These are exciting times in the NHL. The league is blessed with a LOT of young skill these days and this season is producing many individual breakouts.

At every turn, an emerging player is making a difference for a playoff contending team. Franchises committed to prospect development are getting nice payoffs.

Here are some glaring examples:

–Mike Richards, Flyers: Philadelphia needed a No. 1 center to build around – and here he is. Richards, 23, has scored 62 points in 56 games this season. He made the quantum leap after scoring 66 points in 138 games during his first two NHL seasons. His reward: A 12-year, $69 million contract extension that prompted other NHL general managers to lose control of their bodily functions.

But, hey, this kid is not another porcelain prospect like Eric Lindros. Richards looks capable of holding up for the long haul.

–Corey Perry, Ducks: He scored 30 goals during his first 138 NHL games, serving in Anaheim’s supporting cast. When veteran winger Teemu Selanne elected to take much of this season off while pondering retirement, Perry, 22, stepped into the void on the wing and scored 28 goals in his first 61 games.

Now that Selanne is back, Anaheim has the offensive depth to go the distance again.

–Alexander Radulov, Predators: During his last nine games he has scored 10 goals and added four assists. This is not a fluke; the 21-year-old right wing was a dominant scorer in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and the AHL (briefly) before working his way in the Nashville lineup.

Coach Barry Trotz brought him along slowly, but now the youngster is fueling the team’s playoff push. He creates plays and he finishes. and these days, he even backchecks.

–Nicklas Backstrom, Capitals: This playmaker, the fourth overall pick in the 2006 draft, has formed a productive partnership with Alexander Ovechkin. Nicklas passes and Alex shoots. After scoring just 14 points in his first 26 games this season, Backstrom, 20, has scored 33 points in his last 32 games.

His surge helped Washington overcome the loss of playmaking center Michael Nylander and make a serious run at postseason play.

–Tobias Enstrom, Thrashers: In the old NHL, Atlanta might not have imported a 5-foot-10, 175-pound defenseman from Sweden. But Enstrom, 23, is quarterbacking Atlanta power play as a rookie. He has 21 power-play assists and 35 points overall in 58 games. He dishes and Ilya Kovalchuk blasts away.

–Tomas Plekanec, Canadiens: After scoring just 29 and 47 points during his first two NHL seasons, this 25-year-old center has scored 53 points in 58 games this season. He cranked up his in December and has scored 35 points in his last 33 games.

He is one of the NHL’s elite No. 2-type centers. And Montreal would not be in the hunt without him.

–Brett Burns, Wild: After scoring 11 goals in his first 149 games, this 22-year-old defenseman has scored 10 goals in his first 57 games this season. At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, Burns could be Minnesota’s defensive bulwark for seasons to come.

AROUND THE RINKS: One by one, teams are locking in younger players, setting market values – and in some cases, forcing trades. By giving 23-year-old defenseman Dion Phaneuf a six-year, $39 million deal, Calgary set the bar for future cornerstone defensemen. This contract could force the Flames to move other players to create salary cap space going forward. This is why Alex Tanguay’s name keeps coming up in the rumor mill . . . Flames coach Mike Keenan loves to churn talent, so that explains why his team is pitching for Mats Sundin and Olli Jokinen while also shopping winger Kristian Huselius, one of Iron Mike’s old whipping boys in Florida . . . Although the Blues appear to be a longshot to make the playoffs, John Davidson is on the prowl for talent. He has plenty of salary cap room for 2008-09 and beyond, so he could get involved in the bidding if Tanguay or Maria Hossa ends up on the trade mart. If UFA-to-be Barret Jackman doesn’t sign a contract extension, he could become one of Davidson’s trade chips . . . Now that cashiered Maple Leafs GM John Ferguson has landed on his feet as a TV commentator, he is telling anybody who will listen that Toronto should sell off its assets and start over. Easy for him to say. Now Cliff Fletcher has the unenviable task of cleaning up his mess.