Best American Center Right Now

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Who is the best American center right now? If you picked other, please specify who.

Click to read more...

 

[LeafsNation75]

Auston Matthews.

Since his rookie year he has scored 40, 34, 37, and 47 goals. Plus as a rookie he finished tied for 2nd in goals and this past season he was 3rd in goals scored.

 

[LeafsNation75]

I forgot to mention that Matthews is more than just someone who scores goals. He can setup goals with playmaking like this.

 

[IPS]

Clever design for a Matthews vs Eichel poll.

Matthews easily.

 

[Incognito]

Matthews and Eichel are the only serious options here. I homer voted for Matthews. Wouldn't blame Sabres fans for doing the same for Eichel.

 

[Mighty Makar]

Eichel

 

[Holymakinaw]

Matthews, easily. He's obviously a goal-scoring machine, and is good defensively too. And he has the best Gomez Addams 'stache.

 

[bobholly39]

Theyre both really close

Voted Matthews

 

[NyQuil]

It's pretty close, I went Eichel for having to do more with less but I could easily go the other way.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

It’s clearly Eichel or Matthews. I’ve always slightly preferred Eichel. He has a more well rounded game than Eichel, but both are elite talents.

 

[IPS]

It's pretty close, I went Eichel for having to do more with less but I could easily go the other way.

less what?

 

[NyQuil]

less what?

Talent. On Buffalo.

I'm saying Toronto is a much better team than Buffalo. You disagree?

 

[IPS]

Talent. On Buffalo.

I'm saying Toronto is a much better team than Buffalo.

Why would you believe that has more of an impact than the loads more of PP time / overall TOI he receives more than Matthews?

 

[NyQuil]

Why would you believe that has more of impact than the loads more of PP time / overall TOI he receives more than Matthews?

Accompanying that boon is the fact that he is the primary and only legitimate forward threat that opposing teams have to key on.

But hey, if you're saying that Buffalo has more depth than Toronto, then consider me enlightened.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Talent. On Buffalo.

I'm saying Toronto is a much better team than Buffalo.

Going into Eichel's rookie season I remember the talk was how it was far ahead of Toronto's because of Eichel and them trading for Ryan O'Reilly.

People seem to forget that Matthews played his rookie season with William Nylander or Connor Brown at different times and Zach Hyman. They were also rookies at that same time.

 

[NyQuil]

Going into Eichel's rookie season I remember the talk was how it was far ahead of Toronto's because of Eichel and them trading for Ryan O'Reilly.

People seem to forget that Matthews played his rookie season with William Nylander or Connor Brown at different times and Zach Hyman. They were also rookies at that same time.

So Toronto isn't a better team than Buffalo?

 

[IPS]

Accompanying that boon is the fact that he is the primary and only legitimate forward threat that opposing teams have to key on.

But hey, if you're saying that Buffalo has more depth than Toronto, then consider me enlightened.

Meh, I'm not convinced. The PP time / TOI is by far the biggest factor in production. Linemates is very subjective.

 

[IPS]

Going into Eichel's rookie season I remember the talk was how it was far ahead of Toronto's because of Eichel and them trading for Ryan O'Reilly.

People seem to forget that Matthews played his rookie season with William Nylander or Connor Brown at different times and Zach Hyman. They were also rookies at that same time.

A puckhog like Eichel doesn't necessarily benefit from a guy like Marner or Nylander.

 

[LeafsNation75]

So Toronto isn't a better team than Buffalo?

Going into Matthews rookie season in 2016-17 the talk was Buffalo was ahead of them in their rebuild. Obviously that's no longer the case.

 

[hamzarocks]

Eichel and matthews are basically equal right now. Both fringe top 10 players. I have AM34 9th and Eichel 10th. This is not a AINEC situation both are the games young elite. I do have to say that America lack quality depth in centers. Matthews and Eichel are great but after than they dont have a guy like Stamkos/JT/MacKinnon who could destroy third line on a national team behind 97 and 87

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I do have to say that America lack quality depth in centers. Matthews and Eichel are great but after than they dont have a guy like Stamkos/JT/MacKinnon who could destroy third line on a national team behind 97 and 87

While I agree, we just had 3 guys drafted in the top 10 at center last year, including the 1OA. And with Matthews and Eichel, we probably don't need any superstar centers for the next ten years. Larkin is another pretty good option, and he's the same age as those guys. The depth isn't great, but it doesn't need to be and its likely at least one guy not yet in the NHL or in their first year or two likely will turn into a 1C. I'm not that worried. We'll likely be able to fill out a depth chart of four high-end centers in 2022 and almost certainly 2026.

 

[CatchyTune]

I voted Matthews but Eichel could win this and I would have 0 problem with it. Both are spectacular players and you couldnt go wrong with either.

 

[danpantz]

It's close but went with Matthews as I think he passed Eichel this season.

 

[hamzarocks]

While I agree, we just had 3 guys drafted in the top 10 at center last year, including the 1OA. And with Matthews and Eichel, we probably don't need any superstar centers for the next ten years. Larkin is another pretty good option, and he's the same age as those guys. The depth isn't great, but it doesn't need to be and its likely at least one guy not yet in the NHL or in their first year or two likely will turn into a 1C. I'm not that worried. We'll likely be able to fill out a depth chart of four high-end centers in 2022 and almost certainly 2026.

True completely forgot about Hughes being American. He should be a ppg player atleast so will probably be slightly below current JT/Stamkos level. Him as the third line center really strengthens the US center position. Plus turcotte and zegras are two other guys I forgot to consider who can be great players

 

[Our Lady Peace]

A puckhog like Eichel doesn't necessarily benefit from a guy like Marner or Nylander.

Nah, Matthews would be the real puck hog here. Has all that elite talent around him and hasn't even hit 40 assists yet, despite 250+ shots each year.

Sorry IPS, but you're wrong once again. What a shame.