goal on his highly anticipated debut and the hockey world was immediately put on notice.
Despite the loss, the Sharks have high hopes for their young prospect, who is expected to be a major contributor this season. Celebrini’s NHL debut was nothing short of impressive, and it appears that Bedard and the Blackhawks will soon get a firsthand look at what the Sharks’ rookie phenom can do.
"I’ve heard a lot about him, and I’ve seen some clips of his games. He seems like a really skilled player," Bedard said when asked about Celebrini. "I’ll definitely be paying attention to see how he does. I’m looking forward to possibly playing against him soon."
For Bedard, the opportunity to face off against Celebrini is not only a chance to test himself against the league’s newest star, but also the chance to prove himself as a legitimate threat in the NHL. The Blackhawks center has been working hard to build on his own rookie campaign and welcoming the chance to face stiff competition.
"It’s always fun to compete against the best players in the league," Bedard continued. "And Celebrini is definitely considered one of those guys right now. We’ll just have to wait and see how it all plays out when we face the Sharks next time."