Professional hockey is no longer a learn-from-your-elders sport.
Over the past few years, the NHL has been infiltrated with incredible young talent that has shown some of the league's veterans a thing or two. That's not to say that there are not veteran-laden clubs - there are. It's just that the young guns are developing faster than ever.
Whether it's receiving training at earlier ages, being taught the fundamentals by personal coaches or just simply possessing superior athletic talent, something seems to have given the new generation an edge.
Seven of the league's current top 13 goal scorers were born in or after 1982. This list includes Ilya Kovalchuk, Alex Ovechkin, Rick Nash, Brad Boyes, Sidney Crosby, Mike Richards and Eric Staal. In a few short years, these players already have several accomplishments under their belts.
Kovulchuk, the league's second-leading scorer, has already led the league in goals scored with 41, sharing that title with Nash and Jarome Iginla in 2004. Crosby, dubbed the "Next One" in honor of Wayne "The Great One" Gretzky, has already tucked away the Hart Memorial Trophy as the reigning MVP, scoring 120 points at the age of 20.
Other recent impressive marks from the league's youngsters have come from Ovechkin, who scored 52 goals as a 20-year-old rookie in 2006, and Evgeni Malkin, who scored 33 goals for 82 points last year at age 20 after teaming up with Crosby.
And these guys aren't just scoring points. Kovulchuk, Nash and Ovechkin are offering leadership as they are already alternate captains on their respective teams, with Crosby leading the Pittsburgh Penguins as their primary captain.
Meanwhile the rookie class is led by the Chicago Blackhawks' Patrick Kane, who is on pace to score 85 points at the age of 19.
And it doesn't stop there. Not only are these youthful forwards dominating the scoring, but many young goaltenders are also creating a buzz around the league.
Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers looks to be one of the favorites for this year's Vezina Trophy as the game's best goaltender, leading the league in wins and goals-against average with a 14-9-1 record and a 1.83 mark. He also has four shutouts to go along with those spectacular numbers - and all of this is coming at the ripe age of 25. Cam Ward's resume is also not too shabby, as he is already a Conn Smythe Trophy winner after garnering the 2006 playoffs' MVP honor at the age of 21. He is now 23 and continuing to shine in net for the Carolina Hurricanes.
With this talented generation here to stay, we can expect that in the next 10 to 20 years, the NHL will flourish and continue to grow. To assist in the expansion of the sport, the teams' owners met last week to discuss changes, including one in scheduling. Next year, teams will play every other team in the league at least once, ensuring that that these young standouts can make impressions on fans across the continent.
In other hockey news, the hits just keep on coming. Yet another suspension was handed out to Nashville Predators forward Scott Nichol, who will sit out five games for his cross-check to the head of Patrice Brisebois.
The Monday night incident is just another added to the long list of suspensions handed out by the league thus far this season. Dirty hits have already caused multiple injuries and are taking away from the game, and as the incidents continue to pile up, the NHL could be in serious trouble.
