NHL’s young and restless will haul in the hardware
Expect league’s new wave of stars to claim more than just the Calder on awards night
Todd McLellan doesn’t do predictions. He doesn’t even bother with expectations.
When the season began, the Edmonton Oilers head coach didn’t foresee that Connor McDavid would lead the entire NHL with 100 points or that Auston Matthews would tie for second overall with 40 goals. At the same time, after watching both players perform their magic at the World Cup of Hockey, he wasn’t exactly surprised.
“I think that event was a great stepping stone or entree for all of those young players,” said McLellan, who was the head coach for Team North America. “They entered the regular season with a tremendous amount of confidence. They liked how they played, the type of game they played at the World Cup. They were fast, they were skilled, they were exciting and they wanted to continue on.”
They didn’t just continue to impress — they took over.
Forget about participation ribbons. At the NHL Awards in Las Vegas on Wednesday, it’s the kids who are likely going to take home the most impressive hardware.
Edmonton’s McDavid, who in his first full season won the Art Ross Trophy as the league’s top scorer, is a finalist for the Hart Trophy as league MVP. Toronto’s Matthews, who led all rookies with 40 goals and 69 points — he finished in the top 20 overall — is a finalist for the Calder Trophy. Calgary’s Johnny Gaudreau, who scored 61 points and had just four penalty minutes, is a finalist for the Lady Byng Trophy.
That’s just the start. From Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine finishing in the top 10 with 36 goals and Mark Scheifele ranking in the top 10 with 82 points to Pittsburgh’s Matt Murray winning a second straight Stanley Cup and fellow rookie teammate Jake Guentzel leading the playoffs with 13 goals, this was a year of the youngster.
“It’s nice to see that there’s a lot of great young guys coming in the league,” Laine said. “Matt Murray, two Stanley Cups already, and McDavid with 100 points — it’s pretty unbelievable to see that. Hopefully, I can be that kind of player some day.”
We often say the NHL is a young man’s game, that speed is an asset that overcomes experience, but this was different. Not since Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin entered the league as rookies in 2005-06 has the NHL had so many top-flight players under the age of 23.
“As much as you think these players are good, until they arrive and do it, you’re not sure,” Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said. “So (Matthews is) an impressive guy. He’s going to be better next year. We all understand that. The game’s in a good situation with all these young stars.”
The Leafs, who were led in scoring by Matthews, William Nylander and Mitch Marner, were perhaps the best example of what young legs can do for a roster. They were fast, they were skilled and on many nights they were a handful for even the best of teams. They were the reason why Toronto not only qualified for the playoffs, but nearly upset the Washington Capitals in the first round.
“The atmosphere we had around the rink, everyone was happy,” Matthews said. “This team is going in the right direction, a lot of good young talent. It makes it even better that everyone is fun to be around.”
At one point during Tuesday’s interviews, Babcock was asked if he was coaching the “next Sidney Crosby.” McDavid received a similar question comparing himself to the best player in the world.
It was flattering, but it wasn’t exactly unrealistic.
“It’s really cool. I got to play with two of those guys at the World Cup,” Gaudreau said. “They’re both exciting players to watch and to play with. It’s cool to see younger players doing well, and hopefully they can keep their success going.”
“I don’t know if I measure myself against Crosby. He’s doing his thing and I’m doing my thing,” said McDavid, who finished with 11 more points than the Pittsburgh Penguins captain. “I’ve kind of always said since I came in the league that there’s so many good young players. It’s a good thing. It means the future’s pretty bright.”
Maybe next year, instead of McDavid battling Crosby for the Art Ross Trophy, it will be McDavid versus Matthews. Maybe it will be Matthews and Laine. Maybe a still undrafted player, like Nolan Patrick or Nico Hischier, emerges to join this talented young group.
As McLellan said, noting how Matthews seemingly came out of nowhere and starred for North America at the World Cup, anything is possible.
“When he was selected to be on that team, I remember doing the lines and having him on the outside looking in,” McLellan said. “And as we began to practice, you recognized quickly that he wasn’t. He shot himself up the list. He began to gain some chemistry with the top players because of his skill set and his mindset.
“He was not afraid. He was not intimidated. Auston had a wealth of confidence — not arrogance — to play with those players.”
It’s a trait all the young players seem to share, and rightfully so.