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) ; 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 (knock on wood!) and with that means the return of SN's Mitchell Wilcox Jersey top 25 under 25. Surveying the landscape, not much has truly changed since . NHL 2021-22: | | | McDavid is still McDavid andMatthews 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 limbohas been left off for now: . Players on this list also qualified by being under 24 or youngeras of Oct. 1. Here are Sporting News' top 25 under 25 in the NHL in the 2021-22 season. (All analytics courtesy of .) Top 25 under 25 1. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers Forward | Age: 24| Drafted: 2015, first overall : 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 Ro s 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 2019-20top 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 toone of the best shots in the game, should contend for the coveted trophy once again. 3. Elias Petter son, Vancouver Canucks Forward | Age: 22| Drafted: 2017, fifth overall 2019-20top 25 under 25 ranking: 14th Now that the deal is done, Petter son is back in Vancouver and ready to roll. He mi sed the final 30 games down the stretch due to a wrist injury and is " ." 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 capturingthe 2021 Norris Trophy. In 55 games last season he finished with 47 points (five goals, 42 a sists), an impre sive plus-19 and led New York in ice time per game (24:42) while picking up minutes on the power play and penalty kill. ODDS, SN PREDICTIONS: | | | | 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 Daxton Hill Jersey on Oct. 29. In 2021, he potted 30 goals in 52 games alongside 36 a sists 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 2019-20top 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. 'ALL OR NOTHING': 9. Charlie McAvoy, Boston Bruins Defenseman | Age: 23| Drafted: 2016, 14th overall 2019-20top 25 under 25 ranking: 15th McAvoy's contract is up after 2021-22and his new deal is expected to be a well-earned and ma sive payout. With Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug out of Boston, Zach Kerr Jersey McAvoy hasemerged asa 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 YorkIslanders 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 quickne s, 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 2019-20top 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 gamessans 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 pa sionate and competitive," . "Last year wasnt the year myself or anyone else wanted. So, a fresh start. Im 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 2019-20top 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 Petter son, 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 bluelinerBrian 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 a sists (14) by a rookie D-manin a single postseason. 15. Mikhail Sergachev, Tampa Bay Lightning Defenseman | Age: 23 | Drafted: 2016, ninth overall 2019-20top 25 under 25 ranking: honorable mention Entering his fifth season, Michael Thomas Jersey 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 behind Andrei Vasilevskiy, Victor Hedman and Brayden Point; mighty impre sive considering that was ahead of guys like Steven Stamkos and Ryan McDonagh. 16. Alex DeBrincat, Chicago Blackhawks Forward | Age: 23| Drafted: 2016, 39th overall 2019-20top 25 under 25 ranking: 19 17. Brock Boeser, Vancouver Canucks Forward | Age: 24| Drafted: 2015, 23rdoverall 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 2019-20top 25 under 25 ranking: 21 21. Cole Caufield, Montreal Canadiens Forward | Age: 20| Drafted: 2019, 15th overall Jonah Williams Jersey 2019-20 top 25 under 25 ranking: NR NHL AWARDS 2021: 22. Jakob Chychrun, Arizona Coyotes Defenseman| Age: 23| Drafted: 2016, 16th overall 2019-20top 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 Lafrenire, F, New York Rangers Tim Sttzle, 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