Woah, I like where this comment and discussion about the future (2018) is going!

The ice
sure is slippery because we don't know what's going to happen 3 years from now. It's quite exciting to predict isn't it?
As someone posted in a previous comment, the 16-18 year olds right now sprouting from their junior years look promising. They can improve a lot within a few years if they have good conditions, the drive, and determination. I think that's the main reason Yuzuru is pushing his technical content in his programs, however I hope he stays healthy first and then take it slowly since there's still time.
For skaters older than Yuzuru such as Patrick and Javier, I feel they do have a chance to skate by 2018 (perhaps very well too). Patrick seems determined enough to break the Canadian curse and Javi doesn't seem like he wants to retire any time soon. For Denis he's just about one year older than Yuzu, so he will probably continue to improve and challenge the current top guy. But who knows, I hope all the best for these skaters aiming for one goal!