The Pittsburgh Penguins' Stanley Cup win last spring did little to deter the fairly common belief that Sidney Crosby remains the NHL's top player. Connor McDavid's Hart Trophy win, however, was an emphatic announcement from the next generation of NHL stars that they've not just arrived -- they're ready to take over.
Throw in the incredible seasons from last season's stellar rookie class, and the breadth of young talent in the NHL has added an extra layer of enjoyment during the past few seasons. Just last season, 19 of the league's top 50 scorers were 24 or younger, representing an uptick from recent campaigns.
As exciting as this young group is, they also are making lists like these tougher to put together. Inevitably, multiple players that have a good argument to be on this list are going to be left off. Twenty-five sounds like a lot -- until you actually start listing players.
Let's get some quick criteria out of the way. To be eligible for this ranking, players had to be 24 years old or younger on Sept. 15, 2017. Prospects are not eligible, meaning anyone who can still qualify for the Calder Trophy heading into this season is not included.
As for how I got to the 25: There is definitely some projecting going on here, but I am weighting what they've already accomplished more heavily than what I think they will be in their careers. For me, the top 25 is a greater reflection of a player's value right now, ranked by the players I would most like to have on my roster heading into the 2017-18 season.
1. Connor McDavid (20), C, Edmonton Oilers
It doesn't get much easier than this. With both a Hart and Art Ross in his trophy case following his first fully healthy NHL season, McDavid is clearly the best among his similarly aged peers. The question more persistently being asked now is, "Is he already the league's best player?" While there's more to be proven in terms of championships, there is no doubt McDavid belongs in the conversation with Crosby as the game's best player. He's basically there on skill set alone, as there probably isn't a player in the game who has the skills to match an otherworldly pace. Averaging 1.17 points per game through his first 127 contests in the NHL, McDavid is clearly the best of the bunch.
2. Auston Matthews (20), C, Toronto Maple Leafs
Matthews needed just over eight minutes in his first NHL game to give the Toronto faithful their biggest shot of optimism since before the talented forward was born. It's hard to overdeliver on the kind of hype that followed Matthews, but somehow, he did it. He scored four goals in his unforgettable debut and added 36 more after that. Only four players scored more goals than Matthews as a teenage rookie, and all four of them are in the Hall of Fame: Wayne Gretzky, Dale Hawerchuk, Mario Lemieux and Eric Lindros. As the centerpiece of one of the most exciting young cores in the NHL, Matthews seems well on his way to restoring pride in one of the league's oldest and most storied franchises.
3. Jack Eichel (20), C, Buffalo Sabres
Despite playing in 20 fewer games in his second NHL season due to injury, Eichel surpassed his rookie point total by one, with 57. It was a good reminder to anyone who might have forgotten that he is among the elite young centers in the league. The fact he produced the way he did on a relatively anemic Buffalo offense says a lot about what he can do when he has a better supporting cast. With new coach Phil Housley behind the bench and new GM Jason Botterill making some improvements, expect an uptick from Eichel this season, even if Sabres fans might need to exercise a little more patience when it comes to team results.
4. Patrik Laine (19), LW, Winnipeg Jets
The debate between Laine and Eichel for a spot in the top three was pretty intense. Ultimately, Eichel got the edge based on position value. With all of that said, there is little question that Laine has all of the talent to be among the league's elite goal scorers in the long term. He and Matthews averaged an identical 0.49 goals-per-game rate last season, with Laine scoring 36 goals while playing nine fewer games. There aren't many teenagers who come along who show skills that suggest they'll consistently score 40 or more goals each season, but Laine is one of them.
5. Nikita Kucherov (24), RW, Tampa Bay Lightning
Despite the Lightning taking a big step back last season, Kucherov took a big leap forward with a career year. With Steven Stamkos out, he was the go-to scorer for a team that found goals harder to come by than in seasons past. Kucherov had been trending toward a campaign like this, based on his previous two seasons and back-to-back remarkable playoff performances (41 points in 43 postseason contests). Despite the big spike in 2016-17, there's little reason to doubt Kucherov remaining among the elite producers in the league.
6. Aleksander Barkov (22), C, Florida Panthers
Barkov still hasn't managed to escape a season without injuries, but that hasn't prevented him from becoming one of the best young two-way players in the game. With four NHL seasons already under his belt, it's often easy to forget Barkov just turned 22 and has already attained this level of respect for his all-around game. With high-end hockey sense, a solid frame and sneaky puck skills, Barkov just needs to add a little luck to the mix, having missed 37 games combined during the past two seasons.
7. Filip Forsberg (23), C/W, Nashville Predators
The Predators are set up to be a pretty good hockey club for a while, with Forsberg as their centerpiece up front. Posting back-to-back 30-goal seasons and a strong showing in Nashville's run to the Stanley Cup Final last spring isn't a bad way to head into what should be his prime producing seasons.
8. Mark Scheifele (24), C, Winnipeg Jets
Scheifele has improved each season he has been in the league -- and the production has followed. The past two seasons, especially 2016-17, seemed to mark Scheifele's arrival as a star. There were plenty of contributing factors to his 82-point season, such as the arrival of Laine and an exorbitant shooting percentage, but if you've been following his development arc, Scheifele had been well on his way to becoming the bona fide No. 1 center we saw last season.
9. Johnny Gaudreau (24), LW, Calgary Flames
Despite a downturn in production last season, it's hard to not remain high on Gaudreau. Averaging 0.88 points per game since entering the league, the dynamic forward has been one of the most consistent producers in this age group -- second behind McDavid, in fact. He also may be one of the most purely skilled players in the game today in how well he handles and distributes the puck.
10. Leon Draisaitl (21), C, Edmonton Oilers
While Draisaitl's entry into the NHL was a little rocky his rookie season, there has been no looking back after what he has done these past two campaigns with Edmonton. Playing with McDavid no doubt has helped, so this may be a somewhat optimistic ranking, but there is no doubt the skill is there to produce away from the Oilers' captain. Should the Oilers go through with moving Draisaitl back to center on their second unit, we may end up getting a much better idea of the German's long-term impact. Edmonton is already paying him like a star, so this should be a very interesting season.
11. David Pastrnak (21), RW, Boston Bruins
Pastrnak had one of the best scoring seasons for a 20-year-old since the 2004-05 lockout. Only Alex Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos scored more than Pastrnak's 34 goals at the same age in that time frame. It certainly helps to play regularly with Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, but Pastrnak took charge last season. Now he has the big -- but still pretty reasonable -- contract to live up to. As Boston's most recent Cup gets smaller in the rearview mirror, Pastrnak offers a cornerstone piece for Boston to more comfortably build around in a somewhat awkward transitional phase for the organization.
12. Nathan MacKinnon (22), C, Colorado Avalanche
For all of the flaws of the Avalanche, and there are many, they still appear to have a franchise building block in MacKinnon. He still has not produced at the rate we saw in his rookie season, but he maintains explosive capabilities. The concern is that MacKinnon stagnates as the Avs try to recover from whatever it is they're doing right now.
13. Aaron Ekblad (21), D, Florida Panthers
Last season was a bizarre one for Florida, and it wasn't great for Ekblad, either. His production slid a bit and injuries seemed to slow him down. He has also been adjusting to a blue line that is a lot different than the one he started with as a rookie. Even with a dip in numbers last season, there is enough to like to make Ekblad the top defenseman on this list. It's often hard to remember he's still only 21 and might just be beginning to scratch his potential.
14. Seth Jones (22), D, Columbus Blue Jackets
Anyone that has followed my work prior to coming to ESPN knows that I've long been high on Jones, often higher than most in rankings like these. There have been ups and downs -- as there is for just about every defenseman -- but last season showed that Jones is ready to be a No. 1 defenseman in the NHL. His counting stats and possession numbers were very strong in his age-22 season. The Ryan Johansen-Jones trade has worked out really well for both Nashville and Columbus already, and should continue to pay dividends long into the future.
15. Matt Murray (23), G, Pittsburgh Penguins
The opinions about where Murray should rank vary greatly. On one hand, Murray has already won a pair of Stanley Cups while playing a key role. On the other hand, he has only played 62 regular-season NHL games. It's kind of a weird sample, but even as small as it is, it's hard to argue with the results. The only reason Murray is not higher for me is that I'd like to see what he does when the NHL net belongs solely to him for a full season and into the playoffs. Needless to say, the expectations are very high, and I have little doubt he'll match or surpass them.
16. Zach Werenski (20), D, Columbus Blue Jackets
Following the sixth-most productive rookie season by a teenage defenseman, Werenski's sophomore campaign is packed with intrigue. The Blue Jackets were so much better with Werenski on the ice at even strength -- and especially on the power play. He'll be less of an unknown heading into this season, so there could be an adjustment period for him as NHL coaches get better at devising a game plan for him. His offensive skill set really sets him apart, and that's a big reason he's this high after one season.
17. Mitch Marner (20), RW, Toronto Maple Leafs
It's amazing how much the Maple Leafs' top nine changed in one season with the additions of Matthews, Marner and William Nylander. It was also pretty incredible to watch Marner crush the transition from junior to the NHL like it was nothing. He made high-level plays, baffling opposing defenders, and he made his veteran linemates better. Both Tyler Bozak and James van Riemsdyk had career years with the rookie on their wing. That's not a coincidence.
18. Sean Monahan (22), C, Calgary Flames
Monahan remains a tough player to read, as there are clearly more skilled players below him on this list. However, there's nothing tough to read about his numbers. He will consistently plug in close to 30 goals and 60 points on an annual basis. Only Kucherov has more total goals in this age group, while Monahan sits fifth in goals per game. If his good health continues, we should be looking for Monahan to take another step forward in both his development and his production.
19. Hampus Lindholm (23), D, Anaheim Ducks
Among the defensemen on this list, Lindholm might be the most consistently reliable. He has been a top-four defenseman since he stepped into the league four years ago and has continually rounded out his game. Lindholm has his fans in the analytics community due to his excellent underlying numbers, but the eye-test crowd likes him a lot, too.
20. William Nylander (21), RW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Should Nylander stick on a line with Matthews long term, you're going to have to worry about scoreboard operators around the league. Nylander is awfully slippery, has the smarts to get where he needs to be and makes it count when he has the chance.
21. Jonathan Drouin (22), LW, Montreal Canadiens
For as uncomfortable as the Tampa situation was, Drouin deserves a lot of credit for how he responded on the ice. Last season we finally got a good glimpse of the promise he has showed in flashes throughout his career and in junior league. With a fresh start and a prominent role for the team for whom he grew up cheering, the expectations are ridiculously high. He will be fascinating to watch in his fourth NHL season.
22. Nikolaj Ehlers (21), RW, Winnipeg Jets
Ehlers took another nice step forward in just his second season in the league, somewhat quietly putting up 64 points. The expectations only get ramped up this season, as Ehlers showed his high-end skill translates to big numbers. With Winnipeg's stellar top line attracting the toughest matchups, Ehlers could have more opportunities to produce in a big way.
23. Viktor Arvidsson (24), LW, Nashville Predators
After breaking out for the Preds last season with 31 goals and 61 points, Arvidsson is no longer a well-kept secret. Fantastic at both ends of the ice, the Swede's surprising uptick in production was icing on the cake. His offensive skills put him in the mix for this list, but his all-around game secured his spot. His new contract also gives him tremendous value, at a $4.25 million annual cap hit.
24. Jacob Trouba (23), D, Winnipeg Jets
Trouba's 2016-17 was overshadowed a bit, but it was his best in the NHL to date and perhaps a sign of things to come. After starting the season in a contract stalemate, he got off to a late start and ended up appearing in just 60 games. However, Trouba posted career bests with 25 assists and 33 points, while also averaging nearly 25 minutes of ice time per game. The Jets may not want to wait to get him signed to a long-term extension as he enters the final year in his short bridge deal.
25. Colton Parayko (24), D, St. Louis Blues
The internal debate for who should get this last spot went on an awfully long time, as I still shake my head at names I had to leave off. There is a list of about 10 players I considered, including fellow blueliners Dougie Hamilton, Rasmus Ristolainen and Shayne Gostisbehere, who I feel each have a good case based on their offensive talents. I think Parayko offers just a bit more in terms of a well-rounded game. While he's not as dynamic offensively as any of the aforementioned defensemen, he has good offensive skills, highlighted by his cannon shot. He probably won't unseat Alex Pietrangelo as the Blues' No. 1, but he's certainly a core player for that franchise in the long term.
Just missed
Brandon Saad (24), LW, Chicago Blackhawks
Dougie Hamilton (24), D, Calgary Flames
Rasmus Ristolainen (22), D, Buffalo Sabres
Shayne Gostisbehere (24), D, Philadelphia Flyers
Sebastian Aho (20), RW, Carolina Hurricanes
Note: Stats are courtesy of NHL.com and hockey-reference.com