At least nine teenagers secured regular playing time during the first month of the 2007-08 season. That’s up from a year ago, when seven teens played at least 10 NHL games.

It’s not surprising that Chicago’s teen sensations Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are leading their peers in goals and points. They have been key contributors for the Blackhawks.

Teen Scoring, 2007-08

Teen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . G. . . .A. . . Pts. . . . +/-. . . . . DoB
Patrick Kane, Chi. . . . . . . . . 4. . . 10. . . 14. . . . . 1. . . . 11/19/88
Jonathan Toews, Chi. . . . . . .4. . . .5. . . . 9. . . . . 0. . . . .4/29/88
Sam Gagner, Edm. . . . . . . . . 1. . . .6. . . . 7. . . . .-3. . . . . 8/10/89
Nicklas Backstrom, Was. . . . .0. . . . 5. . . . 5. . . . .-2. . . . 11/23/87
Bryan Little, Atl. . . . . . . . . . 2. . . .2. . . . 4. . . . . 3. . . . 11/12/87

The slightly built Kane, who turns 19 in three weeks, has delivered after the Blackhawks made him the first overall pick in this summer’s draft. He’s picked up a point in eight of 11 games, and has 10 points in Chicago’s last five contests.

Toews missed the first week of the season with a broken finger, but he has tallied a point in each of his nine appearances. The 19-year-old center, who was the third overall pick in 2006, gives Chicago another young offensive threat.

The youngest among the teenagers getting regular ice time is Edmonton’s Sam Gagner, who turned 18 late in the summer. He recorded seven points in his first eight games for the Oilers before going pointless in his last four contests. It was thought he might return to his junior team, but he’s now played 12 NHL games and is likely to stay.

The other two on the leader board will turn 20 in November, as Ottawa wing Nick Foligno did on Halloween. Washington’s Nicklas Backstrom, a fourth overall pick in 2006, is a veteran of the Swedish League. Atlanta’s Bryan Little impressed in camp and has been a solid contributor.

Another teen to watch is Penguins phenom Jordan Staal, who is off to a slow start in terms of scoring, but netted 29 goals as an 18-year-old a year ago. There’s also Peter Mueller of the Coyotes, Boston’s Milan Lucic and St. Louis defenseman Erik Johnson, who picked up a goal and an assist in two games before he suffered a hairline fracture in his right foot. He’s due back soon.