Ranking The 15 Best NHL Players Aged 25 & Under (10-6)
(Photo: NBC Sports https://nhl.nbcsports.com/2019/09/23/lightning-get-a-steal-with-brayden-points-new-3-year-contract/)
10. Mitchell "Mitch" Marner (Right wing, Toronto Maple Leafs)
Mitch Marner has been a very good player for the Maple Leafs over his career so far. In his first season (2016-17), he had 61 pts in 77 games. The next year (2017-18), he slightly improved his point total from 61 to 69 pts. In 2018-19, he really broke out into a superstar by increasing his point total from 69 to 94. Marner's a small, speedy, shifty playmaker who can play in any situation. He's really grown into a very good two-way player over these past few seasons. He'll kill penalties for the Leafs and he can also come up with key blocked shots whenever you need it. We would put him higher on this list if he could show more consistency in the playoffs. Too many times, Marner would only show up for like the first two games, then disappear for the rest of the series. If the Leafs want to get out of the first round, they'll need Marner to come up clutch like Auston Matthews does for them in the playoffs or this team will keep losing in the first round.
9. Seth Jones (Defense, Columbus Blue Jackets)
I won't hesitate when I say this; Seth Jones is one of the best shutdown defenders in the entire NHL. Jones is a guy who can do it all. He'll log a ton of ice time (just watch the 2020 NHL playoffs), block shots, kill penalties, move the puck up the ice, and chip in some offense at times. Jones' huge frame allows him to be successful. If he needs to lay down to cut off the pass, it'll be easy for him because his long legs will be able to intercept the pass. If he needs to unload a slapshot from the point, it'll likely be more effective because he can get a ton of power under it and it'll be lightning fast. Jones will be a potential Norris winner in the coming years if he's able to keep it up. He's truly someone that can anchor a blueline and someone who you'd want to build a stacked defense core around. Just ask Zach Werenski.
8. Brayden Point (Center, Tampa Bay Lightning)
Tampa Bay’s third-round pick in 2014 has caught the league by storm, taking off in the 2018 playoffs. That postseason, he recorded 16 points in 17 games and hasn’t looked back since. In 2018-19, he put up an impressive 41 goals (6th in the league) and 92 points (12th). His 3.5 goals per 60 on the PP since 2018 have been the main contributor to Tampa’s top-ranked powerplay over the last two seasons. Points 23 points in this year’s playoffs is the most of any player left in the postseason and has named him a front runner for the Conn Smythe along with breakout star Miro Heiskanen (via Mike Johnston of Sportsnet).
7. Alexander "Sasha" Barkov (Center, Florida Panthers)
The Florida Panthers captain has truly blossomed into a true number one center for the team over these past few years. Although he seemed like a reach when he was drafted, Barkov has put all that noise to rest ever since being drafted. The 25-year-old centerman has averaged a point-per-game over his last four seasons and has proven himself into one of the premier two-way players in the league. With Jonathan Huberdeau playing alongside him on the Panthers’ top line will be keen to push Florida past the first round of playoffs for the first time since 1996. He ranks third in the franchise’s history in points with 407 in just 497 games and has ranked within the top five in Selke voting the past two seasons.
6. Jack Eichel (Center, Buffalo Sabres)
Jack Eichel's basically saved the Buffalo Sabres franchise over the past few seasons. He's their only main offensive threat for them because the team around him is basically a joke. Even though he has a lackluster team around him, he still manages to dominate when he's on the ice. His smooth skating combined with his slick stickhandling ability and his wrist shot allows him to be the best player each and every night for a struggling Sabres squad. Jack put up 36 goals and 78 pts in only 68 games due to the shortened season this year. Over these next few seasons, I expect Eichel to potentially hit 50 goals and one day hopefully drag the Sabres into the playoffs with guys like Cozens, Dahlin, Reinhart, Ullmark, Mittlestadt and Jokiharju keep developing into key pieces for the Sabres. If they can get Mike Hoffman from free agency and Alexander Holtz in the draft, the Sabres can surround Eichel with the pieces to maybe go on a deep playoff run in the near future.
Stay tuned for part 3 in a few days!
~Luka Tkalcevic, Brandon Smith, BTH Writers
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