4 NHL Young Players and Prospects Who Have Had Breakout 2025-26 Seasons

It's been a pretty weird season of hockey, all things considered. But weird isn't always bad, and it's led us to some fun places, including top-notch seasons from some of the best teenagers we'll see in the game for some time.

Before we dive in, some honorable mentions: Ilya Protas, speaking of teenagers, had an incredible AHL season at age 19 and just Saturday netted three points against the Pittsburgh Penguins in his second NHL game. 2026 Mike Richter Award winner Trey Augustine just signed his entry-level contract with the Detroit Red Wings and looks to be the team's goaltender of the future. And Will Horcoff, whose Wolverines just got knocked out of the Frozen Four by Denver in double overtime, is on track to be a Bryan Rust-type player for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

And that's all just players already affiliated with NHL teams. The future of men's hockey is in good hands, y'all. I'm excited.

Macklin Celebrini, C, San Jose Sharks

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I fear we are beginning with the most obvious choice possible, but hear me out. What Macklin Celebrini has done this season deserves to be shouted from the rafters. "Special" is the only word that comes close. His elite-level play has dragged the Sharks into the playoff fight — whether or not they make it remains to be seen — and given that they have no business being there, I wouldn't be surprised if it garnered him a few Hart votes. It has also all but guaranteed him a top-five finish in the NHL points race this season. He's at 108 points right now, including 42 goals (good enough to tie for 7th at the time of writing). 

Celebrini is only the sixth teenager to reach the 100-point mark in a single NHL season. The last player to do it was Sidney Crosby 19 years ago.

It's no longer a stretch to call him one of the best players in the NHL, or in the world. Especially when everything suggests that this level of play is not a fluke but rather something repeatable. He isn't out here on the ice doing things we've never seen from him before. He's just playing his game.

I've been saying since his draft season that Celebrini actually is what people used to claim Jonathan Toews was. But perhaps the coolest thing about what we saw from Celebrini this season is that this is not his peak. He still has room to get better from here—things like further developing his patience with the puck, or not passing up a simple play for a more convoluted one, for example. I, for one, cannot wait to see him continue to grow. We're in for a fun ride.

Matthew Schaefer, D, New York Islanders

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Continuing in the vein of "teenagers being better than they have any right to be," there's virtually no chance anyone but Matthew Schaefer gets a first-place vote for the Calder Trophy this season. I would, in fact, suggest that if someone does give a first-place vote to another rookie, they should write a five-paragraph persuasive essay defending their decision.

Schaefer, who turned 18 just before the season started in September and spent about half of his draft year out with a broken collarbone (after missing time with mononucleosis), has looked better than a lot of seasoned NHL defensemen this season. 

He's elite at both ends of the ice, able to control the flow of play and impose his will on the game in a way that none of us are used to seeing a teenage defenseman do. Especially not on a consistent basis. It would be one thing if it was all high-flying offense, defending by never letting the other team have the puck, but that's not how he approaches the game. His defensive awareness alone is astounding.

Earlier this week he tied Brian Leetch's NHL record for goals by a rookie defenseman with 23. If he manages to score one more against the Canadiens Sunday or the Hurricanes Tuesday, he'll own the record outright.

Ben Kindel, C, Pittsburgh Penguins

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Literally no one expected Ben Kindel to even make the Pittsburgh Penguins out of training camp. Now, at the end of the regular season, we can confidently say that he didn't just make the team — he's been a key piece in a playoff push that most people assumed would fail. And he's fourth on the list of most goals by an 18-year-old player in Penguins history, with 17. The players ahead of him? Sidney Crosby, Jordan Staal, and Jaromir Jagr. Not bad company.

It's not even actually about points with Kindel, though he is currently tied for 7th in rookie scoring with 34 points. His impact is felt all over the ice. Imagine getting drafted by the Penguins with Crosby and Malkin, not only securing a roster spot but also being trusted to center the third line on a regular basis.

The way Kindel combines his elite hockey sense and his tenacity — that willingness to dive right into the mess and not give up on a play — is what won and kept him in his roster spot. It's also why he's been trusted in key situations, like on the penalty kill or to protect the lead late in a game. He's just always in the right place. Seems like Pittsburgh is the right place, too.

Max Plante, C, University of Minnesota-Duluth

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Detroit Red Wings prospect Max Plante is this year's Hobey Baker Award winner. If you're not familiar, the Hobey Baker Award is given annually to the top NCAA men's hockey player. If you are familiar but didn't watch college hockey this season, you might be asking why he won. Delighted to enlighten you. 

Last season, Minnesota-Duluth had a record of 13-20-3. This season, that record flipped to 23-15-1. The Bulldogs very narrowly missed out on a trip to the Frozen Four. And Plante had a stellar sophomore season, nearly doubling last year's 28 points to finish with 52, tying for third in the nation. He also ended up second in goals with 25. Combine those with Plante consistently playing heavy minutes and being engaged all over the ice, and you've got a recipe for a player who is a key part of the engine that drives the team — though when you ask him about it, he defers to the talents of his teammates.

After receiving the Hobey Baker, Plante said that he would be returning to college for his junior season to play with his brothers, Zam (PIT) and Victor (2026-eligible). He will be the first Hobey Baker winner to do so since Ryan Duncan in 2007.

But hey, Paul Kariya and Ryan Miller did it. Stay in school, kids!