When it comes to youth, the National Hockey League is in good hands. Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon and Co. may still be in their 20s and considered young, but when it comes to REALLY young, there is a plethora of talent on the cusp of superstardom. One could put together a terrific all-star team using only players born in the 2000s, which means this group is no older than 23. And since we love lists, here’s one man’s version of the top 10 NHLers in that youthful group.

No. 10 — Matty Beniers (born in 2002) of Seattle. The reigning rookie of the year put up 57 points for the Kraken and was an impressive plus 14.

No. 9 — Cole Caufield (2001) of Montreal. The diminutive Wisconsin native has speed and great moves, and terrifies opposing goalies. He scored 26 goals in only 46 games last year and projects to being a perennial 50-goal scorer if he can stay healthy.

No. 8 — Trevor Zegras (2001) of Anaheim. His second full season produced a second-straight 23-goal campaign. The innovative Zegras introduced lacrosse-style ‘Michigan’ goals, things of beauty, to the NHL.

No. 7 — Moritz Seider (2001) of Detroit. The German-born defenceman won the Calder Trophy as rookie of the year in 2021-22 after putting up 50 points. He

No. 6 — Dylan Cozens (2001) of Buffalo. The former Lethbridge Hurricane found the scoring range last year. After netting only 13 goals in his first full season, Cozens erupted for 31 goals and 68 points last year and is the team’s No. 2 centre behind Tage Thompson.

No. 5 —Andrei Svechnikov (2000) of Carolina. Was on a 30-goal, 70-point pace last year until a lateseason injury put him on the shelf and helped derail the Hurricanes’ legitimate Stanley Cup hopes.

No. 4 — Connor Bedard (2005) of Chicago. The hype is real.

No. 3 —Rasmus Dahlin (2000) of Buffalo. The first overall pick in the 2018 draft has not disappointed the Sabres or their fans. He plays more than 20 minutes a night, anchors the Sabres’ power play and his point totals went from 53 two years ago to 73 last year.

No. 2 — Tim Stutzle (2002) of Ottawa. The third overall pick in the 2020 draft, Stutzle has more than lived up to his pre-draft billing. He collected 90 points last year (39 goals, 51 assists) to lead the Sens’ offence. He has gone from 29 points to 58 to 90 in his three years in the league. Season four and beyond could be spectacular.

No. 1 — Jack Hughes (2001) of New Jersey. The top pick in the 2019 draft broke through with 99 points last year, including 43 goals, and is one of three Hughes brothers in the NHL (Quinn with the Canucks and Luke with the Devils). Will win a Cupor two before he’s done.

•Headline at fark.com: “(Washington) Capitals sign Tom Wilson to a 7-year, $45.5 million extension, which lets him live rent free in his opponents heads until 2031.”

• NBA all-star and renowned bad golfer Charles Barkley, telling a friend he liked his Nike clubs: “Yeah, one of the other big companies is paying me a lot of money not to use theirs.”

• Headline at the onion.com: “Resilient Aaron Rodgers Vows To Return More Detached From Reality Than Ever”

• Found in Peter King’s Football Morning in America, quoting Peyton Manning, who speculated about what Jets’ offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett was doing at halftime of the Jets-Bills game, after Aaron Rodgers was kayoed with a torn Achilles: “I think he spent most of that time vomiting.”

• Comedy writer Torben Rolfsen of Vancouver: “Lionel Messi has ‘muscle fatigue.’ Didn’t Inter Miami do due diligence on this guy before they brought him over?”

• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel, on the rumoured romance between Taylor Swift and the Chiefs’ tight end Travis Kelce: “Beware, Travis! My sources tell me she’s eventually going to break up with you just so she can write a hit song about it!”

• Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg: “In the Bears’ loss to the Bills, Chicago QB Justin Fields blamed his robotic play on the coaching. So that must be some awful coaching that would tell Fields not to throw to a receiver who was open by 30 yards.”

• RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “Blue Jays pitcher Yusei Kikuchi says a short sleep caused him to cramp last game — only 11 hours instead of his usual 13! They’re going to start calling him Rip Van Kikuchi.”

• Another one from RJ Currie: “More than 600 runners from around the world took part in this year’s Red Bull 400 in Lahden Suurmäki, Finland, where competitors must run uphill. ‘We can relate,’ said the Houston Texans.”

 • From theonion.com: “Aaron Judge Thankful Yankees Protecting Privacy By Keeping Name Off Back Of Jersey”

Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca

-Bruce Penton