Ranking The 15 Best NHL Players Aged 25 & Under (15-11)
Myself and Brandon Smith will be doing a three part series where we take a look at the fifteen best NHL players aged 25 and under. The first part will come out today, and players 10-6 and 5-1 will come out over the next few days. The NHL's seen an uptick in the amount of young stars that have been producing at high heights over the past few years and it's very enjoyable to watch. Who do we have ranked from 15-11? Who do you expect on part 1? Who do you think should be left off? Keep reading to find out!
15. Mikko Rantanen (Right Wing, Colorado Avalanche)
The big Finnish winger has been put in a very good position to succeed. Ever since being picked 10th overall by Colorado in 2015, Rantanen has been extremely productive. Rantanen showcases above average skating for a player whose 6'4, 215 lbs. He also can release an absolute cannon of a slapshot that can be unloaded from anywhere in the offensive zone. He plays on arguably the best line in hockey with Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon alongside him. Rantanen has put up 212 pts in his last 197 games (2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20). If Rantanen can stay healthy more often, he could put up around 4 or 5 100 pt seasons and maybe a few accolades along the way. The future is bright for Rantanen and his team has many resources around him so that he can reach his potential.
14. Zach Werenski (Defense, Columbus Blue Jackets)
The U-Mich Alum played a career-high 24 minutes per game this season, putting up 0.65 points/game, the third-best average of any defenseman aged 25 or younger. Werenski has proved his worth has been in the playoffs; taking a puck to his face in his rookie season and staying in the game with his eye swollen shut or averaging over 30 minutes a night this postseason. The 23-year-old defenseman has become a workhorse for the Jackets. His ability to jump into the rush allows him to find the back of the net more often than any other defenseman in the league. His 20 goals in 2019-20 led all d-men in the NHL.
13. Sebastian Aho (Center, Carolina Hurricanes)
The young Finnish centreman burst onto the NHL scene after an explosive World Juniors tournament in 2016. He has become a do-it-all player for the Canes, a jack of all trades if you will, as he leads the Canes in shorthanded and powerplay goals as well as all TOI (forwards) and points. Aho has led the Canes to back-to-back playoff appearances, a feat Carolina has done only once prior between 2000-02.
12. Quinn Hughes (Defense, Vancouver Canucks)
The frontrunner for the 2020 Calder Trophy tore up the league in his rookie season. His 53 points led all first-year players, becoming only the first rookie defenseman with more than 50 points in over 20 years. His 13 assists so far in the playoffs have tied an NHL record for most by a freshman d-man with game(s) to come. Huggy Bear will be a shoo-in on the Norris ballot for years to come and has already transformed the dynamic of the Canucks blueline.
11. Elias Pettersson (Center, Vancouver Canucks)
The 2019 Calder Trophy winner proved his value in the playoffs this year, recording 18 points in 17 games. The young Swede has helped carry the offensive load for the Canucks since joining the league; his 132 career points are the 30th most in the league and most on Vancouver in his time. With Pettersson at the offensive helm with the likes of Hughes, Horvat and Boeser alongside him, Vancouver should be able to make significant playoff pushes in the near future.
~Luka Tkalcevic, Brandon Smith, BTH Writers
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