Nystrom agrees.

"He's been through the ups and downs of hockey and when I'm down he knows what things might help me get my game back on track or get me mentally back on track and when things are going well, he knows how to encourage me to keep things going well," he said. "Plus, when I'm not doing something right he might pull me aside and say 'why don't you try this?' That's also a benefit of having a father who's been through the ups and downs and knows what it takes to make it to the next level. He's there through the thick and thin and that's what's so beneficial about having a father that's played in the NHL."

Alexander Steen, the Toronto Maple Leafs' first pick [24th overall] at the 2002 Entry Draft, also has been listening to his dad's hockey advice ever since he was a kid. Thomas Steen played 14 seasons in the NHL for the Winnipeg Jets and recorded 817 points in 950 games.

"My father has lots of experience, he knows what he is talking about and he helps me out a lot," he said.

The Leafs are hoping that the younger Steen can either better or duplicate his dad's numbers once he takes the ice in the NHL.

While Alexander was hesitant to make any predictions in regards to his future in the NHL, he was clear that he was destined to play in the League when he thinks back on his childhood.

"Ever since I was a little boy, I never had anything else than a little plastic stick with a Jets logo on it," Steen said. "I never had any G.I. Joes or anything like that. It has always been hockey."

Thomas Steen played 14 seasons in the NHL for the Winnipeg Jets and recorded 817 points in 950 games.

Some other NHL siblings who are looking to make a name for themselves are: Gregory Campbell, son of NHL Executive Vice President & Director of Hockey Operations Colin Campbell, who played 11 seasons in the NHL; Steve Gainey son of Hall of Famer Bob Gainey, who was a member of five Stanley Cup winning Montreal Canadiens teams; Patrick Murphy, son of NHL Vice President of Hockey Operations Mike Murphy, who played 12 seasons in the NHL; Yan Stastny, son of Hall of Famer Peter Stastny, who played 15 years in the NHL and scored 1,239 points; Connor Dunlop, son of Blake Dunlop, who played 11 seasons in the NHL; Zach Parise, son of Jean-Paul Parise, who played 14 seasons in the NHL, Eric Chouinard, son of former Atlanta and Calgary Flame Guy Chouinard, who played 10 seasons in the NHL; Philippe Sauve, son of former NHL goaltender Bob Sauve; Eric Meloche, son of 17-year NHL puck-stopper Gilles Meloche; and Chris Hartsburg, son of 10-year NHL veteran Craig Hartsburg.

While it's no lock that any of these players will go on to NHL stardom like their dads did, it's still something that's extra special when you have pro hockey in your blood. The legacy left behind by the father can sometimes be a double-edged sword. It can either open up some doors that may have been otherwise closed if you weren't "Joe Player's" son or it can add unwanted pressure to the kid's career.

"I think it's been both at times," the 20-year old Nystrom said. "Sometimes it's easier because people are willing to give you another look just because your last name is Nystrom. They may think that maybe I'll look at him a little bit closer and see if he's anything like his dad. But when they look at you, you still have to prove yourself. And then it's harder too because some may think and say he's only where he is because he's Nystrom's son and even when you get that type of rep you still have to prove yourself and say I'm getting here because of me and not because of my dad.

"No one is going to waste a top-10 draft pick on a bad player that just has a last name, so hopefully I earned that. Some people are still going to say that he's only there because of his dad and that's where I get to go out there and prove them wrong."