Heading into the 2026-27 NHL campaign, Bedard finally moved off his RFA status and signed a long extension with the Blackhawks. Under his current deal, Bedard will make an average salary of $15 million over the next five years. Bedard’s extension runs through 2031, when he will become an UFA at the age of 25.

During the 2026-27 NHL season, however, Bedard will earn a total salary of $17 million, according to PuckPedia. Celebrini, on the other hand, won’t come close to that figure. The Sharks will pay Celebrini a salary of $975,000 next season because he is still under his entry-level contract.

Celebrini is still on rookie contract

The record-breaking deal Celebrini signed—setting the highest average annual value (AAV) in NHL history—won’t kick in until the 2027-28 season. The wait will be well worth it, though.

In 2027-28, Celebrini is set to earn a $20.8 million salary from the Sharks. As things stand, that would be the highest annual salary in the NHL two seasons from now. During the 2027-28 campaign, the North Vancouver duo’s salaries will combine for a total of $36.8 million.

However, with pending unrestricted free agents such as Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes, and Jason Robertson, combined with the league’s rising salary cap, many around the NHL wonder whether another record-breaking contract could be signed in the near future.

Bedard’s deal puts him in great spot

Based on AAV, Bedard ranks fourth among all NHL contracts (third if only active contracts are considered, which would leave Celebrini out of the equation). In terms of total value, however, Bedard’s five-year, $75 million contract falls all the way to 35th in the league.

Still, the 21-year-old may not have wanted it any other way. In 2031, Bedard will get the chance to test free agency as a 25-year-old. With his prime years still ahead of him and coming off character-testing seasons with the Blackhawks, Bedard could be in line for a massive payday on the open market.

And even if he wants to stay in Chicago, the possibility of losing him in free agency would likely push the Blackhawks to go above and beyond with a top-of-the-market offer. All things considered, the timing couldn’t be much better for the North Vancouver native. It isn’t luck, though. This is exactly what Bedard’s camp was after and why it had no interest in signing a maximum-term deal.

Now in second place among the highest-paid players by annual salary is Leo Carlsson of the Anaheim Ducks, with an $18 million AAV. The top three is completed by Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild, who earns a $17 million AAV.

By signing this contract, Celebrini secured a total deal worth $94 million, ranking 8th in terms of total contract value. The undisputed leader in this ranking is Kaprizov, with a total value of $136 million.

Connor Bedard also has a significant contract

After proving himself as a elite talent in his first three seasons and winning the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year, Connor Bedard signed a major five-year contract extension with the Chicago Blackhawks in July 2026 worth $75 million. Running through the 2030–31 season, the deal carries an average annual cap hit of $15 million, firmly cementing the 21-year-old superstar as the cornerstone and long-term centerpiece of the franchise.

McDavid secured a long-term extension

Connor McDavid signed a two-year contract extension with the Edmonton Oilers in July 2025 worth $25 million. Running through the 2027–28 season with an average annual value of $12.5 million, the landmark deal secures the three-time Hart Trophy winner as the heart and soul of the Oilers franchise for the prime of his career.

Macklin Celebrini ready to push the Sharks forward

Following his contract extension, Macklin Celebrini is fully set on etching his name into San Jose Sharks history by guiding the franchise to its first-ever Stanley Cup. After suffering a heartwrenching defeat to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2016 Finals, the franchise has been hungering for another shot at hockey’s ultimate prize.

Now, anchored long-term as the undisputed center of the Sharks’ rebuild, the young phenom embraces the responsibility of driving a new era for San Jose and bringing the Cup to the Bay Area at last.

“We named [Celebrini] captain before [Crosby] agreed to participate,” Treliving stated, via Toronto Sun. “When Sid came, he was adamant that Mack remain the captain. At the same time, Mack was adamant that Sid be the captain.“

In the end, it would appear Crosby had the final say in the matter. According to a report from Chris Johnston, it was a player-led decision to keep the ‘C’ on Celebrini’s jersey. However, things could’ve turned out differently had Crosby asked to wear the ‘C’ rather than an ‘A’.

Crosby’s role exceeds title

In more ways than one, that speaks to both Crosby’s selflessness and his impact on everyday decisions. One could say it’s proof that Crosby is, and forever will be, “Captain Canada.” As long as he is still playing, other stars may earn the title, but it may only be a formality.

Crosby is the leader everybody looks up to. And that doesn’t take anything away from Celebrini—or any other player on Canada‘s roster—and their importance. “Sid the Kid” is simply a step above. Scoring the golden goal in 2010 is only the tip of the iceberg.

Canada’s hot start in Worlds

With 5-3 and 6-0 victories over Sweden and Italy, respectively, Canada got off to a great start in Group B of the 2026 IIHF World Championship. So far, Crosby has an assist (on a goal by Celebrini) through the opening two games. Celebrini has three points with two goals and an assist.

Canada has five games left in group stage with matchups against Denmark (who knocked Crosby and Canada out in quarterfinals last year), Norway, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Czechia.

“Macklin Celebrini will remain as captain for Canada at the IIHF World Hockey Championship, with Sidney Crosby wearing an ‘A’. That was decided after a player-led discussion,” Chris Johnston reported on his X account. “The players wanted Celebrini to keep the ‘C’.“

Although Crosby will always be considered Captain Canada, he will not lace up the skates forever. Moreover, this might be the sacrifice Canada needs to exorcise the ghosts of its past. The last time Crosby played for his national team without a ‘C’ on his sweater, good things happened. In fact, those were the golden days.

2010 Winter Olympics

The 2010 Olympics in Vancouver were the last major tournament in which Crosby played for his country in a non-captain role. Everybody knows how that story ended—especially Crosby, who scored the golden goal in overtime to lift Canada past Team USA and secure the national men’s team’s eighth gold medal in Winter Olympics history.

More than a decade and a half later—16 years, to be precise—Crosby will serve as an alternate captain while another player wears the ‘C’. Perhaps that is exactly what the Great White North needs to snap its championship drought—if it can even be called one. Canada’s last major title came at the 2023 IIHF World Championship. Or the 4 Nations Face-Off, depending on who you ask.

Passing of the torch in Canada

Everybody knew the day would arrive sooner or later. Perhaps Canadians did not expect it to happen in such a confusing—or possibly dramatic—fashion, but there may never be a perfect way to make it happen. One way or another, there has been a passing of the torch regardless.

Either way, for the first time since 2010, there will be a new captain on a Hockey Canada squad featuring Crosby, and it will be none other than Macklin Celebrini. Connor McDavid did captain the team in this year’s gold medal game against Team USA, but even he admitted he was simply keeping the ‘C’ warm for Crosby, who was sidelined with a lower-body injury. Thus, it is the 19-year-old from North Vancouver who has been handed the torch—not McDavid or Nathan MacKinnon.

Celebrini earned it

Coming off a 115-point season in just his sophomore NHL campaign and after establishing himself as one of the best players at the Olympics, Celebrini has proven he belongs at this level. Now, he will be tasked with leading a roster filled with veterans despite being the second-youngest player on the team. In fact, if not for Porter Martone’s late decision to join the squad, Celebrini would have been the youngest player on the roster.

The veterans will have to listen to the kid. It should not be too hard, especially considering they have been listening to “Sid the Kid” for the past decade and a half. Now, there is a new high-pitched voice in charge—one that already has 178 career points in just 152 NHL games.

Something to keep an eye on

“We’ll figure it out. No, [it doesn’t matter to me]. Obviously, it’s an honor anytime you get to wear the ‘C’, but we’ve got so many great leaders. It’ll be a quick discussion,” Crosby had said prior to the report in dialogue with TSN. “[Celebrini] has had an unbelievable year. He looks amazing out there. I can see why he got selected.”

As for Celebrini, his message signaled he didn’t wish to give up the ‘C’ so easily. “Everybody knows [Crosby] is Captain Canada. He’s been the captain for so many years and the face of Canada and hockey in general. Just got to talk about it,“ he commented.

Quoting Johnston’s report, “the players wanted Celebrini to keep the ‘C’.” However, that begs the question, what did Crosby say behind closed doors? Will this turn out to be a source of conflict inside the locker room? It seems unlikely considering Crosby has always been selfless and very supportive of Celebrini in the national team. All that matters for Crosby and company is walking away of Switzerland as the 2026 IIHF World Championship winners.

In a decision that may come back to bite Jon Cooper and his staff, Team Canada opted to leave Bedard behind in Chicago, while Crosby, Celebrini, and company traveled to Italy for the Winter Olympics. While the 5-0 victory in their debut may signal Team Canada made the right call, the jury is still out. Any finish other than a gold-medal conquest will see the decision harshly criticized.

For the time being, though, everything is clicking. In that regard, Crosby voiced a strong message about Celebrini after the teenager opened the scoring for Team Canada in the Winter Games.

“[Celebrini has] obviously earned the right to be here. I don’t think he was a guy that was on the bubble. He played his way on to the team,” Crosby said after the game, via The Athletic’s Mark Lazerus.

Bedard was on the bubble

Contrary to Celebrini who was named to the full roster, Bedard was reportedly hanging around in case a spot suddenly opened up. Players did come down with injuries, but Bedard never got the call from Team Canada.

In the eyes of many fans, the former first overall selection in 2023 deserved to join Crosby and Celebrini in Italy, but the coaching staff didn’t share that view. As a result, comparisons between Celebrini and Bedard—widely considered the next two faces of the league—will have an early victor in the former, as the Sharks’ talent already boasts Olympic experience under his belt, whereas Bedard doesn’t.

Regardless, as much and as often as Bedard and Celebrini are pitted against one another, pushed to compete for the throne in the NHL, the two youngsters share a strong relationship that traces back to their career beginnings in North Vancouver.