* For the first time, Gen Z accounts for nearly 60% of NHL players (59% born 1997-2012; 41% Millennials, born 1981-1996).
* Entering March 20, a total of 18 players have played as a teenager this season, including 10 who were NHL regulars (min. 30 GP). Eleven of those 18 players will still be teenagers when the 2025-26 season ends, and five will still be teenagers when the 2026-27 campaign begins (Matthew Schaefer, Ben Kindel, Brady Martin, Michael Misa and Braden Cootes).
* Three players selected in last year’s draft were NHL regulars this season (Matthew Schaefer, Ben Kindel and Michael Misa).
* Entering March 20, Gen Z players lead 18 teams in points. Anaheim, Chicago and San Jose are all topped by a player who will be age 22 or younger at the end of the season.
* Entering March 20, Gen Z players lead 19 teams in goals. Anaheim, Chicago, Dallas and San Jose are all topped by a player who will be age 22 or younger at the end of the season.
* Entering March 20, Gen Z accounts for approximately two-thirds of the League’s top point scorers (67%; 23 of 34 players with 65+ points) and top goal scorers (64%; 16 of 25 players with 30+ goals).
THE ROOKIE CLASS
Matthew Schaefer (age 18), New York Islanders
* Unphased by facing Sidney Crosby (active points leader, 2x NHL MVP), Alex Ovechkin (all-time goals leader; 3x NHL MVP) and Connor McDavid (5x scoring leader, 3x NHL MVP) within the first week of his NHL career, Schaefer got off to a record-setting start and never looked back during his historic season – which includes a long list of achievements detailed on this fact sheet. The No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft less than one year ago, Schaefer has accumulated the most goals ever by an 18-year-old defenseman and has more records within reach this season – and has the Islanders in the hunt for a playoff spot. Schaefer regularly honors his mom, Jennifer, who passed away from cancer in February 2024 and since entering the NHL has signed on as a Hockey Fights Cancer champion while continuing his efforts to support kids who have lost loved ones.
Matthew Schaefer Fact Sheet By #NHLStats
Ben Kindel (age 18), Pittsburgh Penguins
* The second-youngest player in the NHL this season, Kindel hasthemost goals by a Penguins rookie in his lifetime (and is likely to be able to make the same claim for points, needing two to post the club’s highest such total since 2006-07). Kindel’s four game-winning goals are already among the most in League history by an 18-year-old. The No. 11 pick from the 2025 NHL Draft, Kindel will celebrate his 19th birthday on April 19, which will be the second day of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Both his parents played professional soccer and for Canadian national teams.
Michael Misa (age 19), San Jose Sharks
* One of the youngest goal scorers in franchise history, the No. 2 pick from the 2025 NHL Draft is part of a youthful Sharks roster. He represented Canada at the World Junior Championship this season and missed some time due to injury but otherwise has been an NHL regular in 2025-26. His brother, Luke, is an NHL prospect who played at Penn State University this season alongside Gavin McKenna, the potential No. 1 pick in June.
Sam Dickinson (age 19), San Jose Sharks
* The second-youngest full-time NHL defenseman this season behind Matthew Schaefer, Dickinson was the No. 11 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft – the highest defenseman selected by the Sharks in more than 25 years. He has the second-most games played and points by a teenage defenseman in franchise history, behind Marc-Edouard Vlasic who tallied 3-21—24 in 76 games at that age – embarking on what would become a 19-season career with the club. He was a goalie when he started playing hockey.
Beckett Sennecke (age 20), Anaheim Ducks
* After being “shocked” when his name was called with the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, Sennecke is making the most of the opportunity during his first NHL campaign – on the verge of setting franchise rookie records for assists and points. Sennecke, who turned 20 in January, has already reached a number of milestones including becoming the fastest Ducks rookie to 50 points and second-youngest with a hat trick, as well as contributing to his team’s knack for late-game heroics. He can become the third Ducks player to lead all NHL rookies in goals (Bobby Ryan and Paul Kariya) and second to top in points (Ryan).
Ivan Demidov (age 20), Montreal Canadiens
* After making his NHL and Stanley Cup Playoffs debuts last season, Demidov has contributed regularly throughout his first full NHL campaign – posting Montreal’s highest point total by a rookie forward in more than 20 years (and among the highest counts overall in the franchise’s 108-season history). The No. 5 pick in the 2024 NHL Draft is within striking distance of the highest assist total by a rookie forward in franchise history. One season after teammate Lane Hutson claimed the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s Rookie of the Year, Demidov can join him as the second straight Canadiens player to lead all NHL rookies in assists or points (the last team to do that was VAN from 2018-19 to 2019-20). Teammate Oliver Kapanen (age 22) has a chance to finish the season as the NHL rookie goals leader.
Zeev Buium (age 20), Vancouver Canucks
* The youngest American to play full-time in the NHL this season, Buium ranks among the NHL leaders for assists and points by a rookie defenseman. After making his NHL debut during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs with the Minnesota Wild, Buium was a focal point of a blockbuster trade in December 2025 and made an immediate impact with his new club in Vancouver. With an athletic pedigree, Buium is a champion at both the NCAA and World Junior levels and in 2024-25 was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award and a First Team All-American before turning pro. He is among a small group of active California-born defensemen in the NHL and got his start in roller hockey before his parents relocated the family to support the hockey dreams of Zeev and his brother, Shai (a prospect with the Detroit Red Wings).
SOPHOMORE AND MORE
Macklin Celebrini (age 19), San Jose Sharks
* The No. 1 pick from the 2024 NHL Draft is set to become the sixth different teenager in NHL history to post a 100-point season, and could become the fourth teenager in NHL history to finish among the top five in League scoring. He also can become the third player (of any age) with a 100-point season for the Sharks, and first forward to do so for the club since the legendary “Jumbo” Joe Thornton nearly 20 years ago. Of note, Thornton is the person who called Celebrini’s name at the draft two years ago, and served as his “landlord” during his rookie season. He had a record-setting performance as the youngest NHL player at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
Connor Bedard (age 20), Chicago Blackhawks:
* The second-youngest non-rookie in the NHL behind Macklin Celebrini, Bedard is on the verge of becoming the highest-scoring player before age 21 in the 99-season history of his franchise. As of March 20, he needs two points and five goals to overtake Eddie Olczyk (49-80—129 in 149 GP) on both lists after already passing him for assists. The No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft has led Chicago in assists and points during each of his three NHL seasons and is on pace to become the youngest 30-goal scorer for the club since Jonathan Toews in 2008-09.
Did You Know? Macklin Celebrini and Connor Bedard both hail from North Vancouver, are friends away from the rink and train together during the offseason.
Leo Carlsson (age 21), Anaheim Ducks
* Selected with the No. 2 pick in 2023, Carlsson ranks among the NHL leaders from that draft class and has established a number of benchmarks for the Ducks including the most goals (49), assists (66) and points (115) before age 21. He has increased his output in all three of those categories in each of his three NHL seasons and could top Anaheim in points for the first time in 2025-26. Carlsson, who has stuttered his entire life, has partnered with an organization to support young people who stutter. The youngest full-time Swedish forward in the NHL, Carlsson was featured in the NHL My World series, played at the 4 Nations Face-Off and was named to the Olympic roster but missed the tournament due to injury.
THIS AND THAT
* Lane Hutson (MTL) turned 22 in February and recently became the first Canadiens defenseman to post consecutive 60-point seasons since Chris Chelios from 1987-88 to 1988-89. He is one of three members of his family to play in the NHL this season, along with brothers Quinn (age 24; EDM) and Cole Hutson (age 19; WSH) – who achieved a rare feat alongside Alex Ovechkin during his League debut March 18.
* Of 147 NHL Olympic participants, nearly half were Gen Z (46%; 68 of 147) and five were age 21 or younger when the tournament began (Macklin Celebrini, Dalibor Dvorsky, Oscar Fisker Molgaard, Juraj Slafkovský and Simon Nemec). Celebrini, Dvorsky and Slafkovský all had standout performances.
* If the Islanders and Penguins both make the playoffs and meet on opening night (April 18), it could produce the second instance in Stanley Cup Playoffs history of two 18-year-olds going head-to-head (Matthew Schaefer and Ben Kindel, who turns 19 on April 19). To date, the only such meetings were during the 1984 Division Semifinals (Dan Quinn of CGY vs. Cam Neely of VAN; 3 GP).
