How many players have moved from center to wing?

[thestonedkoala]

After they were drafted, how many players have moved from center to wing? I'm curious to know because I'm having a strong argument over if O'Sullivan is going to be moved from center to wing, with the amount of centers the Wild have and the fact that O'Sullivan can both set up plays and score, along with the fact that the Wild like using defensive specialists down the middle.

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[MentalPowerHouse]

After they were drafted, how many players have moved from center to wing? I'm curious to know because I'm having a strong argument over if O'Sullivan is going to be moved from center to wing, with the amount of centers the Wild have and the fact that O'Sullivan can both set up plays and score, along with the fact that the Wild like using defensive specialists down the middle.

Depends on the player and system. Some players can adapt easily, some struggle.

Some small centers struggle on the wing defensively, not knowing what to do and they shy away from the physical contact along the boards and in the corners.

 

[Flames Draft Watcher]

I'd say countless players have moved from centre to wing. I think coaches often will stick their best players at centre at an early age so it ends up that the teams draft a disproportionate amount of centres because they are often the better players.

On the Flames this year we've had McAmmond, Reinprecht, Lombardi and Saprykin play on the wing and all those players played centre in junior/college. Lombardi has probably played on the wing the least and will likely see the most time at centre in the future. Reinprecht apparently feels more comfortable at centre but can't take faceoffs right now and was seeing time at LW even when he was healthy. McAmmond is a centre who was converted to a winger in the NHL and this year has been converted back to centre in the past couple of months due to injury.

Other Flames who had played centre in junior/college who also played wing in the NHL includeShantz, Begin, Stillman, Fata, etc.

 

[John Flyers Fan]

Simon Gagne was a center in Jr.'s

Mark Recchi also played a lot of center in Jr.

LeClair played some center in college and early on with the Habs.

 

[TMHUNH]

Plenty.... How many players can't play center and wing? Sure, there are positions where a player is better suited, but I doubt a player exists that has played only one position in their entire playing career. Even most goalies didn't start out as goalies....

 

[Perez]

From mtl I know that Hossa was a center (and still should be) I think that Ryder and Bulis where also drafted as centers... Kilger too. Savard also wanted to moove Higgins at lw at some point, but i think he's still playing at center for the moment...

 

[Debrincat93]

zetterberg has been moved from center to wing to center again, so either way he's a safe pick as a centerman or a winger.

 

[Vagrant]

Jeff O'Neill played 3 years in the NHL at the center position and after being groomed by Gary Roberts, made his transition to wing and had the most productive years of his career so far there.

Josef Vasicek has played a certain amount of wing this season, but i'd still classify him as a centerman.

 

[thestonedkoala]

Thanks much guys!

 

[kyle]

Plenty.... How many players can't play center and wing?

Ryan Smyth