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Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

The NHL is a young man's league. Players like Brandon Saad, who have yet to see their 23rd birthday, are getting paid on projection. Rarely is a player over 30 getting the same kind of deal even in unrestricted free agency these days.

Heck, the National Hockey League has even established an Under-23 squad to compete in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey next fall. Team North America makes all players from this continent who haven't turned 23 by the time Oct. 1 rolls around next season unavailable to Team Canada and Team USA. They will have their own squad of young guns taking on the traditional international powerhouses.

Using that as a guideline, this slideshow takes a look at the best players in that age group, which includes the names of those who will no doubt be selected, plus many more who because they are from overseas will be able to suit up in their home country's colors.

Not every team has more than a couple of choices. Some haven't fared well at recent drafts or in wheeling and dealing for one of these coveted young stars in the making. But there are plenty of strong candidates here as we go team by team looking for them. They have to be under contract currently, under 23 as of Oct. 1, 2016, and, of course, a pretty darn good hockey player.

Some get the edge over their competition because they have more seasoning, others due to higher skill. Some have yet to play in the league but will have a great opportunity to do so this year.

Click ahead to get started and see the selection for your team. As always, feel free to offer your own in the comments section.

All stats via NHL.com unless otherwise noted.