The 2013-14 season is underway in the NHL and across many other leagues, and that means there are already several notable prospects turning heads.

With just a two-week sample, it's foolish to come to too many conclusions. However, there are some prospects performing unusually well, taking on a significant amount of responsibility or seeming to improve some portion of their game that was unexpected prior to the start of the campaign.

Here are some of the top prospects based on their play thus far this season, listed with their NHL team.

Andreas Johnson, LW, Toronto Maple Leafs (Frolunda-SHL):

"He's been the surprise of the SHL season so far," one scout said on Johnson, who was a seventh-round pick in 2013 for Toronto.

Johnson was not an invite to Sweden's World Junior Championships camp, but is the leader of all under-20 scorers in Sweden's top league, with nine points in 10 SHL games. He's second for Frolunda in scoring, and has four more points than Columbus first-rounder Alexander Wennberg.

He's small, and he won't blow you away with a dynamic skill set, but scouts note that he's an above-average skater and puck handler who can shoot the puck, plays with a ton of energy and understands the game. If Johnson can continue to show good tools, and even come close to continuing this type of production for the entire season, he may have quickly slotted himself as a top-10 prospect in a thin Leafs system.

Anthony Mantha, LW, Detroit Red Wings (Val-d'Or-QMJHL):

Mantha has gotten off to a quick start in his final QMJHL season, with 11 goals and 18 points in his first seven games. He leads the league in goals, and is second in overall scoring to Panthers prospect Christopher Clapperton.

Mantha's a very toolsy forward who is fun to watch. It's not often you see a 6-foot-4 forward who can skate and make plays with the puck at an above-average level. With his steady physical development, Mantha looks ready to dominate the QMJHL offensively.

However, Mantha's two-way game has shown some improvements from last season, too. He's being used on the penalty kill with moderate effectiveness, and given his speed, that makes him a threat for short-handed goals. Detroit's first round pick in 2013 is a leading candidate to be the QMJHL's MVP this season.

Tom Nilsson, D, Toronto Maple Leafs (Frolunda-SHL):

Nilsson will not blow you away with offensive numbers. He had four points in 42 SHL-2 games last season, and is pointless this season, yet this is a player on the rise for other reasons.

Nilsson really started to tick up last season, when, despite injuries, he became a top defenseman for Sweden at the under-20 level, and even worked his way onto the Swedish national team for a few games. After recently turning 20 years old, he has played several games with more than 20 minutes of ice time in the SHL this season, displaying his great skating, defensive IQ and physical game.

He won't be a guy who a coach throws out there for a power play, but for every other situation -- especially critical defensive minutes -- he does quite well. The fourth round pick from 2011 isn't very well known at the moment to most fans, but he could get onto the NHL radar soon if he continues to progress like this.

Gustav Possler, RW, Buffalo Sabres (MODO-SHL):

Back in early August, I discussed Possler's excellent performance at the World Junior camp in Lake Placid, N.Y., and how he may have gone under the radar at the 2013 draft. He's certainly on the radar now.

Buffalo's fifth round pick has worked his way up to MODO's top line, after scoring goals in seven straight games. Possler has the speed, skill, offensive instincts and finishing skill to make him a valuable offensive player at the NHL level. An under-20 player netting seven goals in the SHL in 10 games is quite unusual, even if he's getting a lot of puck luck. The only under-20 players to score at least that many goals in the SHL last year were Carolina's Elias Lindholm with 11 goals in 48 games and Vancouver's Nicklas Jensen with 17 goals in 50 games.

With Buffalo potentially graduating Mikhail Grigorenko and Zemgus Girgensons to the NHL permanently, Possler may have quickly turned himself into one of the team's top forward prospects.

Nikolai Prokhorkin, C, Los Angeles Kings (CSKA-KHL):

Having just turned 20 years old, Prokhorkin has been off to a very strong start in the KHL with eight goals and 11 points in 15 games.

Prokhorkin was a fourth round pick by L.A. in 2012, and didn't get much game action last season after contract issues between the AHL and KHL kept him off the ice. With regular playing time this season -- he's logged more than 16 minutes per game -- Prokhorkin seems to have taken that next step,

"He's looked great," one Russian scout said. "He skates well, and he's a skilled offensive player with good poise."

Prokhorkin also impressed at Kings camp last summer and has indicated his commitment to come to North America.

Sergei Tolchinsky, RW, Carolina Hurricanes (Sault Ste. Marie-OHL):

Tolchinsky is one of the more fascinating prospect stories in recent memory. He was a first-year draft-eligible heading into the 2013 NHL draft in Newark, N.J., and went unselected. Talking to scouts, there were some who felt he was not an NHL prospect at all, and others who thought he was clearly talented enough to be taken in the top three rounds; those in the second group were shocked that he wasn't picked at all.

My opinion falls into the latter camp. After going undrafted, Tolchinsky has an NHL contract from Carolina, impressed everyone at camp and is currently tied for 10th in OHL scoring.

"He's so fun to watch," one scout quipped on Tolchinsky, regarding his dynamic skating ability and offensive skill.

His size will certainly work against him, but in a thin Carolina system, Tolchinsky could prove to be a valuable signing down the line. He also can make plays like he does at the 1:40 mark of this video.

Other prospects off to a hot start

Christopher Clapperton, LW, Florida Panthers (Blainville-Boisbriand-QMJHL): Clapperton went undrafted in 2012, and was then picked in the fifth round by Florida in 2013. In likely his final QMJHL season, he currently leads the league in scoring. Clapperton is a smart, two-way player who skates well, works hard and has some offensive skill, too. It's hard to tell right now how high his ceiling is, but for the moment, he seems to have several pro-level skills.

Peter Cehlarik, C, Boston Bruins (Asplöven-Allsvenskan): Cehlarik was one of the quickest risers in the last months of the 2013 draft season, then went 90th overall to Boston. He's continued his hot play, leading all Junior players in the SHL-2 with 10 points in 10 games. Cehlarik is a 6-2 center with quality offensive instincts and skills, though his skating could use improvement. Cehlarik should be one of Slovakia's top players at the upcoming WJC.

Mattias Janmark-Nylen, C, Detroit Red Wings (AIK-SHL): The 20-year-old got some buzz in the scouting community in the closing months of the 2013 draft season as a potential sleeper, as he was one of the SHL's top rookies. He's gotten off to a scorching start in 2013-14, providing merit to that speculation. Janmark is tied for sixth in the SHL in scoring with eight goals and 11 points in 10 games, logging a ridiculous 22:10 of ice time per game, albeit on a weak team. Janmark is a highly skilled puck handler who has a very strong mental game, although his speed is not up to par.

Mikael Wikstrand, D, Ottawa Senators (Mora-Allsvenskan): Wikstrand was one of last season's top breakout prospects, as he put up 25 points in 45 Allsvenskan games and became Sweden's top defenseman on an injury-plagued WJC team. This season, the 19-year-old is off to an even better start, as he's posted 10 points in eight games, ranking third among defensemen in scoring in the second tier pro league. Wikstrand is a high-end puck mover who may not be the best in his own end, but has decent value in that area.