Macklin Celebrini's historic achievements are following in Sidney Crosby's footsteps

This isn't supposed to work like this for a teenager in the NHL. And if you look at the recent string of top picks playing their teenage years in the NHL, it simply hasn't worked this way.

Connor Bedard

If you look at comparisons, Bedard was hyped up as one of the next truly great — if not generational — prospects in the NHL. Bedard's teenage years have been good. The superlatives probably stop there for the 2023 first overall selection. 

2023-24: 68 games, 22 goals, 39 assists, 61 points, minus-30 at five-on-five
2024-25: 82 games, 30 goals, 38 assists, 68 points, minus-16 at five-on-five

Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks have been near the bottom of the league since he arrived, finishing second-worst in 2023-24 and second-worst in 2024-25.

Alexis Lafreniere

The 2020 No. 1 overall pick is turning into a fine player in his own right, but his teenage years were pedestrian. He was a lower-in-the-lineup contributor on playoff teams.

2020-21: 56 games, 12 goals, nine assists, 21 points, minus-2 at five-on-five

Lafreniere didn't score a goal until game 16 of his career. It's been a long climb for Lafreniere to find his place as a New York Ranger.

Jack Hughes

The golden goal scorer himself, Jack Hughes, struggled in his teenage seasons for the New Jersey Devils after being selected first overall in 2019.

2019-20: 61 games, seven goals, 14 assists, 21 points, minus-16 at five-on-five
2020-21: 56 games, 11 goals, 20 assists, 31 points, plus-1 at five-on-five

It took four seasons for the Devils to make the playoffs with Hughes steering the ship. 

Auston Matthews

The top pick in 2016 does offer some intriguing comparisons since Matthews led the upstart Leafs to a surprise playoff appearance.

2016-17: 82 games, 40 goals, 29 assists, 69 points, plus-3 at five-on-five

Connor McDavid

His rookie season was cut short by an injury. In parts of two seasons before he turned 20, McDavid had 30 goals, 68 assists for 98 points in 89 games. 

Nathan MacKinnon

MacKinnon had an up-and-down start to his career, arguably better as a rookie than Celebrini, but didn't take the leap Celebrini did in Year 2.

2013-14: 82 games, 24 goals, 39 assists, 63 points, plus-15 at five-on-five
2014-15: 64 games, 14 goals, 24 assists, 38 points, plus-3 at five-on-five

Sidney Crosby

There's only one precedent for Celebrini in the salary-cap era. It's "The Kid."

2005-06: 81 games, 39 goals, 63 assists, 102 points
2006-07: 79 games, 36 goals, 84 assists, 120 points

It's very early in Celebrini's career. When the precedent for your career is Sidney Crosby, you can acknowledge something special is occurring.