Having good, young talent capable of stepping into an NHL lineup and making immediate contributions is no longer an anomaly.
"[Young players] are so much more ready than they were 10 or 15 years ago in terms of training, skill development and nutrition," New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero said. "These kids are so far ahead of where they were, and that's why they're able to play at 18 or 19 years old. People say it's because of the NHL salary cap that forces teams to use younger players today, but really, if you're good, you're good."
Top 12 rookies to watch this season
Hischier, Patrick, McAvoy among those who could vie for Calder Trophy
![Hischier-Patrick-McAvoy 9-23](https://media.d3.nhle.com/image/private/t_ratio16_9-size20/f_auto/prd/uyul3sm3j8veyj8sys9n.jpg)