NHL teams can alter the balance of power in their division if one of their young players emerges as an elite contributor.
It takes time, sometimes several years, before an elite talent emerges as complete. Tracking players from age 18 to 23 seems to be the range where they show themselves. These men play a couple of seasons in the NHL and then start to emerge as impact players.
Here are five players who appear to be on the verge of becoming elite, winning season-ending awards and changing the standings almost single-handedly. Players are ranked based on current point totals.