There’s debate as to whether he really plays center, and there’s debate as to where he would rank if he was considered a center. I’d rank him just inside the top-31, but I could see arguments for putting all of these players ahead of him. The last 8 or so is where it becomes questionable, IMO. I would without question take the first 19 over him.
In no particular order:
McDavid
Crosby
Malkin
Barkov
Mackinnon
Seguin
Stamkos
Tavares
Backstrom
Barzal
Getzlaf
Kuznetsov
Kopitar
Trochek
Marchessault
Eichel
Matthews
Bergeron
Scheifele
Schenn
O’Reilly
Toews
Monahan
Johansen
Staal
Carter
Karlsson
Giroux
Stastny
Thornton
Draisaitl’s contract makes thugs more problematic for his “value”. Many of those players have better value contracts. If Draisaitl can readily put up 70pts as a center this year, I think his value rises significantly.