3 younglings ready to become masters of the NHL
The youth movement in the NHL is alive and well, with younger, faster players carving out larger roles for themselves on their respective clubs.
The Force is strong in these three younglings, who are ready to take their games to the next level and become masters in the league.
Max Domi
Domi stole the hearts of Canadians across the country with his inspired play at the 2015 World Junior Hockey Championship, and he's kept that momentum going in his first NHL season.
A 20-year-old rookie, Domi is no stranger to the spotlight as the son of a former NHLer. He's handled his spot on the Coyotes' top scoring line well, putting up 11 points in his first 11 games as a pro.
It's easy for a player to get lost in the shuffle while playing outside of a big market, but Domi is on the track to stardom if he can continue to produce points the way he has, while improving his game as he nears his prime years.
John Klingberg
Following a strong rookie campaign, many pundits tabbed Klingberg as a likely breakout candidate, but no one could have expected his production would explode in the way it has.
With Trevor Daley leaving town, Klingberg has excelled as the Stars' top defenseman, making the most of an uptick in usage. As the go-to point man on the power play, he needed only 23 games to nearly match his power-play point total from a year ago.
Through the month of November, Klingberg was averaging better than a point per game with 27 points in 24 contests, leading all defensemen in scoring.
Nikolaj Ehlers
The No. 9 overall selection in the 2014 draft, the Jets not only kept Ehlers with the big club out of camp, but injuries forced the 19-year-old onto a scoring line for the first month of the season.
Playing as a top-six forward, Ehlers posted 8 points and 37 shots on goal in his first 10 games in the NHL. Through the first two months of the season, Ehlers' five shots off the post or crossbar led the NHL - his season would have a very different complexion if those found the back of the net.
The Jets knocked Ehlers down from the top six, and he managed only three points in 14 games in the month of November, but at some point he'll find himself back on a scoring line, and when that happens, the sky will be the limit.