The NHL is an ever-shifting and evolving league. In the last few shortened seasons, it has been taken over by the young guns. What hockey's next wave lacks in experience they more than make up for in high-wattage, line-to-line electricity.
Last season, a then-23-year-old Auston Matthews won the Rocket Richard Trophy with a league-best 41 goals. Connor McDavid, at just 24, became the ninth player in NHL history (joining the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr) to hit 100 points in 53 games; he finished with 105. And a 23-year-old Adam Fox, in just his second NHL season, was named the league's best blueliner.
This season marks a return to normalcy (knock on wood!) and with that means the return of SN's top 25 under 25. Surveying the landscape, not much has truly changed since the last time we rolled out these rankings.
NHL 2021-22: Top 10 defensemen | Top 10 goalies | Top 10 forwards | Top 25 under 25
McDavid is still McDavid and Matthews is still Matthews which is why this list is starting at No. 1. It should be noted that, since this is regarding the 2021-22 season one player whose status is in limbo has been left off for now: Jack Eichel. Players on this list also qualified by being under 24 or younger as of Oct. 1.
Here are Sporting News' top 25 under 25 in the NHL in the 2021-22 season.
(All analytics courtesy of Natural Stat Trick .)
Top 25 under 25
1. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
Forward | Age: 24 | Drafted: 2015, first overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: 1st
No surprises here. McDavid is not only the best player under 25, he's the best player in the NHL, period. In 2021 he won his third career Art Ross Trophy (105 points in 56 games) and second Hart Trophy — this one, as expected, unanimously.
2. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
Forward | Age: 24 | Drafted: 2016, first overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: 4th
Matthews continues to up his game year-over-year. In 2021 he captured his first Rocket Richard Trophy with 41 goals in 52 games, and he did it with a wonky wrist to boot. He'll be healthy in 2021-22 and thanks to one of the best shots in the game, should contend for the coveted trophy once again.
3. Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks
Forward | Age: 22 | Drafted: 2017, fifth overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: 14th
Now that the deal is done, Pettersson is back in Vancouver and ready to roll. He missed the final 30 games down the stretch due to a wrist injury and is "hungry for revenge."
4. Adam Fox, New York Rangers
Defenseman | Age: 23 | Drafted: 2016, 66th overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: NR
Part of a young core of defensemen making their mark in the league, Fox has jumped to the front of the pack after capturing the 2021 Norris Trophy. In 55 games last season he finished with 47 points (five goals, 42 assists), an impressive plus-19 and led New York in ice time per game (24:42) while picking up minutes on the power play and penalty kill.
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5. Cale Makar, Colorado Avalanche
Defenseman | Age: 22 | Drafted: 2017, fourth overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: NR
Finishing right behind Fox for the 2021 Norris was the Calgary native Makar. The 22-year-old, who won the Calder in 2020, oozes talent from the blue line. He was limited to only 44 games last season but has one of the best all-around games in the league.
6. Mikko Rantanen, Colorado Avalanche
Forward | Age: 24 | Drafted: 2015, 10th overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: 11th
Rantanen skates just through to make the list's deadline, as he turns 25 on Oct. 29. In 2021, he potted 30 goals in 52 games alongside 36 assists and an eye-popping, league-best plus-30. He finished a point behind teammate — and linemate — Nathan MacKinnon with 24 power-play points (tied for fourth in the NHL) and when he was on the ice, the Avalanche had a Corsi For Percentage of 63.40 at 5v5.
7. Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes
Forward | Age: 24 | Drafted: 2015, 35th overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: 9th
One of the brightest stars in the league, Aho continues to grow and develop his game. He notched 57 points in 56 games last year and when he was on the ice, the Hurricanes had a 62.71 Goals For Percentage at 5v5 (14th-best in the league, minimum 700 minutes).
8. Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs
Forward | Age: 24 | Drafted: 2015, fourth overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: 5th
Detractors will hone in on Marner's postseason play in 2021 (zero goals in seven games), but he's still one of the best players in the NHL. In 355 career games, he has 358 points including 107 on the power play.
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9. Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins
Defenseman | Age: 23 | Drafted: 2016, 14th overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: 15th
McAvoy's contract is up after 2021-22 and his new deal is expected to be a well-earned — and massive — payout. With Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug out of Boston, McAvoy has emerged as a force on the blue line. He scored 21 even-strength points (one behind Fox) during last season's regular season and in the postseason, with more ice time on the man advantage, scored eight of his 12 points on the power play.
10. Mathew Barzal, New York Islanders
Forward | Age: 24 | Drafted: 2015, 16th overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: 20th
Barzal is a dynamic force on the ice. A skilled playmaker with speed and quickness, he's led the Islanders in scoring each of the last four seasons — and he's only played four seasons. The 2018 Calder Trophy winner, he has 252 points in 289 games.
11. Miro Heiskanen, Dallas Stars
Defenseman | Age: 22 | Drafted: 2017, third overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: 25th
One of the smoothest skaters in the game, Heiskanen struggled a bit in 2021 with just 27 points in 55 games and 17 consecutive games sans goal. He averaged 24:58 last season for ninth-best in the NHL and was fourth on the team with 52 blocked shots.
12. Matthew Tkachuk, Calgary Flames
Forward | Age: 23 | Drafted: 2016, sixth overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: 18th
Agitator No. 1 in the NHL, Tkachuk struggled alongside his team in 2021. It's been a bit of decline in numbers for the American winger who scored a career-high 34 goals in 2018-19, 23 two seasons ago and just 16 last year.
"I just want to come in here this year and be really passionate and competitive," he said. "Last year wasn’t the year myself or anyone else wanted. So, a fresh start. I’m really excited to be here to change the last few years for this team.”
13. Nick Suzuki, Montreal Canadiens
Forward | Age: 22 | Drafted: 2017, 13th overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: NR
Suzuki has always been on the radar but in 2021 he came to the forefront with his exceptional play for a Canadiens squad that went to the final. The centerman showcases excellent vision, a high level of skill and a keen play-making ability. In just two seasons he's posted 41 points in each — the first in 71 games, the second in just 56.
14. Quinn Hughes, Vancouver Canucks
Defenseman | Age: 21 | Drafted: 2018, seventh overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: NR
Like Pettersson, Hughes may have signed his contract on Oct. 3 but is expected to have a big season in 2021-22. While he struggled last year without defensive partner Chris Tanev (who went to Calgary), Hughes is a dominating offensive defenseman that harkens back to the days of fellow American blueliner Brian Leetch. During his rookie season in 2019-20, Hughes became just the third defenseman in the NHL's modern era to lead all rookies in points, joining Leetch and Bobby Orr. In the 2020 bubble, he set an NHL record for most points (16) and assists (14) by a rookie D-man in a single postseason.
15. Mikhail Sergachev, Tampa Bay Lightning
Defenseman | Age: 23 | Drafted: 2016, ninth overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: honorable mention
Entering his fifth season, Sergachev is just 23 and already a two-time Stanley Cup champion. One of the younger guys on a team aiming for a three-peat, he ranked fourth on the Bolts in point shares behind Andrei Vasilevskiy, Victor Hedman and Brayden Point; mighty impressive considering that was ahead of guys like Steven Stamkos and Ryan McDonagh.
16. Alex DeBrincat, Chicago Blackhawks
Forward | Age: 23 | Drafted: 2016, 39th overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: 19
17. Brock Boeser, Vancouver Canucks
Forward | Age: 24 | Drafted: 2015, 23rd overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: honorable mention
18. Andrei Svechnikov, Carolina Hurricanes
Forward | Age: 21 | Drafted: 2018, second overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: honorable mention
19. Brady Tkachuk, Ottawa Senators
Forward | Age: 22 | Drafted: 2018, fourth overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: honorable mention
20. Kyle Connor, Winnipeg Jets
Forward | Age: 24 | Drafted: 2015, 17th overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: 21
21. Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadiens
Forward | Age: 20 | Drafted: 2019, 15th overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: NR
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22. Jakob Chychrun, Arizona Coyotes
Defenseman | Age: 23 | Drafted: 2016, 16th overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: NR
23. Thomas Chabot, Ottawa Senators
Defenseman | Age: 24 | Drafted: 2015, 18th overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: 12
24. Kirill Kaprizov, Minnesota Wild
Forward | Age: 24 | Drafted: 2015, 135th overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: NR
25. Spencer Knight, Florida Panthers
Goaltender | Age: 20 | Drafted: 2019, 13th overall
2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: NR
Honorable mentions
- Travis Konecny, RW, Philadelphia Flyers
- Jack Hughes, F, New Jersey Devils
- Alexis Lafreniére, F, New York Rangers
- Tim Stützle, F, Ottawa Senators
- Zach Werenski, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
- Vince Dunn, D, Seattle Kraken
- Rasmus Dahlin, D, Buffalo Sabres
- Mackenzie Blackwood, G, New Jersey Devils
- Jesperi Kotkaniemi, F, Carolina Hurricanes
- Patrik Laine, F, Columbus Blue Jackets
- Pierre-Luc Dubois, F, Winnipeg Jets
- Nico Hischier, F, New Jersey Devils
- Noah Hanifin, D, Calgary Flames
- Timo Meier, F, San Jose Sharks
- Kaapo Kakko, F, New York Rangers
- Clayton Keller, F, Arizona Coyotes
- Carter Hart, G, Philadelphia Flyers
- Trevor Zegras, F, Anaheim Ducks
- Bowen Byram, D, Colorado Avalanche
- Jason Robertson, F, Dallas Stars
- Alex Newhook, F, Colorado Avalanche
- Ivan Provorov, D, Philadelphia Flyers
- Dillon Dube, F, Calgary Flames