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The Chicago Blackhawks are well on their way to the other side of their rebuild, and with that comes meaningful hockey games, playoff hockey, and rivalries. Which begs the question: if there was one team that the Blackhawks would have a significant rivalry with, who would it be?
The most obvious choice would be none other than the San Jose Sharks. Who are just ahead of the Blackhawks in terms of their rebuild. But with both teams looking to be coming out on the other side of their respective rebuilds, they are on a collision course to become each other's biggest rival as they both prepare to take the next step.
Connor Bedard vs. Macklin Celebrini
Drafted back-to-back at first overall in 2023 and 2024, Bedard and Celebrini represent the absolute peak of the NHL's next generation. Naturally, the hockey world loves a high-stakes, star-versus-star narrative. Just like Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin defined an entire decade in the Eastern Conference, Bedard and Celebrini have all the makings of the marquee matchup that will anchor the West for years to come.
What makes the rivalry all the more fun is that they are two North Vancouver natives. Who train together during the summer, share a mutual respect, and carry the exact same weight as the franchise saviors for their respective teams.
Right now, games between Chicago and San Jose are mostly about watching two young squads find their footing. But you can already see the competitive spark whenever those two share the ice. And that will only get more intense as the years go by.
Once Chicago and San Jose officially finish their rebuilds and are playoff contenders, the rivalry between these two teams will hit an all-time high. Which won’t just be great for the respective organizations but also for the overall game of hockey.
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This article was originally published on blackhawkup.com as Who will be the Chicago Blackhawks’ biggest rival once they finally get into contention?.
