NHL's Next Gen Off to a Flying Start This Season

Published on 23-Oct-2017 by J Square Humboldt

NHL    NHL Daily Review

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NHL's Next Gen Off to a Flying Start This Season

Two of the NHL's most-hyped young stars continue to show they're the real deal.

Their focus, understandably, is on Cups more than cross-sectionals. However, the latter is where the NHL is counting on them.

After all, their current role models aren't getting any younger.

Anyone can say what they want about NHL Commish Gary Bettman -- and that can be a lot -- but counting on Wayne Gretzky to serve as the linchpin for his so-called Southern Strategy had more hits than misses.

As well, the sport is noticeably expanding in non-traditional hockey nations.

One sure sign of progress: there are now more non-Canadians in the NHL than Canadians. One of them is an Australian.

If keeping the game front and center in the younger demographics is their unsung mission, then, Matthews and McDavid keep rising to the occasion.

McDavid's creative twist on this tape-to-tape across the crease quickly went viral:

Matthews, meanwhile, did the vertical thing.

The Arizona native pulled a nifty assortment of skills outta his repertoire for this end-to-end gem:

 

He was the natural product of the Southern Strategy, attending a Coyotes games as a munchkin and becoming hooked.

According to USA Hockey, that trend's being sustained.

The objective isn't just to nurture the next phenom. It's to grow a larger base of fans.

With dudes like Matthews and McDavid delivering highlight clips on a regular basis, it seems like the NHL's got a shot at getting there.