Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby are within the twilight of their careers. Connor McDavid and Nathan McKinnon have been the era to observe. Now a brand new wave of NHL stars are poised to cement themselves because the superstars of the following era, and the longer term is extremely vivid.
As groups not far away into their twentieth sport of the season we’re getting a way for the way 2025-26 is shaping up, and the quantity of younger expertise within the NHL this season is totally ludicrous. Three of the perfect forwards within the league proper now are 20-years-old or youthful, drafted throughout the final three years — and the brightest younger defenseman in hockey is making an affect on the age of 18. The youth motion is alive and effectively within the NHL, and we have to respect simply how good this new period of hockey really is.
Macklin Celebrini — San Jose Sharks, 19-years-old
19 GP, 10 targets, 17 assists — 27 factors (third within the NHL)
Celebrini’s sophomore season has been nothing wanting exceptional. His puck imaginative and prescient and skill to create for others far exceeds his years, making him a vivid spot on a Sharks group constructing for the longer term. He’s the inspiration, the person to construct round, and never simply somebody to observe as San Jose builds, however the future star of the league.
There’s a cause Celebrini was the No. 1 decide within the 2024 NHL Draft, however even then he was seen as certainly one of a weaker prime picks lately. It’s solely taken a bit over a 12 months to make that appear ridiculous. The choice by San Jose to throw Celebrini into the combination in his rookie season has confirmed to be a sage one, as his really feel for the sport has solely grown with time.
The most important aspect to Celebrini’s sport that’s developed has been his confidence. We’ve seen him develop from a considerably timid rookie who at occasions appeared not sure of his skill, to now having this swagger on the ice that has translated into jaw-dropping wristers fired with accuracy, to some gorgeous passes to arrange his teammates. There’s little question we’re witnessing among the finest offensive facilities develop earlier than our eyes, and it’s simply rattling enjoyable to see him play.
Connor Bedard — Chicago Blackhawks, 20-years-old
18 GP, 10 targets, 16 assists — 26 factors (fifth within the NHL)
Hockey’s LeBron James entered the NHL with extra hype than any prospect of the final decade. Not solely was Bedard given this monumental mantle to stay as much as, however the accountability for saving Chicago hockey. Whereas he was strong as a rookie and sophomore there have been additionally many occasions the place it appeared the burden of expectation was attending to him, as Bedard had an inclination to drive performs, desperately attempting to will one thing to occur when it wasn’t there.
That’s pure for a younger participant, however the massive distinction in 12 months three has been his poise and effectivity. Bedard has taken the leap from “good younger participant” and cemented himself as “future NHL famous person.” Not solely has he lifted his capturing from 11.8% to 16.9%, however he’s grow to be extraordinarily good within the face off circle. Bedard has a 46.4% FOW this season, which is a serious leap from his first two seasons, and places him in an identical vary to established veterans of their prime.
The large factor proper now’s that the supporting forged in Chicago is a little bit of a multitude. If Bedard had only one strong wing subsequent to him there’s little question he could possibly be a 100 level participant and close to prime of the NHL in assists this season.
Leo Carlsson — Anaheim Geese, 20-years-old
19 GP, 11 targets, 15 assists — 26 factors (seventh within the NHL)
One other instance of a younger participant taking a leap in his third 12 months, Leo Carlsson has grow to be a drive on an Anaheim group that’s gorgeous the hockey world with their ascent to the highest of the Pacific Division. The youth motion is alive and effectively in Anaheim with Carlsson serving as their do-everything, two-way middle, and LW Cutter Gauthier creating right into a hell of a participant in his personal proper.
Use of body is the large improvement trait right here. Carlsson was a at all times going to be a big-bodied middle, however this 12 months he’s discovered to leverage that measurement and have extra perception in his skill to physique gamers off the puck. This, paired together with his ludicrously environment friendly 22% capturing has made him a drive for the Geese in 2025-26.
Whereas he doesn’t get the identical ranges of consideration or hype as Celebrini or Bedard, the fact in that he’s taking part in equally nice hockey, albeit in a grittier, extra bodily means.
Matthew Schaefer — New York Islanders, 18-years-old
19 GP, 7 targets, 8 assists — 15 factors (eleventh amongst NHL defensemen)
We knew Schaefer was going to be good, however my goodness is he particular. It’s already trying just like the No. 1 general decide from this 12 months’s draft has the potential to be a Prime 4 defenseman on Canada’s 4 Nations group this 12 months, and that may solely develop with time.
Main all NHL defensemen in targets, Schaefer has shades to his sport which can be harking back to Cale Makar — already. That’s completely nuts for a rookie, and Schaefer’s offense is way, significantly better than it was projected within the pre-draft course of. It’s taken his ceiling from a high-level participant like a Jaccob Slavin, and probably turned Schaefer into the longer term greatest defenseman within the NHL.
It’s uncommon to see a younger defenseman have the affect Schaefer is on each ends of the ice. We haven’t see it since Makar, and now we’re by some means experiencing once more. A house run draft decide paying off.
