The biggest challenge for the franchise right now is we are very weak at center in general in terms of foundational pieces, and this has been compounded by the play of the veteran centers, most of which are cast offs and playing below rather modest expectations. It's really hard to build a team around a group of elite wingers, let alone good but not elite wingers. And even if you have one elite center, it's still hard to even make the playoffs. Winnipeg is in the process of trying to solve that problem with their trade. We're like Chicago, Detroit and Arizona right now in terms of being really weak up the middle.
Outside of Tierney right now, I'm don't think we have one center playing well. And Tierney is an above average 3rd liner, or below average 2nd liner, depending on your perspective.
Stepan has received gobs of scoring line ice time, and looks like a depth center at best. I'm most concerned about his lack of effectiveness. His productivity rate is basically last among Senators forwards used thus far.
Norris has been ok, but more the beneficiary of his two linemates creativity and driving play. He looks fine long-term, but he isn't the reason for that line's success by any stretch. And having a top line center winning less than 40% of their draws isn't sustainable. That line's corsi rating while being so poor on draws is pretty amazing, actually.
Anisimov has been the beneficiary of linemates in spots more than driving play, and has been a deserved healthy scratch.
White has been relatively invisible, when not a healthy scratch.
Both White and Anisimov have also been bad on draws, compounding puck possession woes for them.
We need at least one other center to step up. Obviously most of us hope it will be Norris and/or White, or that Logan Brown and Chlapik will at least get the chance to show what they can do. But even just one of the veterans turing it around to allow the team to be patient and roll out White and Norris and take the lumps would be better.
But right now, I'm still most concerned about our center ice position long-term. Stutzle hasn't played center in a long time, including for his WJC team. We might be rushing Norris a tad, although he's surviving fine. Still a question of whether he can be a top 6 center on a contender. Logan Brown has been so woeful in training camp he can't even play for us. We basically exposed Chlapik for free. Pinto looks good, but is still a bit of a project that will take a few years and needs to still improve his skating.
Franchise centers are tough to come by and to be a contender you generally need two of them. We've got a ways to go still.
