Alexander Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby are in the twilight of their careers. Connor McDavid and Nathan McKinnon were the generation to follow. Now a new wave of NHL stars are poised to cement themselves as the superstars of the next generation, and the future is incredibly bright.
As teams round the corner into their 20th game of the season we’re getting a sense for how 2025-26 is shaping up, and the amount of young talent in the NHL this season is absolutely ludicrous. Three of the best forwards in the league right now are 20-years-old or younger, drafted within the last three years — and the brightest young defenseman in hockey is making an impact at the age of 18. The youth movement is alive and well in the NHL, and we need to appreciate just how good this new era of hockey actually is.
Macklin Celebrini — San Jose Sharks, 19-years-old
19 GP, 10 goals, 17 assists — 27 points (3rd in the NHL)
Celebrini’s sophomore season has been nothing short of remarkable. His puck vision and ability to create for others far exceeds his years, making him a bright spot on a Sharks team building for the future. He is the foundation, the man to build around, and not just someone to watch as San Jose builds, but the future star of the league.
There’s a reason Celebrini was the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, but even then he was seen as one of a weaker top picks in recent years. It’s only taken a little over a year to make that seem ridiculous. The decision by San Jose to throw Celebrini into the mix in his rookie season has proven to be a sage one, as his feel for the game has only grown with time.
The biggest element to Celebrini’s game that’s developed has been his confidence. We’ve seen him develop from a somewhat timid rookie who at times appeared unsure of his ability, to now having this swagger on the ice that has translated into jaw-dropping wristers fired with accuracy, to some stunning passes to set up his teammates. There’s no doubt we’re witnessing one of the best offensive centers develop before our eyes, and it’s just damn fun to see him play.
Connor Bedard — Chicago Blackhawks, 20-years-old
18 GP, 10 goals, 16 assists — 26 points (5th in the NHL)
Hockey’s LeBron James entered the NHL with more hype than any prospect of the last decade. Not only was Bedard given this enormous mantle to live up to, but the responsibility for saving Chicago hockey. While he was solid as a rookie and sophomore there were also many times where it appeared the weight of expectation was getting to him, as Bedard had a tendency to force plays, desperately trying to will something to happen when it wasn’t there.
That’s natural for a young player, but the big difference in year three has been his poise and efficiency. Bedard has taken the jump from “good young player” and cemented himself as “future NHL superstar.” Not only has he lifted his shooting from 11.8% to 16.9%, but he’s become extremely good in the face off circle. Bedard has a 46.4% FOW this season, which is a major jump from his first two seasons, and puts him in a similar range to established veterans in their prime.
The big thing right now is that the supporting cast in Chicago is a bit of a mess. If Bedard had just one solid wing next to him there’s no doubt he could be a 100 point player and near top of the NHL in assists this season.
Leo Carlsson — Anaheim Ducks, 20-years-old
19 GP, 11 goals, 15 assists — 26 points (7th in the NHL)
Another example of a young player taking a jump in his third year, Leo Carlsson has become a force on an Anaheim team that is stunning the hockey world with their ascent to the top of the Pacific Division. The youth movement is alive and well in Anaheim with Carlsson serving as their do-everything, two-way center, and LW Cutter Gauthier developing into a hell of a player in his own right.
Use of frame is the big development trait here. Carlsson was a always going to be a big-bodied center, but this year he’s learned to leverage that size and have more belief in his ability to body players off the puck. This, paired with his ludicrously efficient 22% shooting has made him a force for the Ducks in 2025-26.
While he doesn’t get the same levels of attention or hype as Celebrini or Bedard, the reality in that he’s playing equally great hockey, albeit in a grittier, more physical way.
Matthew Schaefer — New York Islanders, 18-years-old
19 GP, 7 goals, 8 assists — 15 points (11th among NHL defensemen)
We knew Schaefer was going to be good, but my goodness is he special. It’s already looking like the No. 1 overall pick from this year’s draft has the potential to be a Top 4 defenseman on Canada’s Four Nations team this year, and that will only grow with time.
Leading all NHL defensemen in goals, Schaefer has shades to his game that are reminiscent of Cale Makar — already. That’s absolutely nuts for a rookie, and Schaefer’s offense is much, much better than it was projected in the pre-draft process. It’s taken his ceiling from a high-level player like a Jaccob Slavin, and potentially turned Schaefer into the future best defenseman in the NHL.
It’s rare to see a young defenseman have the impact Schaefer is on both ends of the ice. We haven’t see it since Makar, and now we’re somehow experiencing again. A home run draft pick paying off.
