from Wayne Scanlan of Sportsnet,

Among the hot trends in hockey is this concept the NHL has turned the keys to the game over to the kids.

“It’s a young man’s game now,” says every NHL coach.

Kids rock. Kids stir fan pulses. Kids occasionally get told to limit their Fortnite activity.

That once-admired Detroit Red Wings notion of letting prospects “over-ripen” in the minors seems quaint now that teams are loosening the leash on raw rookies in a league where skill and speed trump size and experience.

Where first-year players — even top picks — tended to be eased into lineups, over the past couple of seasons overnight sensations like Auston Matthews, Patrik Laine, Mathew Barzal and Brock Boeser, among others, have become impact players. A copycat league took note.

The evolution of the style of play – faster and less physical — with stricter enforcement of head hits, has enabled teen players and 20-year-olds to survive and even thrive in today’s NHL.

Yet, there are still enough rookies getting hurt to question the wisdom of letting teens play against fully grown men. Or at least to consider the risk/reward of this trend.

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