Welcome to the top 25 under-25 list for 2016-17.
The criteria for being eligible for this list is remaining under the age of 25 as of Sept. 15, 2016 (Sept. 15 being the important draft cut-off birth date), and not being considered a prospect per my usual definition, which is 25 games played in any season or 50 games total. So, you won't see Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine or Matt Murray on this list, as they are still in the "prospect" category, by definition.
Bear in mind that this is not a list of which players I would want in a game tomorrow; rather, it's the players I would take for the rest of their NHL careers, without considerations of cap space or time to free agency.
Relative to past years, I almost feel as if I was spoiled writing this column. The NHL and NHLPA decided to put together a team of the top young NHL players to skate in the World Cup of Hockey. It almost felt as if they were giving me a present to make this column easier. It's about time!
The tail end of this list is always painful, as I usually end up cutting 22- to 24-year-olds who are really good players but not stars or potential stars. Hampus Lindholm, Colton Parayko, Brandon Saad, Jaden Schwartz, Jacob Trouba and some others get the short end of the stick this year.
Note: For the top 25 before the 2015-16 season, click here.
1. Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers
Previous ranking: Not eligible
The McChosenOne, McSavior or whatever other nickname you want to give the young lad, McDavid was a fairly easy call as the best young hockey player in the world. Generational speed, elite skill and IQ, and a player who was remarkably decent defensively last season as an 18-year-old, it won't be too long before he's the best player in the world, period. We the hockey fans are the wanderers through a dreary cave, and he is our shining light.
2. Jack Eichel, C, Buffalo Sabres
Previous ranking: Not eligible
Eichel is the hero the city of Buffalo needs, but not necessarily the one it deserves. (Just kidding Buffalo, please don't @ me). He was fantastic for a 19-year-old rookie, one of the very best teenage performances in the post-2005 lockout era. He's a highly skilled playmaker with elite hands and a big frame who can make unique plays seem routine. Eichel was also a dependable two-way player, particularly given his age.
3. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche
Previous ranking: 2
It was a real close call between Eichel and MacKinnon, and could have gone either way. MacKinnon hasn't had the big season yet, but it's coming. Players who generate 3.5 shots per game at age 20 tend to do pretty well in the long term. His elite skating and high skill level will be a constant pain in the rear to the rest of the Western Conference.
4. Tyler Seguin, C, Dallas Stars
Previous ranking: 3
Seguin's last year of eligibility on this list comes after three straight seasons of being one of the best centers in the NHL. A truly dominant playmaker and goal scorer, Seguin's hockey IQ and creativity allow him to be one of the most entertaining players to watch in the league, while also logging tough minutes for the Stars.
5. Aleksander Barkov, C, Florida Panthers
Previous ranking: 16
Barkov really emerged as one of the top young forwards in the game this past season, being a critical part of Florida's run to a division title. He's a crafty player with the puck and possesses such a high level of hockey sense that he's able to create while also being one of the best defensive forwards on the team. His speed could still ideally pick up to another level, but even if it doesn't, there's enough to his game for him to be a top player in the league for many seasons to come.
6. Vladimir Tarasenko, RW, St. Louis Blues
Previous ranking: 7
Scoring 40 goals is a persuasive case to be this high on the list, but it's also the way Tarasenko does it. He's not just incredibly talented, he's also incredibly determined, as he can win puck battles despite average size, and make defenders look foolish. His shot is one of the best in the league, as well. His lack of a sound defensive game keeps him from reaching the top five, but it's notable that the No. 16 overall pick from the 2010 draft is ranked above the No. 1 pick from that class.
7. Taylor Hall, LW, New Jersey Devils
Previous ranking: 4
The first overall pick in the 2010 draft, Hall was a person of much interest in the offseason after a trade to New Jersey. I'm not exactly sure what the process was that determined the 20 minutes-per-game, 3.5 shots-per-game forward two seasons removed from being top five in league in scoring was the problem in Edmonton, but here we are. Hall is an all-engines-go type of winger who can play a speed and skill game.
8. Aaron Ekblad, D, Florida Panthers
Previous ranking: 5
Ekblad's game stagnated a bit this past season, looking very much the same defenseman who won the Calder Trophy at age 18; then again, that is still a pretty good player. Ekblad moves the puck so intelligently. For a big man, he can make unique offensive plays on top of being a reliable player in his own end. And, there is some room to grow. His shutdown game could improve, and there is more offense to tap into, which should give Florida fans hope for a nice run during the next decade.
9. Dylan Larkin, C, Detroit Red Wings
Previous ranking: Not eligible
Larkin has continued an astronomical rise during the past two years, from a middle-first round pick, to an elite prospect, to one of the best young players in the NHL. He doesn't have the hands of Johnny Gaudreau, but Larkin's speed/size combo is as good as you'll see in the league in modern times. Combine that with pretty good hockey sense, above-average skill, a great work ethic and the ability to play tough defensive situations, and you have a cornerstone center.
10. Filip Forsberg, RW, Nashville Predators
Previous ranking: 18
Washington fans might want to close their eyes and scroll past this part. After clearing 30 goals and being one of Nashville's best players on a consistent basis last season, Forsberg has established himself as a foundational piece for the franchise. He's got a pro body, with incredible skill and coordination for a guy with his build. He can dangle defenders, win battles in the corners and finish chances from a distance.
11. Johnny Gaudreau, LW, Calgary Flames
Previous ranking: 22
I will protest the nickname the hockey community has given to Gaudreau, but he's must-watch television anytime the Flames play. This past season especially, Gaudreau raised his game to the top echelon of the league. Gaudreau played 20 minutes per game, without being used on the penalty kill. That's incredible. Calgary was basically asking him if he could breathe when they were playing even strength or on the man advantage, and if he mildly nodded his head yes, he went over the boards. His skill can create chances even while he's gasping for air.
12. Justin Faulk, D, Carolina Hurricanes
Previous ranking: 8
Faulk didn't show a ton of improvement this past season, but if this is the player he settles into being through his 20s, that is more than fine, as he's a legitimate No. 1 defenseman. Faulk is a skilled, highly intelligent two-way defender, and with more experience has found a way to make the most of his shot that impressed so many scouts as an amateur, clearing 15 goals the past two seasons.
13. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, C, Edmonton Oilers
Previous ranking: 11
I'm giving Nuge a mulligan on his 2015-16 season because of injuries, particularly after he showed well during the World Cup. I still believe in him as a center with fantastic vision and puck skills, who can control the flow of offense even if he has yet to have a real breakout season. I've rated him around the same range on this list the last few years, so maybe I'm asking for it, but I believe this is finally the year.
14. Nikolaj Ehlers, LW, Winnipeg Jets
Previous ranking: Not eligible
In a season where McDavid, Eichel, Larkin, Parayko, Max Domi, Shayne Gostisbehere and many others debuted, it was easy to lose track of Ehlers, who was incredible for a 19-year-old. Ehlers is one of the most dynamic young players in the game, with the speed, skill and vision to make high-end plays seem routine. He'll need to add bulk, but the tools are all there. He could be a legitimate top-line forward as soon as this coming season.
15. Sean Monahan, C, Calgary Flames
Previous ranking: 15
Monahan didn't take a giant step forward in 2015-16, but a two-way center who can score at a high level as a 21-year-old is a heck of a player. It was a shame he was hurt and couldn't play at the World Cup, because I think he could have had a big tournament. Monahan is a very smart big man with above-average skill and finishing ability. His ability to play against the opponent's better player -- and play well -- makes him a franchise cornerstone for Calgary.
16. Nikita Kucherov, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning
Previous ranking: 24
As with a few other players on the list, Kucherov is not currently in the NHL because of his unresolved contract status, but he's here due to the assumption the two sides will work something out. Anyone who has followed my work the past few years knows I chair the annual Nikita Kucherov Fan Club meetings. (We have great snacks.) His skating, skill, vision and shot all grade as above-average or better, and while he's not much of a defensive stalwart, clearing 65 points in consecutive seasons is impressive.
17. Morgan Rielly, D, Toronto Maple Leafs
Previous ranking: Not ranked
I've excluded Rielly from this group in previous years, but the past 12 months have convinced me that he deserves to be in this conversation. I've always believed in his mobility and skill but saw a more complete player this season, one whom Mike Babcock was willing to lean on to kill penalties and use on the power play.
18. Jonathan Drouin, LW, Tampa Bay Lightning
Previous ranking: 21
Drouin is a flawed genius on the ice. He doesn't win a ton of battles, or do a ton defensively, but his offense has the potential to light the world on fire. Scouts who watched him during the second half of the season and playoff run were blown away, with one saying he could plausibly see Drouin as a top-five scorer in the NHL as soon as this upcoming season. There are reasons to hedge on him, which is why I'm not 100 percent of the way there on his rebound being complete, but there are a lot of reasons to believe in his elite skill.
19. Seth Jones, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
Previous ranking: 14
The Great American Hope on defense had a pretty good season between Nashville and Columbus, while still not yet elevating to the elite level of which so many scouts believe he's capable. With a full season upcoming in a prime role, it's probable this is the season when Jones becomes a force in the NHL. Big men who can skate and think at a high level tend do well, and Jones has such a long track record of high-level production that it's hard to believe it won't click soon.
20. Leon Draisaitl, C, Edmonton Oilers
Previous ranking: Not ranked
Draisaitl has a very interesting future. A natural and gifted center who excels as a playmaker, he is on the same team as McDavid and Nugent-Hopkins, meaning he can only get prime minutes on the wing. On one hand, there's nothing wrong with too much talent; on the other, there might come a time where something has to give within the Oilers organization. Given the way Draisaitl is progressing, that decision could come sooner than later.
21. Gabriel Landeskog, LW, Colorado Avalanche
Previous ranking: 10
Landeskog was out of the top 25 on several drafts of this story, but ultimately I left him here on the tail end. It's fair to say he's stagnating as a player, if not regressing in some areas of his game. He's still a very good two-way forward but is lacking in the dynamic offensive flair you saw at times during his first few seasons in the league.
22. Noah Hanifin, D, Carolina Hurricanes
Previous ranking: Not eligible
A lot of this Hanifin ranking is projection. He obviously hasn't had the seasons of players like Seth Jones, Rasmus Ristolainen or Shayne Gostisbehere, so I'm betting on his tools. He's an elite skater who moves the puck well and is an aware defensive player, too. He'll get stronger with time, and he'll get more comfortable making offensive plays versus NHL players with more experience.
23. David Pastrnak, RW, Boston Bruins
Previous ranking: 17
Pastrnak was up and down this past season after blowing the hockey world away as an 18-year-old in 2014-15. There's still a lot of skill in which to believe, and a lot of reason to think he could be a top-line player for the Bruins down the road. However, he certainly has a ways to go in his development in terms of bulking up, winning battles and gaining on-ice responsibility.
24. Rasmus Ristolainen, D, Buffalo Sabres
Previous ranking: Not ranked
Ristolainen had a breakout season for Buffalo, serving as their defensive anchor in all situations, and putting up big counting numbers. Some will point to his poor puck-possession stats, and I get the argument, but I have few concerns about his future. He's a defender who can skate, move the puck, and defend at above-average levels in a big pro frame.
25. Shayne Gostisbehere, D, Philadelphia Flyers
Previous ranking: Not eligible
The Union product had a pretty decent season, where he was one of the most electric defensemen in the league in the second half. He was also a key player for North America at the World Cup. His skating is incredible, and his defense has continued to remarkably improve season after season.
Honorable mentions
Alex Galchenyuk
Ryan Johansen
Evgeny Kuznetsov
Artemi Panarin
Mark Scheifele
Mark Stone