Call it a natural hat trick.<\/p>\n
Three straight No. 1 picks sit atop the 2025-26 edition of the TSN annual ranking of the NHL\u2019s best U-24 players.<\/p>\n
First is 2024 first-overall pick Macklin Celebrini<\/a> of the San Jose Sharks<\/a>.<\/p>\n Second is 2023 first-overall pick Connor Bedard<\/a> of the Chicago Blackhawks<\/a>.<\/p>\n Third is 2025 first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer<\/a> of the New York Islanders<\/a>.<\/p>\n They are connected by draft status and nationality. O Canada.<\/p>\n Each has his own unique story.<\/p>\n Celebrini, 19, has blossomed into a virtual lock for Canada\u2019s 2026 Olympic team in only his second season.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a lower-case Sidney Crosby<\/a> in both his game and his impact,\u201d says TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button.<\/p>\n Bedard, 20, has fashioned a comeback story in only his third season \u2013 bouncing back brilliantly after a sluggish sophomore season.<\/p>\n \u201cI think Bedard has most looked like the player we thought he could be this season and it\u2019s a huge credit to him,\u201d says FloHockey\u2019s NHL Draft & Prospect Analyst Chris Peters. \u201cHe\u2019s stronger and quicker this year, which has led to better results.\u201d<\/p>\n Celerbrini (13-17-30) and Bedard (13-16-29) are third and fourth, respectively, in NHL scoring and are both averaging a point-and-a-half per game.<\/p>\n Schaefer, 18, has been the biggest shock of all, making a seismic impact on the blueline after injury and illness limited him to just 21 games in his draft year. <\/p>\n \u201cWhen you pick someone No. 1, you hope that he transforms your franchise,\u201d Button says. \u201cHe has done this in 20 games.\u201d<\/p>\n Schaefer leads all NHL defencemen with seven goals, including an OT marker against Utah on Nov. 14 to become the youngest blueliner in NHL history to score in extra time.<\/p>\n Button and Peters ranked the top 50 players as part of TSN\u2019s annual U-24 project, which assesses players 23 or younger as of season\u2019s start (Oct. 7) from a team and individual perspective.<\/p>\n Celebrini, Bedard and Schaefer may be listed, in order, 1-2-3 now but who\u2019s to say what the order will look like in years to come. <\/p>\n The Celebrini story has caught everyone\u2019s attention this season with a blend of talent and tenaciousness.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the new hot thing,\u201d says Florida forward Brad Marchand<\/a>. \u201cYou hear a lot about him. He\u2019s playing incredible hockey right now. He\u2019s obviously very skilled.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I like about his game is the intensity. He\u2019s a dog. He hounds the puck. He plays hard. He\u2019s not shy. You know he\u2019ll go into the corners; he\u2019ll go to the front of the net. He\u2019s not one of those guys that waits for the power play. He plays all night long.\u201d<\/p>\n Celebrini succeeds Jack Hughes<\/a> (2024-25), Bedard (2023-24) and Cale Makar<\/a> (2022-23) as TSN\u2019s top-rated U-24 player.Button and Peters labeled U-24 players AAA (superstar), AA (elite), A (No. 1 goalie, top-pair defenceman, first-line forward) or B (tandem goalie, top-four defenceman, top-six forward) or C (backup goalie, depth defenceman, bottom-six forward).<\/p>\n Filling out the top six players this year \u2013 all of them earning AAA status – are:<\/p>\n – No. 4 Leo Carlsson<\/a>, the 20-year-old Anaheim centre who is on a 100-point scoring pace, more than twice as high as his previous best 45.<\/p>\n