Arda Ocal — Nov 10, 2025
Looking at the points race one month into the season offered a glimpse of the NHL’s near future. Atop the leaderboard, 20-year-old Macklin Celebrini had 23 points and 19-year-old Connor Bedard had 22. According to ESPN Research, Celebrini and Bedard are the only players 20 or younger to rank first and second in points (tied or outright) through this stage of a season (or later, across 230 GP) in NHL history.
Those two sitting above familiar names — Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, Nathan MacKinnon and Leon Draisaitl — felt poetic. It also recalled the Crosby–Ovechkin era: both were consecutive No. 1 overall picks (Crosby 2005, Ovechkin 2004); similarly, Bedard (2023) and Celebrini (2024) were sequential first overall selections. Bedard entered the league with Crosby-like hype and even won the Calder Trophy his rookie year. Entering 2025–26 there was chatter about whether Celebrini might already be better. That debate is shifting into something simpler and more exciting: watching two likely future superstars perform now.
Will they stay atop the points race all season? Maybe not — McDavid, MacKinnon and other established stars will have plenty to say. But for this brief moment, Bedard vs. Celebrini offers a tantalizing preview of hockey’s next chapter: a potential rivalry driven by skill and flash, and one worth savoring even if it’s fleeting.
Biggest games of the week
New York Rangers — keep an eye on them. They began the season with a striking split: 7-1-1 on the road and 0-6-1 at Madison Square Garden, including five home shutouts that tied a single-season mark — in the first seven home games. This week they host Nashville and Detroit, with road games at Tampa Bay and Columbus sandwiched in between. Will the odd home/road trend continue or correct itself?
Anaheim Ducks at Colorado Avalanche — Tuesday, 9:30 p.m. ET | TNT
The Ducks (10-3-1) lead the Pacific and are 8-1-1 in their past 10 with the West’s second-best goal differential (+14). The Avalanche lead the Central and have the West’s best goal differential (+21). Their first meeting is a strong test for both clubs.
Edmonton Oilers at Carolina Hurricanes — Saturday, 7 p.m. ET | ESPN+
A 2006 Stanley Cup Final rematch of sorts, with Rod Brind’Amour now behind the Hurricanes’ bench. His teams typically limit scoring chances; Carolina allows the eighth-fewest goals per game this season. How will they handle McDavid, Draisaitl and Edmonton’s firepower?
Other key matchups
– Dallas Stars at Montreal Canadiens — Thursday, 7 p.m. | ESPN+
– Anaheim Ducks at Detroit Red Wings — Thursday, 7 p.m. | ESPN+
– Winnipeg Jets at Seattle Kraken — Thursday, 10 p.m. | ESPN+
– Tampa Bay Lightning at Florida Panthers — Saturday, 5 p.m. | ESPN+
What I loved this weekend
Shoutout to the Philadelphia Flyers and their team-store puck collection. At their Star Wars Day event, the shop offered a wide variety of collectors’ pucks — distinctive 3D printing, mixed materials (metal, rhinestones), and creative designs. Gritty even had his own puck with googly eyes and an orange beard. If you’re a Flyers fan walking past that display, you’re likely leaving with at least one puck.
Hart Trophy candidates if the season ended today
This might be the only week this list looks like this: Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini would be Hart finalists if the award were handed out Nov. 10, 2025.
A strong third pick goes to Nathan MacKinnon after a weekend in which the Avalanche demolished the Oilers 9-1; MacKinnon had two goals and two assists and took over the league lead in points. If the Capitals were in playoff position, Logan Thompson (a .930 save percentage, 16 goals allowed in 10 games) would be an easy choice for consideration. William Nylander has 21 points, including a league-leading 18 at even strength, but team standing matters in these conversations.
Honorable mention: Leo Carlsson. After 45 points last season, he already had 23 through 14 games and was riding a nine-game point streak — a heater that will likely keep him in Hart conversations as the season progresses.
Social media post of the weekend
NJ Devil is one of the best mascots in sports. Beyond community work and game-day energy, his social content is consistently great. This weekend he teamed up with AEW wrestler Claudio Castagnoli for a staged moment that saw a Penguins fan put through a table. Castagnoli, a Swiss native, also connected with fellow countrymen Timo Meier, Jonas Siegenthaler and Devils captain Nico Hischier, who presented him with a Devils jersey.
Stick taps
Logan Coyle, a 9-year-old battling cancer, asked mascots for videos of encouragement earlier this year. Hundreds responded across sports, including hockey. The New York Islanders’ mascot Sparky was among the first to visit Logan in his hospital room. Logan faced another setback but has been strong enough recently to attend games and meet mascots in person. The mascots’ ongoing support — including NJ Devil’s promise to welcome him at The Rock — is a small but meaningful reminder of sports’ positive impact beyond the scoreboard.
