NHL Prospects on Track to Replace Current Superstars

A new generation of NHL prospects is prepared to take over the hockey world in the coming decade.

Players from the top tiers of the every recent draft class are waiting in the wings, poised to explode into superstardom as soon as the opportunity arises.

And for most, that opportunity could be just around the corner—many current franchise icons may soon be yielding to an heir.

After all, the league's defending top scorer, Martin St. Louis, is 38, and the league's second-ranked active career scorer, Teemu Selanne, is 43. Moreover, a number of other star players are also approaching retirement age, from Detroit's Henrik Zetterberg and Niklas Kronwall to San Jose's Joe Thornton and Dan Boyle to New Jersey's Patrik Elias and Martin Brodeur.

Which highly talented youngsters could replace some of those aging cornerstones in the coming years? We point out five top NHL prospects on track to do so on the coming slides.

Niklas Kronwall: Danny DeKeyser

Drafted: Undrafted in 2008

2012-13 Stat Line: 35 GP, 2 G, 15 P (NCAA Western Michigan)

The Detroit Red Wings won the heated sweepstakes for star college defenseman Danny DeKeyser, a two-time All-American and CCHA Defenseman of the Year award winner, last spring.

DeKeyser's expected slam-dunk entrance into the NHL in 2013-14 finally gives the depleted Wings defense some hope. Detroit lost both Nicklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski to retirement in the past two years and should encounter Niklas Kronwall's inevitable mid-30s decline in the near future as well.

"DeKeyser, 23, wasn’t drafted and now looks like sure-fire top-four material," wrote Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press earlier this summer. "He’s a viable candidate to push his way into the top-four mix and can play both sides of special teams. He’s young and has lots to learn, but he figures to join the list of the Wings’ core players."

Undrafted NCAA stars have a hit-or-miss legacy of NHL success, but DeKeyser's 2013-14 campaign could well be the most highly anticipated rookie season for a defenseman since Erik Karlsson in 2011-12. He's a budding stud to watch closely this fall.

Niklas Backstrom: Darcy Kuemper

Drafted: Sixth round, No. 161 in 2009

2012-13 Stats: 13-8-0, .934 save percentage, 1.88 GAA (AHL Houston Aeros)

Just eight months ago, the Minnesota Wild were panicking about their goaltending situation. Niklas Backstrom was getting old and mediocre, Josh Harding had just been diagnosed with MS, and the team couldn't find a truly elite goalie prospect out of their crowded farm-system roster.

Then Darcy Kuemper had his 2012-13 campaign and it all changed.

Kuemper, 23, stonewalled the entire AHL last season, proving himself one of the biggest steals of the 2009 draft. His success gave the Wild the confidence to trade away fellow goalie prospect Matt Hackett and then reward Kuemper with eight late-season appearances—he was 1-2-0 with a .916 save percentage.

"Kuemper is a huge goaltender who can fill the net well without being too aggressive with his angles," raved Corey Pronman of Hockey Prospectus. "He is quiet in the net, with one NHL source describing him as an efficient netminder with his movements and positioning. Kuemper battles well for loose pucks, and overall, he displays good competitiveness.

Kuemper could surprise many by claiming the Minnesota starting gig at some point in 2013-14.

Martin St. Louis: Jonathan Drouin

Drafted: First round, No. 3 in 2013

2012-13 Stat Line: 49 GP, 41 G, 105 P (QMJHL Halifax Mooseheads)

The third overall selection in the 2013 draft, Jonathan Drouin was drafted by Tampa Bay Lightning GM Steve Yzerman to become the third and final piece for an unstoppable first line with Martin St. Louis and Steven Stamkos.

Soon, though, he could become St. Louis' permanent replacement.

Indeed, the NHL's top 2013 scorer is getting on in age, and it would be difficult to find a more ideal heir for him in Tampa's high-powered offense than Drouin.

The QMJHL product averaged more than two points per game in 2012-13 and has been touted as perhaps the NHL's next elite playmaker—along the lines of Nicklas Backstrom, Pavel Datsyuk and (fittingly) Martin St. Louis.

Teemu Selanne: Rickard Rakell

Drafted: First round, No. 30 in 2011

2012-13 Stat Line: 40 GP, 21 G, 44 P (OHL Plymouth Whalers)

Anaheim Ducks franchise icon Teemu Selanne announced his return for a 2013-14 farewell tour in hilarious fashion last week, but he'll almost certainly retire for good next summer.

Fortunately, the Ducks are stacked knee-deep in young right wingers. Recent acquisition Jakob Silfverberg is headed over from Ottawa, Emerson Etem has developed into a bona fide star in the minor leagues, and Rickard Rakell is ready to turn pro in 2013-14.

Rakell produced a solid clip in his final junior campaign last season and plays a very NHL-style game. "[He] is incredibly versatile, capable of lining up at any forward position and also able to play several different roles on a hockey team," reported The Hockey News. "[Rakell] excels at the two-way game."

Another impressive campaign this autumn could allow the 20-year-old to contend for the Ducks' top six as early as 2014-15.

Joe Thornton: Tomas Hertl

Drafted: First round, No. 17 in 2012

2012-13 Stat Line: 43 GP, 18 G, 30 P (Czech, HC Slavia Praha)

After signing his entry-level in June, 6'2" center Tomas Hertl is ready to excel at the professional level in North America.

"To play in the NHL is a dream of every young hockey player," Hertl said to reporters. "I am very glad that my dream to sign with the Sharks has come through. Mentally, I am ready to take that challenge."

It's a good thing, because the Sharks could soon be in need of an influx of youth into their offense. Patrick Marleau and Joe Thornton (a center, like Hertl) are ceding the reins to Logan Couture, Joe Pavelski and Co.; Hertl could have an excellent chance to join that group either this season or the next.

The 19-year-old, who already has two full seasons of playing against 20- and 30-year-olds under his belt, brings a talented set of puck-handling skills to the Sharks organization. Per EliteProspects.com, "[Hertl is] a highly skilled offensive player with impressive hockey sense and puck control. [He] passes the puck comfortably and has a pretty good shot."

Hertl should be an tremendously intriguing prospect to watch as he seeks to become one of the Sharks' franchise cornerstones in the coming decade.