The continued youth takeover of the NHL shows no signs of slowing. Each season brings a new crop of high-end rookies who take the league up a notch, and several of these young talents could be considered among the best players in the game, regardless of age.
Every year, this list of the top 25 players under the age of 25 becomes more difficult to compile, as I attempt to combine the subjective and the objective. This year, I made a short list that included 43 of the top players 24 and younger in the NHL before narrowing it to 25 names, using points per game, relative Corsi percentage, average time on ice and a host of other measures when I thought the margins were especially thin between players. Current body of work is the biggest factor in the decision process, but I also looked a bit at expectations and projections.
Notes: All players must be 24 years old or younger as of Jan. 1, 2020. Players with Calder Trophy eligibility, such as Cale Makar or Jack Hughes, are not eligible to be included on the list. There isn't enough of a body of work. Statistics referenced in this article are from Hockey Reference unless otherwise noted.
1. Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers
Age: 22 | Last year: 1
It isn't exactly a hard sell on this front. McDavid has grown into the game's best and most productive player. He is a singular talent with a mix of speed and skill, and his 1.30 career points-per-game average already puts him among the all-time greats of the game.
2. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche
Age: 24 | Last year: 4
It's amazing to compare where MacKinnon was just three years ago to where he is now. He was essentially a midrange guy. Over the past two seasons, however, he has become a legitimate threat to win the Hart Trophy. It isn't a coincidence that MacKinnon's surge coincides with his being paired with Mikko Rantanen, but based on MacKinnon's explosiveness, his hands and his tenacity in all areas of the ice, he's taking his rightful place among the league's elites.
3. Auston Matthews, C, Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 22 | Last year: 2
Arguably the most gifted goal scorer of his generation, Matthews continues to stun goaltenders with his violent and deceptive release. In the past three seasons, no player in this age bracket has averaged more than Matthews' 0.52 goals per game. His ability to protect pucks and make plays in tight makes him a constant threat, and it seems Matthews is only beginning to scratch the surface.
4. Aleksander Barkov, C, Florida Panthers
Age: 24 | Last year: 7
Over the past two seasons, Barkov has taken his game to another level, especially in the 2018-19 campaign. The Panthers' captain logged career highs in goals (35), assists (61) and points (96) while averaging 22:21 minutes of ice time per game. His defensive numbers dipped a bit last season, but few would disagree that he remains among the best two-way centers in the game.
5. Jack Eichel, C, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 22 | Last year: 6
Eichel has seen his numbers go up each season and posted a career-best campaign in 2018-19, with 28 goals and 54 assists while playing major minutes and being one of the few reasons Sabres fans should buy tickets. Buffalo's roster is steadily improving, and there might be less pressure on Eichel to carry things, but he has done about as well as could be expected, given the situation.
6. Leon Draisaitl, C/W, Edmonton Oilers
Age: 23 | Last year: 10
Draisaitl has been slightly more difficult to gauge due to his proximity to McDavid. The two are starting on separate lines this season, which will be interesting, given that nearly 64% of Draisaitl's 105 points last season had McDavid along for the ride. But Draisaitl has shown that his skill level puts him among the elites of the game. He can play with power and finesse.
7. David Pastrnak, RW, Boston Bruins
Age: 23 | Last year: 8
Similar to Draisaitl, Pastrnak benefits from the elite of the elite on the same line with him. Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand are going to help anyone put up points. However, Pastrnak is among the best in this age group when it comes to points per game, with 1.04 his past three seasons, trailing only that of McDavid and MacKinnon among age-eligible players. Three straight seasons of 34 or more goals and 70, 80 and 81 points, respectively, are special no matter whom you play with.
8. Mikko Rantanen, RW, Colorado Avalanche
Age: 22 | Last year: 23
Rantanen gets the advantage of playing with MacKinnon, but it's no coincidence that MacKinnon's best two seasons have coincided with Rantanen's breakout performances. With 171 points the past two seasons, Rantanen has established himself as one of the game's premier playmakers, and now he has the big contract to match it. He's as graceful a player as you'll find at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds.
9. Mitch Marner, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 22 | Last year: 11
An impact player since the day he entered the NHL, Marner provides two-way value and excels as one of the league's better setup men. He helped John Tavares put together a career-best goal-scoring season while leading the Leafs with 94 points in 2018-19. With his contract drama behind him, Marner is off to a hot start as he attempts to establish himself as one of the game's elite wingers.
10. Sebastian Aho, C, Carolina Hurricanes
Age: 22 | Last year: 21
The offensive heartbeat of one of the league's most fun teams, Aho has been in perpetual breakout mode since he came into the league. He posted double-digit improvements in his point totals each of his first three seasons, and it's clear that the Hurricanes have their centerpiece around which to continue building a perennial contender, thanks to his long-term deal.
11. Brayden Point, C/W, Tampa Bay Lightning
Age: 23 | Last year: 18
On a team full of stars, it's hard to stand out. But Point does. He exploded for 41 goals and 92 points last season, finishing third on the Lightning's Presidents Trophy team behind offensive stalwarts Nikita Kucherov and Steven Stamkos. Point plays big minutes in all situations, making him one of this list's most versatile players. He can impact the game in so many ways.
12. Mathew Barzal, C, New York Islanders
Age: 22 | Last year: 13
As expected, Barzal's production took a minor step back last season after he became the focal point of the team's defensive assignments with the departure of Tavares in free agency. Still, he led the Islanders in scoring as the team reached the postseason. Barzal is a game-changing talent thanks to his skating and hockey sense. After a year of adjustment, he should be in for an even bigger third season.
13. Elias Pettersson, C, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 20 | Last year: NR
There's a little bit of projecting going on here, as Pettersson has just one season under his belt. But that season was no fluke. It was a continuation of what he was doing in Europe, and he brought a breath of fresh air to Vancouver. Without the depth or supporting cast of some of the players listed ahead of and behind him, Pettersson still had a dominant rookie season when healthy.
14. Matthew Tkachuk, LW, Calgary Flames
Age: 21 | Last year: NR
A breakout season offensively led to a big payday for Tkachuk, who has made himself one of the most high-impact two-way wings in the league. His agitating playing style has rubbed just about everyone outside of the Flames' dressing room the wrong way, and Calgary owns the puck when Tkachuk is on the ice. His career 6.1% relative Corsi for percentage is among the best in this age group. Tacking on big point totals on top of his aggressive play really has to be annoying for his opponents.
15. Patrik Laine, RW, Winnipeg Jets
Age: 21 | Last year: 3
Last year represented quite a tumble for Laine. After a 44-goal, 70-point campaign, his goal scoring went streaky, and the Jets seemed to struggle more when he was on the ice last season. His goal total dropped by 14, and his point total dipped by 20. So, yes, this is a big drop, but few players can shoot the puck like he does, and his goal totals should significantly increase over time. That said, last season was alarming for one of the game's special young talents, even if I don't think it was a significant indicator of what Laine will be in his career.
16. Zach Werenski, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 22 | Last year: 13
There's a chance that Werenski is part of one of the best defensive pairings in the game today, alongside recent top 25 under 25 graduate Seth Jones. Werenski has played upward of 23 minutes per night the past two seasons. He owns a career 0.54 points per game average, and the Jackets have been routinely on the plus side of possession when the Michigan-born blueliner is on the ice.
17. Thomas Chabot, D, Ottawa Senators
Age: 22 | Last year: NR
Chabot is a man on an island at times with the rebuilding Senators. He is the centerpiece around which the team can build, especially after he signed an eight-year, $64 million extension before the season. Among age-eligible defensemen, he leads in points per game, with 0.60 after an astonishing 55-point season in just 70 games in 2018-19. It's an uphill battle in Ottawa, but Chabot's willingness to take that on and be the guy says a lot. More seasons like his last will put him higher on this list in the future.
18. Dylan Larkin, C, Detroit Red Wings
Age: 23 | Last year: NR
In an adverse season, Larkin continued to shine. He looked more and more like a No. 1 center, posting 73 points in 76 games, building on an already impressive young career. Now entering his fifth NHL season, Larkin has to continue taking on a leading role in a rebuild situation. More of the Red Wings' younger players are going to be looking to him to help them take the next steps. The Wings are a much better team with Larkin on the ice, which might not be saying much now but is a trend that has to continue as Detroit looks to get out of its current malaise.
19. Rasmus Dahlin, D, Buffalo Sabres
Age: 19 | Last year: NR
The future is so bright for Dahlin. In a tough season for Buffalo, he played all 82 games and put up 0.54 points per game, the ninth-best mark by a teenage defenseman in NHL history. He's going to be a No. 1 defenseman in this league for a very long time, especially if he can help the Sabres win the possession game as he did when he was on the ice last season. I foresee him rocketing up this list with each passing season.
20. Aaron Ekblad, D, Florida Panthers
Age: 23 | Last year: 16
The former No. 1 overall pick is entering his sixth year in the NHL and has enjoyed two healthy seasons in a row. His production has remained largely the same, typically good for 35-plus points per season while averaging big minutes. He has trended down on these lists the past few seasons more because of how good the forwards have become, but Ekblad still hasn't necessarily taken the steps to become one of the game's elite two-way defensemen. However, among his age-peers, he remains effective.
21. Miro Heiskanen, D, Dallas Stars
Age: 20 | Last year: NR
Heiskanen's not being a finalist for the Calder Trophy last season was a bit unfortunate, but it was a really tight year. He played top-pairing minutes, was a factor at both ends of the ice and didn't get sheltered much in Year 1. Heiskanen handled the responsibility like a seasoned veteran. Just look at his playoff performance: He averaged more than 25 minutes per night and played exceptionally well. This is a big-time player with a lot more to show us in the coming years.
22. Charlie McAvoy, D, Boston Bruins
Age: 21 | Last year: 25
One area where McAvoy has a bit of an advantage over his peers is how well he has performed in multiple playoff appearances. Having debuted during the 2017 postseason, he was essentially born into the league via the playoffs. McAvoy is a top-pairing defenseman on one of the league's best teams. He has played big minutes and eaten tough matchups, all while still moderately producing points.
23. Brock Boeser, RW, Vancouver Canucks
Age: 22 | Last year: NR
The only thing Boeser needs to do at this point is stay healthy because he has made a huge impact in Vancouver when healthy. With 59 goals in two seasons and change, he has been one of the top goal scorers in this age group. Boeser can score with finesse or power down low near the net.
24. Alex DeBrincat, LW, Chicago Blackhawks
Age: 21 | Last year: NR
You need goals to win games, and DeBrincat scores a ton of them. He put up 41 in his second full season in the NHL and made the Blackhawks a more potent team. Few players in the game today possess his offensive timing and understanding of spacing in the attacking zone. With 70 career goals and a 0.42 goals per game average, DeBrincat has placed himself among the elite goal scorers in this age group.
25. William Nylander, RW, Toronto Maple Leafs
Age: 23 | Last year: 17
OK, so last season was less than ideal. The contract impasse cutting into Nylander's season and his inability to get back on track with the team were not a good look for anyone involved. That said, it's hard to look past Nylander's previous two seasons, in which he posted 61 points in each campaign. He has a chance to put up some big numbers on a team that should be viewing itself as a contender. This ranking is anticipating a bounce-back season for Nylander, but he still ranks in the top 20 in his age group in points per game, despite the down year.
First one out: Pierre-Luc Dubois, C/W, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 21 | Last year: NR
It's always tough picking the last guy for this list. Dubois has come a long way in a short amount of time. Entering his third NHL season, he will be taking on a more prominent role in Columbus' attack. This comes on the heels of a breakout campaign in 2018-19 in which he set career marks in goals (27), assists (34) and points (61). Dubois also has some significant two-way value. Now the No. 1 center for Columbus, he has been given the chance to play a big role on a team trying to reclaim its identity.