NHL: The 10 Best Players to Come out of the US National Development Program

The US National Development Program has played a major role in developing the best American hockey players that we watch in the NHL today.

Since the program's creation in 1996, the US National Development Program has prepared players to excel at every level of competition, including events such as the World Championships and Winter Olympics.

Let's look at the 10 best NHL players to come out of the US National Development Program.

Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks

Year(s) with USNTDP: 2004-05, 2005-06

Patrick Kane became the second player from the USNTDP to be selected with the No. 1 pick in an NHL draft when the Chicago Blackhawks drafted him in 2007.

Since then, Kane has become one of the most important players on some very talented Blackhawks teams, including the 2009-10 squad that won the Stanley Cup in six games over the Philadelphia Flyers.

He also played well for Team USA at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, where the Americans won the silver medal.

Even though he didn't play well on a consistent basis during the 2011-12 season, Kane is still one of the finest young forwards in the NHL.

Ryan Suter, Minnesota Wild

Year(s) with USNTDP: 2001-02, 2002-03

Ryan Suter is arguably the best American defenseman in the NHL right now and is also one of the top offensive defensemen in the world.

After one season at the University of Wisconsin, Suter joined the Nashville Predators organization, where he spent seven successful seasons before leaving to join the Minnesota Wild this past summer as a free agent.

Suter and his new Wild teammate Zach Parise signed 13-year, $98 million contracts, making them the highest-paid ($12 million) American players for the 2012-13 season, along with Buffalo Sabres defenseman Tyler Myers.

Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks

Year(s) with USNTDP: 2000-01, 2001-02

Vancouver Canucks center Ryan Kesler is one of the elite defensive forwards in the NHL and won the 2011 Frank Selke trophy in his third year as a finalist for the award. He excels in the faceoff circle, blocks shots and plays a physical game.

Kesler isn't just a defensive star; he's a very good offensive center too. He has scored 20 or more goals for five straight years, including a career-high 41 goals during the 2010-11 season.

At 28 years old, Kesler is in the prime of his career, and if NHL players are allowed to play in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the Canucks star will play a key role in the Americans' quest for a gold medal.

Kevin Shattenkirk, St. Louis Blues

Year(s) with USNTDP: 2005-06, 2006-07

Kevin Shattenkirk is a rising star in the NHL and one of the best young American players in the sport. He racked up 43 points last season (nine goals and 34 assists) and should reach the 50-point mark this year.

The St. Louis Blues defenseman is a franchise cornerstone type of player and is expected to become a star in 2012-13. In the near future, he could overtake Suter as the best American offensive defenseman in the world.

Shattenkirk will play an important role for the United States in World Championship and Olympic competitions in the future.

Phil Kessel, Toronto Maple Leafs

Year(s) with USNTDP: 2003-04, 2004-05

Phil Kessel's fine performances in two seasons with the USNTDP helped him become the fifth overall pick in the 2006 NHL draft by the Boston Bruins.

Since then, Kessel has become one of the premier goal scorers in the NHL, with five straight seasons of 30-plus goals.

As the best offensive player on the Toronto Maple Leafs for the last three seasons, Kessel has become an elite player whose best years are still ahead of him.

The 25-year-old has also been an NHL All-Star in each of the last two seasons.

Jimmy Howard, Detroit Red Wings

Year(s) with USNTDP: 2001-02

After playing with the USNTDP for one season, Jimmy Howard went to the University of Maine, where he became a star in Hockey East, which is one reason why the Detroit Red Wings decided to select him in the second round of the 2003 NHL draft.

Sometimes Howard doesn't get the recognition he deserves because he's played on championship-caliber teams throughout his entire career, but he is a star goaltender who is not only incredibly talented, he's remarkably consistent.

In three full NHL seasons, Howard hasn't won fewer than 35 games in a single year.

Cory Schneider, Vancouver Canucks

Year(s) with USNTDP: 2003-04

Cory Schneider's stellar performance between the pipes for the Vancouver Canucks over the last two years has helped him become the team's No. 1 goaltender, and as a result, the team might have to trade veteran goaltender and three-time Vezina Trophy finalist Roberto Luongo.

The 26-year-old goaltender was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts and starred at Boston College before being taken 26th overall in the 2004 NHL draft by the Canucks.

Schneider was 20-8-1 last season and had a spectacular .936 save percentage. He's one of the best young goaltenders in the league and should be a finalist for the Vezina in the near future.

Jack Johnson, Columbus Blue Jackets

Year(s) with USNTDP: 2003-04, 2004-05

Following his trade to the Columbus Blue Jackets after spending about six years with the Los Angeles Kings, Jack Johnson thrived with his new team last season, scoring 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 21 games.

Not only does Johnson have impressive offensive skills, he is very durable as well. He has missed only three games over the last three seasons.

Johnson has a bright future ahead of him and could emerge as one of the best American players in the NHL in the near future.

Matt Carle, Tampa Bay Lightning

Years with USNTDP: 2000-01, 2001-02

After two successful seasons with the USNTDP, Matt Carle went to the University of Denver, where he excelled for three seasons. He was then selected in the second round of the 2003 NHL draft by the San Jose Sharks.

Carle was one of the top free-agent defensemen over the summer and signed a six-year, $33 million contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning. He also played 12 games for the Lightning during the 2008-09 season.

The 28-year-old veteran is a good puck-moving defenseman and will certainly shine on a Lightning team full of offensive talent.

James Van Riemsdyk, Toronto Maple Leafs

Year(s) with USNTDP: 2005-06, 2006-07

James van Riemsdyk spent two seasons with the USNTDP before going to the University of New Hampshire, where he was one of the best players in Hockey East. His brother Trevor currently plays at UNH.

JVR was selected No. 2 overall in the 2007 NHL draft by the Philadelphia Flyers after fellow American Patrick Kane was taken No. 1 by the Chicago Blackhawks. It was the first time that two players who had played for the USNTDP were selected with the top two picks of the same entry draft.

The 23-year-old forward has 99 points in 196 career games in the NHL, and when the lockout ends, he will enter his first season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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Nicholas Goss is an NHL Lead Writer at Bleacher Report. He was also the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston. Follow him on Twitter.