Judging by the drafting patterns in fantasy hockey, it seems as though everyone has become hip to the NHL's youth movement. (Source: Getty Images)

Rookies from this year like Evgeni Malkin, Anze Kopitar, Phil Kessel and Matt Carle are actually held in higher regard than Martin Scorcese’s ability to put together a Mob film.  The quest to unearth the next big thing has gotten to the point that quality veteran players who are safe and viable fantasy options are being passed over for young players who someday may have the potential (if they’re lucky) to score as many points in a season as a Brendan Shanahan or a Mike Modano. Perhaps the term “the Departed” is better suited for all the veteran players that have a lost a place in the heart’s of fantasy GM owners.

So what’s driving this youth movement? What has caused everyone to take greater interest in Jack Johnson’s school plans at Michigan over their own team’s playoff aspirations?

Statistical evidence of course.

Last season seven of the top ten scorers were 26 years old or younger, including Alexander Ovechkin at 20 years old and Sidney Crosby at 18 years of age. The others included Eric Staal (21 yrs old), Ilya Kovalchuk (22), Jonathan Cheechoo (25), Dany Heatley (24) and 26-year old Art Ross Trophy winner Joe Thornton. Last season was the culmination of the trend of young scorers becoming more prominent; a trend which has been slowly and gradually building over the last five years.

Three years ago during the 2003-2004 season four of the top ten scorers were 26 or younger. Four years ago during the 2002-2003 season, three of the top ten scorers were under 26 and five years ago there were two scorers amongst the top 10 who were 26 years old or younger.

But what’s to account for the sudden surge in young players gracing the front page of the scoring leaders? The new look NHL with its emphasis on obstruction-free hockey played with speed, skill, and powerplay proficiency is without a doubt a major factor in last season’s scoring but as evidenced by the stats over the last five years this was a trend in the making pre-lockout.

I think we’re simply in a new golden age so to speak of hockey talent. Already after one season Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin have established themselves as the most dynamic and exciting players in the entire league.  Behind those two there is a plethora of talented players that will ensure that the league is in safe hands when the old guard has retired.  And when I say old guard I’m referring to that crop of players who made their debuts during the early 90’s, Pro Set and Upper Deck hockey card days like Jaromir Jagr, Mats Sundin, Nicklas Lidstrom, Martin Brodeur and Mike Modano.

In fact, this current generation of young players closely resembles the type of domination that a generation of young players had twenty years ago. The 1986-87 season produced an unbelievable scoring leaders list in which the top 10 scorers were all 26 years old or younger. The list includes such greats as Gretzky (24), Lemieux (21), Messier (25), Kurri (26), Gilmour (23), Hawerchuk (23) and Bourque (26).  

I strongly doubt if the league will ever produce another talented pair like Gretzky and Lemieux but Crosby and Ovechkin, not to mention Kovalchuk, Staal, Thornton, Phaneuf and Malkin aren’t bad consolation prizes for this generation.