The Sharks certainly hope that injured rookie center Macklin Celebrini can rejoin the team’s lineup sooner rather than later. So does Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard.

Celebrini missed his fourth straight game Friday night as the Sharks finished their road trip Friday with an 8-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets, denying coach Ryan Warsofsky his first victory as an NHL head coach.

Celebrini, who had two points and dazzled in his NHL debut on Oct. 10, is on injured reserve with a hip issue and has been forced to watch the Sharks all week, including Thursday’s 4-2 loss to Bedard and the Blackhawks.

Bedard had two assists in the victory and now hopes Celebrini is healthy enough to play on Hallowe’en night when the Blackhawks play the Sharks in San Jose. Warsofsky said Friday that Celebrini could start skating soon but is still considered week-to-week.

“First and foremost, I want him to get healthy,” Bedard said Thursday of Celebrini. “The whole hockey world watched that first game, and he looked great. I’m pretty sure it’s not too serious, so I think we’ll go there soon, and hopefully, we can play him then.

“But it was really fun to watch him that first game, and (I’m) excited to get to play him eventually.”

If Celebrini cannot play on Oct. 31, the Sharks and Blackhawks also face each other at SAP Center on March 13. Unless both teams make the playoffs, that will likely be this season’s final opportunity to see the first overall draft picks from the past two years compete against each other. Bedard was chosen by the draft lottery-winning Blackhawks in 2023, and Celebrini went to the Sharks in June.

Celebrini scored his first professional goal on his first shot on net — on just his third shift — and later assisted on a Tyler Toffoli goal in what became a 5-4 Sharks overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues.

Celebrini’s goal, at the 7:01 mark of the opening period, was a fortunate one, as his spin-o-rama pass in the offensive zone — intended for William Eklund — instead went off the skate of Blues defenseman Matt Kessel and slid past goalie Joel Hofer to set off a wild celebration inside SAP Center.

“Yeah, that was crazy,” Bedard said. “I wasn’t even watching. I think I just got back from dinner, and I checked my phone and (saw that) he scored. So that was pretty wild. I was excited to see that for him.”

Bedard texted Celebrini after his NHL debut, adding, “I just hope he’s getting better, and I’m excited to keep watching throughout the year.”

LINEUP CHANGES >> William Eklund and Will Smith did not play Friday, but both forwards were out for different reasons.

Eklund played through an upper-body injury Thursday when he had two assists in 19 minutes of ice time. Eklund said after the game that he was “not 100%, that’s for sure.”

Smith, though, will be a healthy scratch, but not due to poor play. Warsofsky said Friday morning that sitting Smith against the Jets was part of the team’s development plan for the 19-year-old center, who is in his first professional season.

“Nothing to do with performance, just part of the plan,” Warsofsky said of Smith, who could return to the lineup as soon as Sunday when the Sharks host the Colorado Avalanche.

Smith on Thursday had what Warsofsky said was his best night in a Sharks uniform.

Playing in front of about 50 friends and family members in Chicago, Smith had a career-high 19 minutes of ice time as he centered a line with Luke Kunin and Barclay Goodrow. Per Natural Stat Trick, that line had a Corsi-for percentage of 80, with the trio combining for five shots on goal.

“Best game he’s played,” Warsofsky said of Smith. “Looked more comfortable, was more engaged, was skating more, playing with the puck more. I think it was definitely a step in the right direction.”

It’s unclear how much more time Eklund might have to miss. After Sunday, the Sharks start a four-game road trip from Oct. 22-28.