How much will having arguably the worst 1C in the Western Conference hurt the Predators?

[Royale With Cheese]

I was thinking about it today, and I realized every playoff team in the Western Conference has a better center than anyone on Nashville. I would take all of Karlsson (this year at least), Pavelski, Getzlaf, Kopitar, Staal, MacKinnon, and Schiefele over Johansen. Will this be a problem for the Predators?

Well, they just won the President's Trophy, so no.

 

[Brobust]

Not a whole lot because 1C is perhaps the most overrated position in hockey and they can compensate for it quite well in other areas. Most notably the D, which I consider significantly more important than C overall.

D might be the most overrated position in hockey.

A 2-way 1st line centre is far more valuable than even the best defenceman.

 

[BigEezyE22]

To be fair to the OP, when was the last time a cup winner did not have a top-tier 1C?

Chicago.

 

[Canada4Gold]

Just curious, but what has he shown/not shown you that would make you feel this way?

I don't watch a lot of Nashville, so I'm likely way off base. It's more of a nagging thought in the back of my head than anything actually real.

 

[PredsV82]

Definitely a solid rookie debut by our 1OA draft pick!

 

[ChiHawks10]

D might be the most overrated position in hockey.

A 2-way 1st line centre is far more valuable than even the best defenceman.

Duncan Keith in 2015 says "Hold my beer".

 

[TitansVolsPreds615]

D might be the most overrated position in hockey.

A 2-way 1st line centre is far more valuable than even the best defenceman.

Considering how many minutes Nashville's Top 4 log in the playoffs, I'm going to completely disagree.

 

[unicornpig]

Not a whole lot because 1C is perhaps the most overrated position in hockey and they can compensate for it quite well in other areas. Most notably the D, which I consider significantly more important than C overall.

LOL

 

[ShonSaunders]

I don't watch a lot of Nashville, so I'm likely way off base. It's more of a nagging thought in the back of my head than anything actually real.

Refreshing to see an honest reply on these boards even though I don’t agree with your initial take.

 

[tony d]

Doubt it hurts them, as others have said that defense, goaltending as well as their depth should help make up for a lack of a true #1 centre.

 

[ColdSteel2]

He looked like a top No. 1 in the POs last year so if he is that guy again, they’ll be more than ok.

 

[PredsV82]

Did it get quoted? I dont think you can delete once quoted

 

[bert]

We are so screwed!!! Turris was the #1 center on a conference finalist last year and Johansen was the #1 on another conference finalist last year, if only they showed up in the playoffs.

Haha thank goodness someone can use deductive reasoning. Havent seen the best of Turris yet he is a playoff rockstar and absolutely clutch in overtime.

 

[drwpreds]

Some of you guys obviously did not watch last year's playoffs. Johansen was an absolute beast before getting hurt.

 

[Brock Radunske]

We are so screwed!!! Turris was the #1 center on a conference finalist last year and Johansen was the #1 on another conference finalist last year, if only they showed up in the playoffs.

*mic drop*

 

[lwvs84]

The formula seems to be number of #1 C's + #1 D's = 2 plus having a solid goalie. Nashville has 4 #1 d-men, they'll be fine. I'll be shocked if they don't make it to the SCF.

 

[Pred303]

we might well lose, but it won't be because Johansen isn't the best center in the playoffs.

 

[ChiHawks10]

I accidentally quoted myself. That's why I was trying to delete it.

I can't delete this post either. Maybe they have the Playoffs board setup differently?

 

[Gm0ney]

Johansen-Turris isn't a bad 1-2 punch. And they more than make up for it on D...

 

[predfan24]

we might well lose, but it won't be because Johansen isn't the best center in the playoffs.

Quoted for the truth

 

[93gilmour93]

I was thinking about it today, and I realized every playoff team in the Western Conference has a better center than anyone on Nashville. I would take all of Karlsson (this year at least), Pavelski, Getzlaf, Kopitar, Staal, MacKinnon, and Schiefele over Johansen. Will this be a problem for the Predators?

Probably won't matter when they go back to the finals with the best D in the league and Rinne behind them

 

[Rorschach]

I disagree that he is the "worst" 1C in the WC playoff picture. He may not be Kopitar or Getzlaf but he and his game are built for the playoffs.

If anything, some of the higher scoring, all offense, 1Cs listed are a lot more vulnerable.

Another thing, if you're a 1C on a team that lacks C depth after you, you will have a much harder time as teams key in on you. If Turris gets going, and he should but I'd like to see it first, he'll take a lot of pressure off Johansen. That's why they got him. The other 1Cs, they might not have this as a strength.

 

[CupsOverCash]

Predators have the best team on paper. However the Capitals had the best team on paper the last few playoffs. When you win the presidents trophy, you become the hunted. The Predators played the hunter role better than most do last year. They are no longer that. I wouldnt be surprised to see a hungry team like the Jets or even Anaheim take them out. I think things will be much more difficult to get back to where they were last year. Too much competition and its tough to go far after playing as many games as they did last year. They definitely have the team to do it, but wont be easy.

 

[KingBran]

They probably have the #1 d corps overall so they should be just fine.

Sounds like the Blues for the previous 5 years... Best D corps without a #1 C.

 

[CantLoseWithMatthews]

not really at all I guess. They made it out of the West last year with worse center depth