For most NHL fans, the same names have been circulating for years in terms of greatness. Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, and Sidney Crosby have long been debated as some of the best the game has seen in recent years—but that’s changing as this season rolls on. Young players like Macklin Celebrini, Connor Bedard, and Leo Carlsson have taken the league by storm with hot starts to the 2025-26 campaign, for good reason.
Celebrini has been viewed as the key to the San Jose Sharks’ return to glory since he was drafted first overall in 2024, a selection that has been paying dividends. His 26 points lead the Sharks in all major scoring categories and are tied for the third-most in the NHL entering play Friday. Despite his exclusion from Team Canada during the 4 Nations Face-Off, his play this season is more than enough to warrant a roster spot this upcoming February.
The British Columbia native, however, was able to play alongside longtime Canadian captain Crosby this past summer, a tournament that undoubtedly helped him improve his game. Celebrini will have some tough competition heading into selection, but if he keeps playing like this, there’s no way they can turn him away.
The expectations put on the shoulders of Bedard throughout his NHL career have been, quite frankly, outrageous. As the first overall pick in 2023, he was the player tasked with sparking a Chicago Blackhawks rebuild, and so far, he’s succeeding. His start has led Chicago to an 8-5-4 record, good enough for the second Wild Card spot in the Western Conference; beyond that, his confidence on the ice has been infectious.
Bedard is tied with Celebrini and Carlsson in points this season with 26–his best start to date as an NHL player. The 20-year-old also has a four-game goal streak to his name, tied for the longest stretch of his career. He has been a huge part of the offense early on this season and will look to continue his scoring streak on Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Anaheim Ducks are by far the biggest surprise of the NHL season so far, in large part thanks to the play of Carlsson. The third-year forward has taken charge in Anaheim, leading them to an 11-4-1 record through 16 games played. He has played a great individual game as well, with 26 points so far this season to top the Ducks and tie for third place across the league entering play Friday.
In addition to Anaheim, Carlsson is projected to make Sweden’s Olympic roster after playing in the 4 Nations Face-Off. This time around, though, fans might see him take on a big role due to his production for the Ducks. Either way, he’s on fire right now and might be the reason Anaheim makes the playoffs for the first time since 2018.
Having young players be in the spotlight is one of the best storylines the NHL could hope for, and it’s the best-case scenario with these three being as good as they are. The three of them have been the headline of the season so far, and it’s been great to see hockey get exposure on an international scale through them.
The sky is the limit for every single one of them, and as their careers progress, fans can look forward to them being mentioned among the greats—deservedly so. There’s a lot on the horizon for the players as individuals, and all of them may get the chance to shine at the biggest tournament in the world in just a few short months.
I can’t wait for the Olympics to get underway as a hockey fan, and if any of these youngsters are involved, it’ll be the opportunity of a lifetime.
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