Best Finnish Center Right Now

[Pavel Buchnevich]

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

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[Mighty Makar]

Barkov

 

[CatchyTune]

Yikes. This is definitely a 2 man battle between Barkov and Aho.

For me its Barkov. Had a down year points wise but is still one of the better defensive forwards in the league. I think he will bounce back to 30+ goals and 90ish points. Aho is no slouch however. Looking like a consistent PPG center at only 22 years old.

 

[Conbon]

I think this poll flips as early as next season. I'll eat crow and take the abuse if I'm wrong but I think Barkov settles into the 70-80 point range and Aho pots close to 40 and 90+ points.

 

[vanarchy]

No Markus Granlund option???

 

[82Ninety42011]

Barkov for me as his two way game is elite however Aho is not far behind.

 

[danyhabsfan]

Voted Kotkaniemi for fun

Barkov
Aho



the rest

 

[LongWayDown37]

This is really just a 2-player poll. Barkov easily for me.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

No Markus Granlund option???

Is he better than any of the options available?

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Filppula AINEC

 

[Isaac Nootin]

Much like the Best American Center, there's really only 2 options needed (Barkov, Aho).

Also, just like the Best American Center (Matthews), there's a pretty clear choice at #1, IMO.

Barkov.

 

[The Winter Soldier]

Barkov, but the advantage is not as big as the vote may indicate. If Aho was playing in a larger market, I would say this would be a lot closer. He's a phenomenal talent.

 

[CaptnCanada]

Barkov

 

[Uncle Scrooge]

I love Barkov but to be honest, i'd go with Aho.

Barky had a bit of a down year without looking at the stats he didn't look like his best self, still was able to put up near PPG i believe so he's morphed into a very reliable producer.

But Aho has a couple things on him. He seems to be settling in as a 30 goalscorer and in my opinion has a better variety in the way he can score. For example he's actually a threat to one-time it on the PP.

Most importantly though, it's the motor and skating that makes the difference for me. Especially in today's game that's very nice to have. Not that Barkov is a bad skater, but there's going to be games where his legs just aren't quite there. And i don't think Barkov uses his size so well that it would make up for it.

Personally i don't see Barkov as a much superior defensive player. The results of this poll clearly say that he's becoming quite overrated, which is not difficult to see why, on paper he's near perfect package.

People don't even seem to remember anymore how 1.5 years ago the Canes were the perennial "maybe? okay maybe not" team every year. Aho came to last season saying he's sick of losing and wants his team to hit a 100 points. Well they ended up with 99 but just like that the drought was over. And it's not like the team was that great still. Justin Williams was 3rd on the team with 53 points and while Teuvo has taken steps over the last few years, there's no way he's 70 point player without Aho.

The guy just is a freaking winner. I still remember how he was the best player on the ice against Canada in WHC gold medal game, without any NHL experience whatsoever.

 

[wetcoast]

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

I know that you wanted to be fair but there are only 2 real options here and the rest is just noise.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Barkov over Aho.
While this is close, imo it’s not nearly as close as the best American Center poll where Eichel and Matthews are essentially a coin flip, with a razor thin edge to Eichel in the poll.

 

[Panda Bear]

Much like the Best American Center, there's really only 2 options needed (Barkov, Aho).

Also, just like the Best American Center (Matthews), there's a pretty clear choice at #1, IMO.

Barkov.

No, the clear choice is where this one differs.

 

[CanadienShark]

Man, if Kotkaniemi and Lundell develop well, Finland could have a centre group that could hold its own against any team in the world. Stacked with two way centres who can pass and score goals. Obviously a lot of development to go, but Finland has been producing some incredible skaters lately. Seems like their run of nothing but good goalies is over. Any good Finnish goalies on the horizon?

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Man, if Kotkaniemi and Lundell develop well, Finland could have a centre group that could hold its own against any team in the world. Stacked with two way centres who can pass and score goals. Obviously a lot of development to go, but Finland has been producing some incredible skaters lately. Seems like their run of nothing but good goalies is over. Any good Finnish goalies on the horizon?

Barkov, Aho, Hintz, Kotkaniemi, Lundell, Räty, Lambert.

 

[CanadienShark]

Barkov, Aho, Hintz, Kotkaniemi, Lundell, Räty, Lambert.

I like Hintz, but feel he's more suited to a bottom 6 winger role with Team Finland (that's not a knock). Raty is a name I forgot about. I don't know much about Lambert. Again, Finland has a potentially very bright future at centre.

 

[bigdog16]

Barkov, but the advantage is not as big as the vote may indicate. If Aho was playing in a larger market, I would say this would be a lot closer. He's a phenomenal talent.

Didnt know florida was a large market

 

[LT]

Lopsided. Closed.