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The league has never been as young and as talented as it is now. Here are eight players who will change the direction of their teams this season and beyond.1. Connor McDavid, C, Edmonton Oilers: This is a no-brainer. Not only is the 19-year-old forward a generational player, he has the ability to rival the career of No. 99. Yes, I said it. Not that McDavid wants to be compared to Wayne Gretzky, but the second-year NHLer has proven why he has the potential to become the best player in the world. That description is held by the Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby, but if McDavid can remain healthy and productive, this dynamic player in every aspect of the game will revive the Oilers and return the Stanley Cup to Edmonton at some point in his career. Its also impressive hes already wearing the C.2. Auston Matthews, C, Toronto Maple Leafs: If Matthews, 19, was eligible to be drafted in the same 2015 class as McDavid and Jack Eichel, many scouts believe Matthews would have edged Eichel for the No. 2 spot. Either way, Matthews, last Junes No. 1 overall pick, has been outstanding since he turned pro. He was off the charts during the World Cup of Hockey for Team North America, and his four-goal NHL debut was nothing short of amazing. The rebuilding process for the Maple Leafs continues and Matthews will be one of the reasons winning hockey will become the norm once again in Toronto.3. Aaron Ekblad, D, Florida Panthers: The No. 1 overall selection in 2014 is one of the best defensemen in the game. His talent was noticeable during his rookie season, when he impressed with his composure both on and off the ice. Ekblad, 20, was named alternate captain of the Panthers this season and its deserved. The 2015 Calder Trophy winner as rookie of the year will no doubt also capture the Norris Trophy one day.4. Johnny Gaudreau, LW, Calgary Flames: There are 40 million reasons the 23-year-old forward will have an impact for the Flames. His recent six-year deal worth $6.75 million per season has fans excited that Johnny Hockey will remain in Calgary to excite for the foreseeable future. But its more than just the money for Gaudreau. Generously listed at 5-foot-9, the talented forward plays a lot bigger than his frame. Unlike the three players ahead of him on this list, Gaudreau was a fourth-round pick (No. 104 overall in 2011) and has elevated his game to become one of the best young players in the league.5.?Jack Eichel, C, Buffalo Sabres: Currently sidelined 8-10 weeks with a high-ankle sprain, Eichel is one of the reasons fans are excited about the possibility of a winning team in Buffalo again. Drafted No. 2 behind McDavid in 2015, Eichel enjoyed a successful rookie season, posting 24 goals and 32 assists for 56 points in 81 games. He wasnt at his best for Team North America at the World Cup, but once hes healthy and cleared to return, its expected Eichels game will take the next step. High-ankle sprains are tough injuries to deal with for hockey players, so it will be a challenge for him to deal with for the next two months.6. Shayne Gostisbehere, D, Philadelphia Flyers: Of all the young players to play last season, Gostisbehere was the most dynamic to watch. The 23-year-old defenseman registered 17 goals and 29 assists for 46 points in 64 games. His 17 goals set a franchise record for rookie defensemen and his 15-game scoring streak was the longest such streak by a rookie defenseman in NHL history. During the offseason, he had hip and abdominal surgery but showed no ill effects while playing for Team North America in the World Cup. The Flyers arent too far off from becoming a perennial Stanley Cup playoff contender again, and Gostisbehere will be a big reason for Philadelphias success.7. Nathan MacKinnon, C, Colorado Avalanche: MacKinnon is the most interesting player on this list. The 21-year-old forward and No. 1 overall pick in 2013 needs to elevate his game to a level this season where he can carry the Avalanche. He has the ability to accomplish it. That will be his challenge this season, and he must, in order to be considered an elite player. It was a good sign for the Colorado organization that MacKinnon spent the offseason working out with Crosby in Nova Scotia. By all accounts, it was a successful summer for both of them, especially MacKinnon. Well revisit his status in April.8. Jimmy Vesey, LW, New York Rangers: The 23-year-old forward gained the most interest as a college free agent during the summer. The reigning Hobey Baker Award winner from Harvard entertained offers from seven NHL teams before signing with the Rangers in August. He will be given every opportunity to succeed in New York in every aspect of the game. Veseys addition to the lineup should pay dividends now and in the future for the Rangers. Hes considered a tireless workhorse off the ice, which bodes well for his current and future success. Carlos Lee Jersey . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont. George Springer Jersey .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. http://www.astrosteamproshop.com/Astros-Mike-Scott-Kids-Jersey/ . The team said Saturday that Lopez was hurt during its 121-120 overtime loss at Philadelphia on Friday. The Nets said they would issue another update next week after consultation with their doctors. Jeff Bagwell Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Marwin Gonzalez Jersey . Oaklands loss to Seattle clinched the ALs best record for the Red Sox with one day to spare in the regular season. "I think everybody was kind of watching," catcher David Ross said. "Demp (Ryan Dempster) came out before he went to the bullpen and was just yelling that they lost. Australias day one effort in Galle was not so good as their opening day in Pallekele, if better than the second innings. Mitchell Starc delivered his best stuff of the series so far, Nathan Lyon disappointed and Josh Hazlewood ended the innings looking a little on the sore side. Dropped catches were an unwelcome sight, but Jon Holland can be expected to be better in the second innings after easing his debut nerves with a wicket. All the while, however, the bowlers were aware it is the batsmen who have more to prove in these conditions.Mitchell StarcAn excellent display to top and tail Sri Lankas innings, with a tight spell in between to account for Kusal Mendis. Starc has not been able to generate much of his trademark new- ball swing so far in this series, but in the case of Dimuth Karunaratne that was almost a blessing for Australia. Having twice got him lbw at Pallekele with balls angling into the stumps, this time Starc drifted the first ball of the match into Karunaratnes pads and was the most delighted man in Galle when the opener flicked it obligingly to Joe Burns at forward square leg. A classical left-armers dismissal followed when the angled ball accounted for Kaushal Silva, before Starc worked his way into tackling Mendis considerable skill. Operating in tandem with Hazlewood, Starc was able to gain just enough reverse swing to find an edge, denying Mendis a second hundred in as many innings. Starc returned to the attack to clean up the tail and showed evidence his rhythm has improved since the second innings at Pallekele, finding a pair of yorkers to have Australia batting well before stumps.Josh HazlewoodA better day than his figures of 1 for 51 would suggest. After a tidy opening spell, Halewoods return in the 22nd over signalled a period of sharp reverse swing and the opportunity for the Australians to attack. So sharp was the bend on Halewoods inswinger that an lbw decision against Mends had to be overturned because the ball was projected to be skimming past leg stump, but he persisted to squeeze out Denesh Chandimal and so deny Sri Lanka a follow-up to their young No. 4s latest exploit. Hazlewood did go for a few more boundaries than he would have preferred, but this was mainly the result of attacking the stumps in search of wickets rather than anything overly loose. He ended the day looking somewhat preppy, and did not return to partner Starc against the tail.Nathan LyonReturning to the scene of his first Test in 2011, Lyon was unable to repeat his first ball dismissal of Kumar Sangakkara that day, but did offer a fair impression of the delivery with another sharp offbreak to account for Kusal Perera. Later on he spun another fine delivery through Dilruwan Perera for a considered lbw verdict from the umpire Richard Kettleborough, but in between was unable to pose the sort of consistent threat the pitch suggested he might have.ddddddddddddSri Lankas batsmen have played Lyon well, calculating their attacks on him in between tight defensive strokes and plenty of sweep shots. Mendis and Angelo Mathews both heaved Lyon over the boundary for sixes, while Sri Lakas captain also essayed a most impudent reverse sweep to a more than respectable delivery. Darren Lehmann said in the lead-up to this Test that the tourists wanted to see better from Lyon: an economy rate of 4.33 was more generous than the coach would have desired. Mitchell MarshAnother useful supporting stint, albeit with a few boundary balls early on. There was some talk of Marsh being replaced by his brother for this match, but his lively fast medium will always offer a useful counterpoint and here he was able to contribute with the wicket of Mathews, dabbling at a ball better left alone. His best balls actually followed that wicket, with a one-two punch to Dilruwan Perera that beat the bat then won an lbw verdict from Chris Gaffaney, although the decision was then reversed on review. Marsh was also unlucky to watch Steve Smith drop a chance at slip, something seldom seen from an otherwise excellent fielder.Jon HollandThe prominent cross-breeze in Galle offered lavish drift at times for Holland on debut, and the wicket provided occasionally expansive turn. But it was always going to be a lot to expect Holland, not long off the plane from Australia, to adapt in the manner that Steve OKeefe had done with he benefit of more than three weeks in India and then Sri Lanka to prepare for the Pallekele Test. That being said, Holland was not disgraced, posing numerous problems amid Sri Lankan attempts to attack him, and denied a first wicket when his offsider Lyon misjudged the flight of a ball sailing high in the direction of midwicket. Holland eventually had his reward when Dhananjaya de Silva missed a full toss, and Australia can expect better from him in the second innings.Fielding and catchingIf Lyons misjudgment of Kusal Pereras loft into the outfield is included, the Australians missed three clear chances for the day, a figure that will not please Smith. He will be even less happy to have been one of the culprits. Nor will Peter Nevill be pleased to have missed a low chance soon afterwards. In themselves, these errors were not overly costly against a Sri Lankan batting line-up that offered more opportunities at regular intervals, but the coach Lehmann will be aware that stronger batting line-ups will be encounters later in the season, not least in India next year. For now the batsmen must do their job, but improvement in the field must also be a team priority. ' ' '