Over the past three or four years, the NHL has become a young mans game. That said, something is distinctly different about the early stages of this season that suggests we might have opened a door to a new frontier, where Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine and others are not only commanding attention, but are forever changing the NHL landscape.Every week well look at young players who are on a roll and others who need to step it up. Behold, the under-24 player rankings.?HotConnor McDavid, C, Edmonton OilersAs of Friday, three of the leagues top six point producers were 20 years of age or younger (McDavid, Matthews and William Nylander), but its hard to ignore the way McDavid has come out of the gate for the red-hot Oilers. After being named captain before the season, McDavid hasnt missed a beat and has 11 points in seven games while averaging 21:09 in ice time. What impresses me is that McDavid has eight even-strength points as the 6-1-0 Oilers have beaten some of the leagues elite teams while moving to first place in the Pacific Division and top spot in the Western Conference. Its been a long time since thats happened for the Oilers.Patrik Laine, RW, Winnipeg JetsIts been an up-and-down start for the Jets, who have yet to win back-to-back games this season. But if theyre going to get back in the playoffs, its clear Laine, the No. 2 pick in June, is going to lead them. The big 18-year-old Finn with the big shot has six goals, tied for the league lead and most among rookies, along with two assists for eight points in seven games. His 19:12 in average ice time is the most among rookie forwards.Travis Konecny, C, Philadelphia FlyersThe 19-year-old London, Ontario, native has been a revelation to the youthful Flyers, with seven points in eight games, fourth among all rookies. The slight (hes listed as 5-foot-10, 175 pounds) center has points in six of eight games, and head coach Dave Hakstol continues to show confidence in the 24th-overall pick from 2015, moving him up the lineup and expanding his ice time.NotJohn Gibson, G, Anaheim DucksSometimes its easy to think of Gibson as a grizzled veteran in spite of the fact the 39th-overall pick in 2011 is just 23. But after hiccups to start his career, the highly touted goalie is now in a position where he has to step up for the Ducks. With backup Jonathan Bernier?out with an injury, Gibson has to prove hes got the goods and consistency to lead a talented team like the Ducks. Gibson started slowly but has gone 3-0-1 in his past four appearances. Hes got to keep performing to keep the doubters at bay.Mathew Barzal, C,?New York IslandersAfter an impressive training camp that saw the 16th-overall pick in 2015 stick with the big club, Barzal, 19, has managed to get into just two of the Islanders first six games and is back to being a healthy scratch after a game against the?Montreal Canadiens?in which a Barzal turnover led to a goal. There were also other defensive issues. The Islanders are off to a 3-5 start and coach Jack Capuano told reporters he cant keep experimenting with his forward lines and needs to find continuity, although he wouldnt cite Barzals miscues as the reason for his return to the press box.Aaron Ekblad, D, Florida PanthersOne might have expected the Panthers to struggle, especially offensively, without top six forwards Nick Bjugstad and Jonathan Huberdeau, who are lost long-term to injury. And they have, losing two in a row, giving the defending Atlantic Division champions a 3-3-1 record. In the absence of those players, the Panthers will be looking for their leaders to fill the void. And although former rookie of the year Ekblad leads the team in average ice time at 24:12, playing mostly against opposing teams top offensive units, he has struggled on the offensive side of the puck. Ekblad, 20, has one goal and zero assists, his lone score coming on the power play. The Panther power play, by the way, is 22nd in the league.Young Guns ShowdownTroy Stecher, D,?Vancouver Canucks vs. Connor McDavid, C,?Edmonton Oilers, Friday, 10 p.m. ETMuch is expected from defenseman Stecher, 22, after an outstanding training camp, and hell get a chance to earn his keep in a prominent role as he gets just his second NHL start Friday, likely playing against the NHLs leading scorer. Coach Willie Desjardins told reporters in Vancouver that Stecher, who signed as a free agent with the hometown Canucks after three years at the University of North Dakota, will likely be paired with veteran Alexander Edler?against the Oilers top offensive unit, led by McDavid. A solid showing Friday would put Stecher in line for a repeat performance Saturday against?Alex Ovechkin?and the Washington Capitals. Eric Fisher Super Bowl Jersey . Defencemen Drew Doughty, Shea Weber and forward Ryan Getzlaf also scored for the Canadians, who started their gold-medal defence 2-0. Goalie Roberto Luongo, getting the call in place of Game 1 starter Carey Price, was solid when needed in making 23 saves for the shutout. Dorian ODaniel Super Bowl Jersey .com) - Yankee Stadium is the home of the Bronx Bombers, but on Sunday afternoon it will open its gates to host the latest addition of the Hudson River Rivalry. http://www.thechiefsshoponline.com/ . -- Aaron Murray threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another score, and led No. LeSean McCoy Super Bowl Jersey .Y. - General manager Billy King says the Brooklyn Nets are looking to add a big man and confirmed the team worked out centre Jason Collins, who would become the first openly gay active NBA player if signed. Chris Jones Super Bowl Jersey . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. South Florida and Pittsburgh were among six teams to enter The Associated Press college football poll on Sunday, matching a record for the Top 25 era.USF and Pitt are tied for No. 24. No. 17 Stanford, No. 19 Virginia Tech, No. 20 Navy and No. 22 Iowa also entered the rankings in the second-to-last regular-season poll.This is the fourth time six teams entered the rankings in one week since 1989, when the AP poll expanded to include 25 teams.Alabama remained a unanimous No. 1 and Ohio State was No. 2. Clemson moved up a spot to No. 3 and Washington jumped two to No. 4. Michigan dropped two to fifth after its double-overtime loss to Ohio State.No. 6 Wisconsin was followed by Oklahoma, Penn State, Colorado and Southern California.---POLL POINTS- Eleven ranked teams lost during Thanksgiving weekend, five to unranked teams. Thats the most ranked teams to lose in a single week since Oct. 4, 2014.- This is the latest in the season that six new teams have entered the AP Top 25.The last three times:Sept. 27, 1999 (No. 19 East Carolina, No. 21 Alabama, No. 22 Syracuse, No. 23 Oklahoma, No. 24 Virginia, No. 25 Oregon)Sept. 14, 2003 (No. 14 Arkansas, No. 21 Alabama, No. 22 Oregon, No. 23 Missouri, No. 24 Washington State, No. 25 Purdue)Oct. 19, 2008 (No. 15 TCU, No. 21 Georgia Tech, No. 22 Tulsa, No. 23 Boston College, No. 24 Florida State, No. 25 Minnesota)- USF is ranked for the first time since Sept. 25, 2011.- Pitt is ranked for the first time since October of last year.OUTSixx in means six out, all after losing: Utah, Houston, Boise State, Texas A&M, Washington State and Tennessee.dddddddddddd The Utes, Aggies and Cougars lost to ranked teams.UP- No. 14 West Virginia moved up five spots, taking advantage of all the teams taking a tumble after beating Iowa State.- No. 21 LSU moved up four spots after beating Texas A&M.- No. 12 Florida State moved up three spots after beating Florida.DOWN- No. 16 Louisville fell five spots after its second straight loss.- No. 23 Nebraska dropped six spots after losing at Iowa.CONFERENCE CALLThe Southeastern Conference has only four ranked teams left, as every team other than Alabama could finish with at least four losses if the Crimson Tide beat Florida in the SEC title game next weekend.Big Ten -- 6ACC -- 5SEC -- 4Pac-12 -- 4Big 12 -- 3American -- 2MAC -- 1RANKED vs. RANKEDNo. 1 Alabama vs. No. 15 Florida. SEC championship in Atlanta.No. 3 Clemson vs. No. 19 Virginia Tech. ACC championship in Orlando, Florida.No. 4 Washington vs. No. 9 Colorado. Pac-12 championship in Santa Clara, California.No. 6 Wisconsin vs. No. 8 Penn State. Big Ten championship in Indianapolis.No. 11 Oklahoma State at No. 7 Oklahoma. Bedlam winner takes the Big 12.---Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '
