The Chicago Blackhawks are moving toward the part of a rebuild where the games start to matter again. That’s when the standings tighten up, the pressure rises, and the rivalries finally have something to feed on. If there’s one team that could end up standing across from them in that next phase, the San Jose Sharks make the most obvious case.
The two clubs are in similar spots, with San Jose just a step ahead in its own rebuild. That puts them on a path that could turn into something bigger once both teams are ready to take the next jump.
For now, it’s about young rosters trying to find their way. Soon enough, it could be about who controls the West.
At the center of that future matchup is Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini. Drafted first overall in back-to-back years in 2023 and 2024, they sit at the top of the NHL’s next wave of stars. The league loves a head-to-head built around elite talent, and this one has the kind of star power that can carry a rivalry for years.
There’s also a built-in layer that makes it even more compelling: both are North Vancouver natives. They train together in the summer and share a mutual respect, but they also carry the burden that comes with being the face of their franchises. That combination gives the matchup a little extra juice every time Chicago and San Jose meet.
Right now, those games are mostly about two young teams trying to establish themselves. But even in that setting, the competitive spark is already there when Bedard and Celebrini are on the ice together. As both teams keep climbing, that spark figures to grow into something much bigger.
Once the Blackhawks and Sharks are officially out of rebuild mode and back in the playoff picture, this has the chance to become a true rivalry. And if it does, it won’t just matter in Chicago and San Jose. It will be good for the sport as a whole.
In Other News...
Blackhawks May Not Be Done Adding Edge To Their Blue Line
After a busy offseason that already brought in Bowen Byram and added pieces such as Jordan Greenway, Cole Smith and Ian Cole, the Blackhawks still look intent on making their blue line harder to play against. The front office has clearly leaned into size and edge, and that approach has opened the door to another defenseman who fits the same mold, one whose physical presence and willingness to play a rugged game would align with what Chicago has been building.
The appeal is pretty straightforward: a big, shutdown-style defender who could settle into a bottom-pairing role and help on the penalty kill while giving the Blackhawks another layer of toughness on the back end. He also comes off a season that showed some offensive growth, which only adds to the intrigue. Whether Chicago actually moves on him is still unsettled, but the fit is obvious enough to keep the conversation going. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Fans Should Love How The Bedard Deal Stacks Up
Connor Bedards new deal gives the Blackhawks the kind of long-term certainty they have been chasing around their franchise centerpiece, and the price tag makes the agreement look even better in Chicago. Bedard signed for five years at an average annual value of $15 million, a number that immediately invites comparison with other young stars around the league and how teams are choosing to pay for upside.
Leo Carlssons recent five-year contract with Anaheim, worth $18 million annually after the Flyers offer sheet entered the picture, is the obvious benchmark. For Blackhawks fans, the appeal is not just that Bedard stayed put, but that Chicago appears to have locked in the more productive player at a lower cap hit, a tidy bit of business that should age well if his trajectory keeps pointing up. [Read more 🡒]
Blackhawks Fans Just Got A Reunion Hint They Can't Ignore
Patrick Kanes name is back in the Blackhawks conversation, and that alone is enough to get the fan base talking again. Chicago has already moved on to its next era under Kyle Davidson, but any mention of Kane still lands with weight, especially when it comes with the reminder that the organization has not shut the door on a reunion.
The timing only adds to the intrigue, with Kane sitting near the center of the summer rumor mill while other clubs around the league keep making moves of their own. The Blackhawks are still building around Connor Bedard, and the idea of Kane as a veteran complement to that core is the kind of storyline that refuses to go away, even if the specifics remain tucked out of view for now. [Read more 🡒]