The Top 10 Centers in The NHL are quite evident

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Skyler Walker
September 8, 2023 (9:40 PM)

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Let's take a look at the top 10 best centers in the NHL currently.

1: Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers) - There really isn't much to explain here. Hart Trophy finalist, most likely going to win it. He's arguably the best skater while also being the fastest. Connor also happens to have the best hands in the world. McDavid had 64 goals and 89 assists, tallying up to 153 points in a fully played 82-game season, meanwhile having 20 points in 12 playoff games. He is the best in the world, and he is #1 on this list.

2: Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche) - You could make an argument that MacKinnon is the second-best player in the world. MacKinnon is a Stanley Cup Champion and is the heart of the Avalanche offense year after year. Nathan signed a record-breaking contract, making him the highest paid player in the league's history, and fans wondered if he was going to live up to that contract. MacKinnon shut all the doubters up and was worth every penny. He had 42 goals and 69 assists, tallying up to 111 points in 72 games.

3: Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers) - The fact that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are on the same team is just insane. Leon Draisaitl was not a Hart Trophy finalist, however he should've been. Draisaitl had 52 goals and 76 assists, adding up to 128 points in 80 games. Leon also carried the Oilers in the playoffs, having 13 goals. If it weren't for him, Edmonton wouldn't have made it past the first round.

4: Auston Matthews (Toronto Maple Leafs) - Auston finds himself in a sticky situation unlike the others. It's time for the 26-year-old superstar to sign a new contract. If I had to guess, he'll stay with the Maple Leafs and be the highest paid player in history. Matthews is coming off a career year, having 40 goals and 45 assists (85 points). His shot is among the best in the league and so is his skating.

5: Elias Pettersson (Vancouver Canucks) - Elias is only 24 years old and he's already a top 5 center in the league. Pettersson had 39 goals and 63 assists, tallying up to 102 points. With how the season shaped out for Vancouver, and the fact that he had basically no help, and he still managed to throw up 100+ points is pretty impressive. I can see him crawling up to #1 as he ages.

6: Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) - Sidney Crosby has been a top 10 center and amongst the top players in the league ever since he entered it. You can't really call him, "Sid the Kid," anymore because he's 35 years old, however he is showing no signs of aging. The Big Three in Pittsburgh (Kris Letang, Evgeni Malkin, and Sidney Crosby) led the team to an almost playoff spot. Crosby had 33 goals and 60 assists, tallying up to 93 points in 82 games.

7: Aleksander Barkov (Florida Panthers) - Barkov has been very lucky. The Panthers traded Jonathan Huberdeau, an amazing player, over to the Calgary Flames for Matthew Tkachuk, a Hart Trophy finalist. But Barkov's skill and intelligence for the game really boosts any line he's on. Aleksander had 23 goals and 55 assists, adding up to 78 points in 68 games played.

8: Brayden Point (Tampa Bay Lightning) - Brayden Point has always been a surefire second liner right behind Steven Stamkos for years, and he has served that role well and fits like a glove. Point had 51 goals and 44 assists, adding up to 95 points in 82 games. Brayden is so good he could probably be on the first line of 95% of the NHL teams right now, but he has stayed loyal to Tampa Bay and has won two Cups because of it.

9: Jack Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights) - After being treated poorly in Buffalo, the Sabres finally traded Jack Eichel to the Vegas Golden Knights last winter where he looked for a new beginning. Well, he has found that and got himself a Stanley Cup. Eichel had 27 goals and 39 assists, adding up to 66 points in 67 games. Jack also put up 26 points in 22 games in the playoffs.

10: Mikka Zibanejad (New York Rangers) - Mikka is such a threat on the power play with that vicious one-timer, meanwhile being a threat on 5-on-5 play. That power play is ridiculous (Kreider, Fox, Panarin, Kane, Zibanejad), so many weapons. Zibanejad had 39 goals and 52 assists, tallying up to 91 points in 82 games.

Honorable Mentions:
-Patrice Bergeron (Boston Bruins): Not only is he good at faceoffs, but his ability to play on both sides of the puck really puts him above others. He had 58 points.

-Tage Thompson (Buffalo Sabres): Tage is so good for his young age and his shot has to be top 10, if not top 5 in the league with his one-timers clocking in at 100 MPH+.