Canada’s Olympic team could have some fresh blood for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy as Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard have been on fire to start the year.

Bedard and Celebrini were both drafted No. 1 overall in 2023 and 2024, respectively, and were invited to Canada’s Olympic orientation camp in September as they continue make their case for the roster.

Celebrini recorded a goal and three points during the Sharks’ 6-1 win over the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday night and now sits tied for the NHL scoring lead with Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid with eight goals and 21 points in 14 games.

The 19-year-old centre has only been held off the scoresheet four times this season and had a seven-game point streak snapped on Sunday in a 3-2 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

His top offensive performance came during a 6-5 overtime victory over the New York Rangers on Oct. 23 that saw him record three goals and five points.

“I’m still amazed at the things he can do on the ice for this young of an age,” Sharks head coach Ryan Warsofsky told reporters on Wednesday. “Yes, he gets on the scoresheet, but it’s the other things that are so impressive. The way he competes on faceoffs, competes defensively, the way he tracks, and the way he’s been a 200-foot centre has been absolutely remarkable.”

Celebrini has had a big impact in the San Jose locker room as a leader. Veteran defenceman John Klingberg referred to him as the engine of the team – on and off the ice –and it’s something that is appreciated by the coaching staff.

“There’s no fear in him,” said Warsofsky. “He drags guys into the fight and great teams have those types of guys. He’s a natural leader; he can speak up. He’s played a lot of hockey in a short period of time, but he knows what it should look like. He’s a winner, he’s competitive, and ands his guys to get going.”

Bedard is three points behind Celebrini in the scoring race.

The Blackhawks forward had 23 goals and 67 points in his sophomore season last year but appears to have progressed to the next step with seven goals and 18 points in 14 games this year.

The 20-year-old centre recorded a goal and an assist on Wednesday in a 5-2 win over his hometown Vancouver Canucks and is in the midst of a six-game point streak where he has five goals and 11 points.

His top offensive performance came during a 7-4 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Oct. 29 where he put up his first hat trick of his career and added an assist.

“I think Connor’s had a great start to the year,” Blackhawks head coach Jeff Blashill told reporters after the win against Ottawa. “He’s done so many things the right way. He’s defending hard, he’s stopping pucks, he’s doing a lot of things that create that are winning habits.”

Celebrini and Bedard were two of seven players invited to Canada’s Olympic orientation camp who were born in the 2000s. Both players have represented their country on the World Junior and World Championship stage.

Canada general manager Doug Armstrong also realizes that players like Celebrini and Bedard are also the future of Canada’s international hockey program and wants to see how they can integrate themselves with the veteran stars.

“It was great to watch them,” Armstrong told TSN1050’s First Up in September. “They were both at the World Championships, Bedard last year and Celebrini this year. I think just getting them associated with this level of players, [Sidney] Crosby and [Nathan] MacKinnon were there for Celebrini this year [at the Worlds], that’s the next generation.

“I think they enjoyed it, any time you can rub shoulders with McDavid, Crosby and MacKinnon and [Cale] Makar. Especially for those guys, we want them if they are good enough and make the team, we want them they have to get there ready to perform and sort of not be awestruck by their teammates. And I think this was a good first step in that.”