The NHL is increasingly controlled by the young players. Connor McDavid's grip on the league only tightened last season, but the wave right behind him led by Auston Matthews and Patrik Laine are spreading the influence of the NHL's youngsters.
Heading into the 2018-19 season, here's a look at my top 25 players under the age of 25.
All players must be 24 years old or younger by opening night of the NHL season.
Players who still have Calder Trophy eligibility are not included.
Current body of work is the biggest factor in ranking players, but I'm also considering long-term upside and my expectations for their performance in the forthcoming season.
Note: Statistics for this piece were compiled with the help of hockey-reference.com, NHL.com and EliteProspects.com.
1. Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers
Age: 21
There's not much sense in overthinking it here. McDavid not only is the best player under 25 in the league, he might be the best player, period. Back-to-back scoring titles in his only two full seasons in the NHL, a Hart Trophy, two Ted Lindsay awards and a pair of first-team All-Star selections -- along with a 1.21 points-per-game average for his brief career -- puts him well above his peers. He led the NHL last season in even-strength goals with 35, and his 108 points in 2017-18 ranks ninth all time by a player under the age of 21 in a single season. On top of his gaudy numbers, McDavid brings entertainment value with otherworldly speed, slick puck skills and a deadly finish. He is setting a new bar for excellence in modern hockey while leading the NHL's wave of exciting young talent.
2. Auston Matthews, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 21
Matthews' sophomore season was another showcase of his emerging status as one of the best players in the game and the future face of American hockey. Despite missing 20 games, he fell only six goals and six points shy of matching his rookie totals of 40 and 69, respectively. Over his first 144 NHL contests, Matthews has averaged 0.92 points per game. Meanwhile he has helped vault the Maple Leafs to contender status. Matthews has a great opportunity to be the Mario Lemieux to McDavid's Wayne Gretzky, or as close as two current players could come to those impossibly lofty comparisons. Matthews' size and skill, along with his incredibly deceptive shot, should allow him to thrive for years to come. John Tavares might be the shiny new toy in Toronto, but this team is going wherever Matthews takes it.
3. Patrik Laine, RW/LW, Winnipeg Jets
Age: 20
Over the past two seasons, only one player has scored more goals than Laine (Alex Ovechkin). Laine has lit the lamp 80 times over his first 155 games in the NHL, a rate of 0.52 goals per game which is actually just ahead of Ovechkin's 0.50 scoring rate over the past two seasons. While he is primarily a shooter and it is his best attribute, he makes a lot of plays in general, showing good puck skills and exceptional vision to thread passes and find seams for better shots. He and Matthews are redefining what it means for a player to have an elite release.
4. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche
Age: 23
MacKinnon was No. 1 on my Hart Trophy ballot last season for his ability to do more with less, helping carry the Avalanche into the playoffs. Following the Matt Duchene trade, MacKinnon became the show in Colorado and helped elevate young Mikko Rantanen to new heights as a linemate. The former No. 1 pick smashed his previous career highs with 39 goals, 58 assists and 97 points in only 74 games for a spectacular 1.31 points-per-game rate. I had been starting to wonder if MacKinnon could elevate his game enough to be among the league's elites, as he hadn't matched his rookie success in three straight seasons with Colorado. Then last season happened and doubts melted away. One of the league's elite skaters with explosive speed, he is one of the prime examples of where the league is going.
5. Seth Jones, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 24
Last season saw the official emergence of Jones as one of the league's best defensemen and arguably the most talented defenseman who has ever played in Columbus. Jones has been excellent since he entered the league, progressing each year. He finished fourth in Norris Trophy voting last season after registering career highs in all major offensive categories. Jones also boosted his shot total by nearly 100 from the previous season in 2017-18. On top of that, the Blue Jackets practically dominated teams in possession when Jones was on the ice. He had a 54.1 Corsi percentage and 4.4 relative Corsi. Jones sitting out the first several weeks of the season because of a knee injury is a huge concern for Columbus.
6. Jack Eichel, C, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 21
In 208 NHL games, Eichel has averaged 0.85 points per game. Over the past two injury-shortened seasons, however, Eichel's total is closer to a point per game. The team's play has hindered Eichel's ability to ascend as quickly as some of his peers in the eyes of the hockey world, but that could soon change as the Sabres' young core continues to grow. The addition of Jeff Skinner as a potential linemate could help, too. There are few young players with as much pressure and so little support as Eichel. His frustration came out a bit last season, but there's an apparent maturity that we're all starting to see in Eichel that maybe wasn't there before. That could go a long way in helping him realize his full potential, because the skill set and instincts are there.
7. Aleksander Barkov, C, Florida Panthers
Age: 23
One of the great emerging two-way players in the game today, Barkov had a career-best season in 2017-18 (78 points), which just so happened to also be his healthiest as a pro. Over his first five years in the NHL, Barkov has missed 79 games, contributing to his counting stats being a bit lower than some of his peers. While playing in all situations, the Panthers are a vastly better team with Barkov on the ice. Among natural centers in the NHL, he is in the top 10 in ice time, averaging 19:41 per game. Over the past two seasons, the Panthers are controlling nearly 53 percent of the shot attempts at even strength with Barkov on the ice. His two-way prowess has been getting noticed, as he finished fourth in Selke Trophy voting last season. It seems as if Barkov is hitting that next gear in his game.
8. David Pastrnak, RW, Boston Bruins
Age: 22
Over the past two seasons, Pastrnak has lit the NHL on fire with 150 points. His 0.96 points per game ties him for 13th in the league over that time. Among players on this list, there are few whose linemates are of the quality of Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. It might be the best top line in hockey, but 22-year-olds aren't going to score 150 points in 157 games merely by riding coattails. The Czech winger showcases incredible puck skills and an ability to get to the net by any means necessary. He has topped 240 shots in each of his past two seasons and is part of a line that absolutely caves in the opposition when it comes to possession. Pastrnak might not ultimately get the credit he deserves alongside two elite linemates, but you can't have the best line in the league if only two-thirds of it is clicking.
9. Filip Forsberg, LW, Nashville Predators
Age: 24
If you're looking for the point when the Predators became a legit contender, it neatly coincided with the emergence of Forsberg. He led the team in scoring in his first full NHL season in 2014-15 and has done so in two of the following three seasons. Last season he was on a career pace but missed 15 games because of injury, so he ended up merely matching his career high of 64 points while averaging a career-best 0.96 points per game. A possession-driving forward who can make defenders miss and mystify opposing goaltenders, Forsberg has become a leading figure on one of the NHL's best teams. Forsberg's 249 points since 2014-15 ranks 25th overall in the NHL, while his 0.80 points per game ranks in the top 20.
10. Leon Draisaitl, C/W, Edmonton Oilers
Age: 22
There is little doubting the talent Draisaitl possesses. Over the past two seasons, his points-per-game average has been even with Matthews. Playing with McDavid no doubt helps, but that's also where things start to get a little fuzzy with Draisaitl's overall value. On talent alone, he's among the elites. But the lasting question is can he be as effective at center playing away from McDavid as he is on the captain's wing? The Oilers should play him wherever he makes the biggest impact, but he would be more valuable to the team if he can maintain some of his offensive prowess while allowing the Oilers more lineup balance.
11. Mitch Marner, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 21
Matthews might be the catalyst for change, but Toronto's transformation from rebuild to contender has a lot to do with Marner, as well. He has been an absolute handful for the opposition while on the wing. Having topped 60 points in each of his first two NHL seasons, Marner boasts a 0.82 points per game average. One wonders what Marner could do with an extra minute or two of ice time per game this season, but he's in a great spot with the Maple Leafs and Tavares' arrival might make Marner even more of a threat. Watching Marner from junior to Year 1 in the NHL and then to Year 2, the progression suggests he could become one of the NHL's best wingers very soon.
12. Andrei Vasilevskiy, G, Tampa Bay Lightning
Age: 24
By his second full season as a starter in the NHL, Vasilevskiy finished third in Vezina Trophy voting. Bolstered by a career-best .920 save percentage and league-best eight shutouts, the fact that accolades are beginning to pile up for Vasilevskiy is hardly surprising. He has been on this trajectory since he was 16 years old, excelling every step of the way from national team to KHL to AHL to NHL. While he has an exceptional team in front of him, Vasilevskiy was a stabilizing force for the team last season. He has had a few bouts with inconsistency and hasn't quite proven himself as a playoff performer just yet, but he is progressing and looks to only get better. He's way ahead of schedule compared to most goalies his age.
13. Mathew Barzal, C, New York Islanders
Age: 21
An explosive rookie season and -- through no fault of his own -- turbulent offseason makes Barzal one of the NHL's most intriguing players in 2018-19. The departure of Tavares from the Islanders puts pressure squarely on the shoulders of Barzal to be the guy for the franchise now. They have some great young prospects in the mix, but they are not quite ready for prime time. Coming off of one of the best rookie campaigns since Sidney Crosby and Ovechkin entered the league, Barzal is going to go from No. 2 center to No. 1, taking on tougher matchups and getting a lot more focus from opposing teams. That's going to challenge him, but as we saw last season, Barzal is already one of the game's elite skaters. He can change the game by himself with his speed. I'm not sure Barzal is going to put up 80-plus points again this season as he adjusts to the challenges the Islanders will face as a whole, but I don't think last year should be considered a fluke. His talent is exceptional.
14. Zach Werenski, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 21
The other half of one of the most exciting defense pairs in hockey is only 21 years old, and even though his offensive numbers dipped last season, there's little question that the best is yet to come with Werenski. That he's this good now makes the foreseeable future a little scarier for Metropolitan Division teams that will have to continue matching up with Werenski and Jones. Among all defensemen in the NHL since Werenski came into the league in 2016-17, his 0.54 points per game rate ranks 23rd. On top of that, he boasts a relative Corsi for percentage of 5.3 over the past two seasons. With Jones injured to start the season and Werenski coming off of an injury of his own, he has a big challenge ahead to start the new campaign.
15. Ivan Provorov, D, Philadelphia Flyers
Age: 21
Philadelphia fans already know how good this guy is, and I think the rest of the league is starting to catch on, too. That will happen after a 17-goal, 41-point season at 21 years old. The thing that stands out most to me, however, is the 24:09 Provorov averaged over the course of last season. The Russian blueliner played over 200 minutes more than his next-closest teammate and was 10th among all NHL defensemen in total ice time last season. A true all-situations player who can get the job done at both ends of the ice, he's just on the cusp of reaching his full potential. I remember watching his first few games in the league wondering if he'd be able to hang all season and he just kept getting better and better -- by the end of the 2017-18, I thought I was seeing a seasoned veteran. This is a huge jump after going unranked last year, but I think there's something special happening with this player.
16. Aaron Ekblad, D, Florida Panthers
Age: 22
About to enter his fifth NHL season at the ripe old age of 22, Ekblad continues to be an impact player for the Panthers. The question at this point is how big of an impact that can be. I think the injury-shortened 2016-17 season was a bit of a setback for Ekblad on a number of fronts, but last season was a nice rebound for him. He was second on the team in ice time and started taking on more substantial defensive responsibilities under first-year head coach Bob Boughner. Despite that more intense focus on defending and a drop in his shots on goal, Ekblad produced offensively at a similar rate. That is probably the most impressive thing about the former No. 1 pick's most recent season and a big reason he's especially intriguing to watch in Year 2 with Boughner.
17. William Nylander, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 22
A dynamic wing, Nylander gets overshadowed by Matthews and Marner a bit, but he is a huge part of what's happening in Toronto. Back-to-back 61-point seasons over the past two seasons and a power-play weapon, Nylander makes the most of being linemates with Matthews and helps give the Maple Leafs a particularly potent top six. Currently mired in a contract impasse with Toronto, it will be interesting to see how any missed time during the season impacts his position in the lineup or within the organization's future plans.
18. Brayden Point, C, Tampa Bay Lightning
Age: 22
Opposing coaches already have to deal with Nikita Kucherov, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman and a host of others, but Point is no easy task, either. The Lightning have to be one of the hardest teams to match up against because of their depth. That might open things up for Point, but it's not as if Jon Cooper is trying to shelter his young forward. Quite the opposite actually. He's out there on the penalty kill, he's out there on the power play and he became a 30-goal scorer at just 21 years old (32 last season). You almost always hear opposing teams coming out of a game at Tampa with praise for the way Point plays and how important he is to this team.
19. Sean Monahan, C, Calgary Flames
Age: 23
Since his arrival in 2013-14, Monahan is a top-20 goal scorer in the NHL. Monahan notched his second season of 30 or more goals in 2017-18 with 31 in 74 games. He now has 138 goals in his NHL career, which ranks 18th among all players over the first five seasons. One of the reasons that total is impressive is that he doesn't shoot as much as typical goal scorers, ranking 65th in the league in total shots on goal over that same span. Last season, he had career highs in shots attempted (352) and shots on goal (202) on his way to a career-best 64 points. Those numbers could go up under new coach Bill Peters, whose Carolina teams were known for shooting a ton.
20. Matt Murray, G, Pittsburgh Penguins
Age: 24
I continue to struggle with where I am on Murray. There's no denying his playoff success looms large as a two-time Stanley Cup winner by the age of 23. But last season was pretty poor by most measures (.907 save percentage and a rough .911 save percentage at even strength). It's hard to remember that 2017-18 was only his second full-time season in the NHL, and he also has had to deal with injury troubles in both years and the death of his father last season. The body of work suggests that Murray can be a high-end goaltender in the NHL.
21. Sebastian Aho, C/W, Carolina Hurricanes
Age: 21
Aho has flown a little under the radar, but he has been an absolute weapon for his team. He can do a little bit of everything offensively and helps the Canes keep the puck at the other end of the ice. Only Jordan Staal averaged more ice time last season among Carolina's forwards. Aho led Carolina with 64 points last season and appears to be merely scratching the surface of his talent. He is equally deadly when it comes to passing or shooting in the offensive zone. Adding a couple of potential new assets to Carolina's offensive attack like rookies Martin Necas and Andrei Svechnikov should only help Aho's numbers continue to grow.
22. Nikolaj Ehlers, LW, Winnipeg Jets
Age: 22
It seemed as though Ehlers took a small step back last season as he became somewhat of a victim with the tremendous depth Winnipeg boasts at forward. His average ice time dropped by nearly a minute and a half from his breakout campaign in 2016-17. Despite that change in usage, Ehlers set a career high with 29 goals and finished only four points shy of his sophomore total of 64. He also attempted 422 shots and got 231 on net as he continued to be a possession dynamo. Over three seasons, he has averaged nearly 0.7 points per game. As he finds his way a bit more in the crowded lineup, he'll be even more dangerous for one of the league's most potent offensive attacks.
23. Mikko Rantanen, RW, Colorado Avalanche
Age: 21
Last season represented a massive breakout for Rantanen playing alongside Hart Trophy finalist MacKinnon. Those two brought out the best in each other and are poised to continue doing big things as the Avs continue progressing as an organization. Rantanen had 84 points last season, which included 29 goals and 55 assists. Only two players on this list have had a more productive single season before the age of 21: McDavid and Barzal. And this was only Rantanen's second full year in the NHL.
24. Clayton Keller, LW, Arizona Coyotes
Age: 20
The NHL sample might be small, but watching Keller's progression over the past four years, I truly believe he can be the centerpiece of whatever the Coyotes are trying to build. He posted 65 points in a rookie season that saw him come out of the gates flying, cool off in the middle and finish strong. More consistency will be the key this season, and I think the Coyotes as a whole are going to be a better hockey team. The question now is whether Keller stays on the wing or if he can be a center at the NHL level. His offensive tools put him among the best in this age group.
25. Charlie McAvoy, D, Boston Bruins
Age: 20
The last defenseman on the list proved to be a pretty tough decision with Hampus Lindholm, Jacob Trouba and Morgan Rielly among those just missing the cut. The biggest reason McAvoy makes the list at this point is the overall. What stuns me about McAvoy is how quickly he transitioned from college player to NHL first-pairing defenseman. It was instantaneous, going back to the 2017 Stanley Cup playoffs. Then, he was a dominant presence in his first full season with the team while playing alongside Zdeno Chara. McAvoy missed 19 games last season because of injury and getting a known heart condition repaired. He produced at a 41-point pace for an 82-game season and finished fifth in Calder Trophy voting. The growth of his hockey sense and his improved offensive capabilities suggest a pretty dramatic development arc that I think is going to make him a force for years to come.
Honorable mention:
Hampus Lindholm, D, Anaheim Ducks
Jacob Trouba, D, Winnipeg Jets
Morgan Rielly, D, Toronto Maple Leafs
Jaccob Slavin, D, Carolina Hurricanes
Kyle Connor, LW, Winnipeg Jets
Jake Guentzel, LW, Pittsburgh Penguins
Rasmus Ristolainen, D, Buffalo Sabres
Mikhail Sergachev, D, Tampa Bay Lightning
Bo Horvat, C, Vancouver Canucks
Matthew Tkachuk, LW, Calgary Flames