If the 2016 Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins are the right measuring stick to use, hockey in the NHL seems to be shifting back to a game of speed and skill. That's great news for the NHL's young players, who have mostly been living the game since they were barely out of diapers and have energy to burn.
But raw young talents need another dimension before they can be described as future franchise cornerstones. The analytics gurus can track the puck-possession subtleties, but there's also a human side to the game. Leadership, personality and good old-fashioned razzle dazzle are just a few traits that can help a fledgling star rise to the top among their equally talented peers.
At the forthcoming World Cup of Hockey, the Team North America lineup is shining a spotlight on some of the brightest up-and-comers in the game, but the list doesn't stop there.
Here's a look at the players who stand the best chance of becoming the icons of their respective franchises before too much time has passed.
Players are listed alphabetically by their team names.
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Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Carol Schram
Rising NHL Stars Most Likely to Develop into Franchise Cornerstones
September 9th, 2016 by Carol Schram Leave a reply »
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