Considering his transcendent playmaking talent, why is Patrick Kane not a center?

[Vukotal Recall]

Is it purely a size issue?

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[Anonymous028]

He has played center before, he just doesn't score from there like he does from the wing.

If it ain't broke...

 

[hockeykicker]

doesnt he play on toews line?

 

[chadthestampede]

Is transcendent the new hf buzz word?

 

[hockeykicker]

Is transcendent the new hf buzz word?

saw it on my word of the day calender once....yes i know, why do i have that? lol

 

[Giterdun21]

more defensive responsibility?

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Why play him at centre ? His game is mostly offense by breaking out quickly on the right wing and setting up teammates.

Hawks already have an excellent #1C anyway. I think Kane is at his best on the wing.

 

[TheStroker]

Because he is an elite winger, so why change that? If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[SmellOfVictory]

Some guys just don't do certain positions well. He's been a winger his entire career, and clearly the responsibilities and positioning suit him. Although the "playmaking centre" is a strong hockey archetype, having elite playmakers on the wings still opens up opportunities as well, and adds another dimension to play.

 

[MrGold]

Why would playmakers need to be centers? I mean it's not like taking faceoffs or having additional responsibilities defensively has anything to do w/ playmaking is it? LW, C, RW, are pretty much only useful in the defensive zones and on faceoffs. Offensively, the game is generally very dynamic unless you're a north-south believer. Frankly, playmakers playing centers is just as much a stereotype as bad players/skaters playing goalies, the sort of stuff that needs to be eradicated from people's minds.

 

[TOML]

They tried for awhile a couple seasons ago. He's plainly better at wing as he can focus on pure offense. Do you really want a scoring talent like Kane back-checking all game long when Chicago has a ton of other players for that purpose? Nope.

 

[Alexander the Gr8]

Kessel used to be a centre too. Naturally, his speed and shooting abilities and the little interest he had in playing defense made him a perfect fit to play winger.

 

[OzzyFan]

Less productive there, defensive abilities/responsibilities, faceoff abilities, his size, etc.

It's a combo of things.

 

[dechire]

Because he's two feet tall and sucks at defense

 

[Rebuilt]

He could if he had to but like someone else said 'if it aint broke.........'

 

[Semantics]

It would be kind of a waste for a guy who's not a great defensive player to be at center, as others have said, better to make optimal use of his strengths.

This is also why I think Marner stands a good chance to play C in the NHL even though he played most of his draft year on the wing - his instincts seem to be to get back on defense quickly when the other team gets the puck.

 

[TurdFerguson]

Why would playmakers need to be centers? I mean it's not like taking faceoffs or having additional responsibilities defensively has anything to do w/ playmaking is it? LW, C, RW, are pretty much only useful in the defensive zones and on faceoffs. Offensively, the game is generally very dynamic unless you're a north-south believer. Frankly, playmakers playing centers is just as much a stereotype as bad players/skaters playing goalies, the sort of stuff that needs to be eradicated from people's minds.

The fat kid always played goalie.

 

[dogbazinho]

Because playmaking winger is a thing.

 

[sparxx87]

Significantly more responsibility as a centre. You want Kane up high to take a pass and start the rush from his own blue line - thats how hes most effective. He basically is a centre once he crosses the opposing blue line anyway... But you don't want him down below his own goal line.

Wing is where his skills are best suited. Reminds me a lot of Paul Kariya in that he lined up on the wing but in the O zone - hes the pivot.

 

[thesaadfather]

doesnt he play on toews line?

He pretty much never plays with Toews at even strength. The Hawks use him to carry the 2nd line.

 

[Marina]

He played C when Toews went down. He's not very good at FO's. He's probably just better at wing. Don't think it matters.

 

[UsernameWasTaken]

I don't recall if he played centre at NTDP at all- but he's played wing exclusively since at least OHL. He's elite at it so no reason for him to have changed. He played C briefly a few years back and he obviously wasn't at his best.

 

[Ducks in a row]

Just because someone is a good playmaker doesn't mean someone will be a good center. How good is the person at faceoffs? How good is a players defensive game? With added responsibilities how will it effect a players offensive game? Those are some questions to ask.

 

[ScaredStreit]

Why fix what isn't broken?

Your average fan who hasn't really played the game before doesn't understand that while a center is technically a forward-in the defensive zone they're basically a third defenseman.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

He has played center before, he just doesn't score from there like he does from the wing.

If it ain't broke...

Yep. If your team is deprived of centre's he'd play centre. Better rw

I believe the Dallas Stars had Benn or Erikson as a Centre in the shortened season for a while because lack of good centre's. May have been a different season.