2018-19 NHL rosters highlighted by youth

With the 2018-19 NHL season beginning Wednesday, opening night rosters for all 31 teams were released.
The rosters feature seven players selected in the 2018 NHL Draft and two players over the age of 40.
Here are some takeaways from the 31 opening night rosters:

2018 NHL Draft well represented

Seven players selected in the first round of the 2018 draft will start the season, including the first five selections: Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (No. 1), Carolina Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov (No. 2), Montreal Canadiens center Jesperi Kotkaniemi (No. 3), Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk (No. 4) and Arizona Coyotes center Barrett Hayton (No. 5).
It's the second time in 31 years the first five picks of a draft started in the NHL the ensuing season, following the first five picks of the 2008 draft: Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (No. 1), Los Angeles Kings defenseman Drew Doughty (No. 2), Atlanta Thrashers defenseman Zach Bogosian (No. 3), St. Louis Blues defenseman Alex Pietrangelo (No. 4) and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Luke Schenn (No. 5).
Also making the opening night rosters this season were Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard (No. 10) and Anaheim Ducks center Isac Lundestrom (No. 23).

Old guys sticking around

Pittsburgh Penguins center Matt Cullen, 41, is the oldest player on an opening night roster, four months older than Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara.
Each will be playing in his 21st NHL season, tied for most among active players, along with San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton and Toronto Maple Leafs center Patrick Marleau.

Kovalchuk back

Los Angeles Kings forward Ilya Kovalchuk was on a season-opening NHL roster for the first time since 2012-13 with the New Jersey Devils.
Kovalchuk played the past five seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League. His 417 NHL goals are fourth among active players, behind Washington Capitals forward Alex Ovechkin (607), Marleau (535) and free agent forward Rick Nash (437).

From tryouts to full-time jobs

Forward Alex Chiasson and defenseman Jason Garrison arrived at Oilers training camp on professional tryouts, but played well enough during the preseason to earn NHL contracts. Chiasson had two assists in four games, and Garrison had six shots on goal and a plus-1 rating in four games.
Also doing enough during the preseason to go from tryouts to NHL contracts were defensemen Brandon Davidson with the Chicago Blackhawks and Luca Sbisa with the New York Islanders.

New faces join champs

When the Washington Capitals raise their Stanley Cup championship banner Wednesday before their game against the Boston Bruins (7:30 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TVAS), they could have four new players in the lineup.
Goaltender Pheonix Copley, who spent last season in the American Hockey League, won the battle to replace Philipp Grubauer as the backup to Braden Holtby; Nic Dowd, who signed as a free agent July 1 and likely will be the fourth-line center; forward Dmitrij Jaskin, claimed on waivers from the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday; and forward Jayson Megna, who signed as a free agent July 2.

Exciting rookies from Europe

Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen (No. 3) and Vancouver Canucks center Elias Pettersson (No. 5), two of the top five picks in the 2017 NHL Draft, each made an opening night roster.
Heiskanen, 19, was named the best defenseman in Liiga, Finland's top professional league, after he had 23 points (11 goals, 12 assists) in 30 games for HIFK.
Pettersson, 19, was named the most valuable player of the regular season and playoffs in the Swedish Hockey League. He led the SHL and set a record for under-20 players with 56 points (24 goals, 32 assists) in 44 games with Vaxjo, and had a league-leading 19 points (10 goals, nine assists) in 13 games to help Vaxjo win the league championship.