ESPN Article: Top 10 Centers in the NHL, as Ranked by Players and Team Officials

[Cousin Eddie]

Here’s the top 5

1. Mcdavid
2. Mackinnon
3. Matthews
4. Crosby
5. Draisaitl

https://www.espn.com/nhl/insider/story/_/id/31198302/ranking-nhl-top-centers-2021-execs-coaches-players-debate-top-10

Should note that voting was done at the start of the season.

Click to read more...

 

[kladorf2005]

Seems reasonable. Nothing egregious

 

[Rhaegar Targaryen]

I think if they did it now..

1. McDavid
2. Drai
3. Crosby
4. MacKinnon
5. Barkov

 

[Not My Tempo]

More or less what I’d have.

Glad to see Barzal getting respect.

 

[IAmBobo]

Should be:

1. Mcdavid
2. Matthews
3. Mackinnon
4. Crosby
5. Marner
6. Draisatl
7. Tavares
8. Barkov
9 . Point
10. Hyman

 

[Bobby Orr's Knees]

Barkov gets no respect.

 

[Muffin]

Should be:

1. Mcdavid
2. Matthews
3. Mackinnon
4. Crosby
5. Marner
6. Draisatl
7. Tavares
8. Barkov
9 . Point
10. Hyman

In what world is Matthews ahead of MacKinnon? After his "slow" start, MacKinnon is 1 point back with 1 game less played than Matthews.

 

[A1LeafNation]

I think if they did it now..

1. McDavid
2. Drai
3. Crosby
4. MacKinnon
5. Barkov

Lol can't say we are surprised.

 

[CHRoNiCWiLL]

Should be:

1. Mcdavid
2. Matthews
3. Mackinnon
4. Crosby
5. Marner
6. Draisatl
7. Tavares
8. Barkov
9 . Point
10. Hyman

Trying to be sneaky with #5, #7 and #10 there I see.

 

[A1LeafNation]

In what world is Matthews ahead of MacKinnon? After his "slow" start, MacKinnon is 1 point back with 1 game less played than Matthews.

Matthews two way game? Mackinnon focuses on being more of a dynamic offensive player that a all around two way center?

 

[CHRoNiCWiLL]

In what world is Matthews ahead of MacKinnon? After his "slow" start, MacKinnon is 1 point back with 1 game less played than Matthews.

1 point AND thirteen (1 3) [one three] GOALS back

 

[Zeeker]

Trying to be sneaky with #5, #7 and #10 there I see.

If that list is what passes for “sneaky” these days, mission 100% failed

 

[Black Kevin]

Matthews two way game? Mackinnon focuses on being more of a dynamic offensive player that a all around two way center?

Lmao are you trying to say that AM is an all around two way center

 

[Muffin]

Matthews two way game? Mackinnon focuses on being more of a dynamic offensive player that a all around two way center?

You clearly don't watch Colorado games of you think MacKinnon doesn't play a two way game. You honestly think a guy that looks up to Crosby and trains with him every year is only an offensive player?

 

[All Mod Cons]

OMG. The players are so east coast biased with Matthews. Unbelievable.

 

[TomppaKoo]

Should be:

1. Mcdavid
2. Matthews
3. Mackinnon
4. Crosby
5. Marner
6. Draisatl
7. Tavares
8. Barkov
9 . Point
10. Hyman

Top 2 should be Mc and Mac in any list.

 

[Muffin]

1 point AND thirteen (1 3) [one three] GOALS back

Because goals are the only thing that matters? Man that Marner guy must be a terrible player.

 

[jetsv2]

Id love to know who voted for Pettersson over Schiefele in the honorable mentions. Pettersson has never had a point per game season and Scheifele has been a ppg player for the last 4 seasons. He may have the potential to be a better player in the future but he is not a better player right now.

 

[Pi]

In what world is Matthews ahead of MacKinnon? After his "slow" start, MacKinnon is 1 point back with 1 game less played than Matthews.

They are on the same level offensively.

Goals gotta count for more than assists if they are anywhere near the same in points. Matthews is on pace to hit ~40+ goals in shortened season...that's higher than MacKinnon's career high in full seasons.

Should be:

1. Mcdavid
2. Matthews
3. Mackinnon
4. Crosby
5. Marner
6. Draisatl
7. Tavares
8. Barkov
9 . Point
10. Hyman

What a joke. Hyman is better than Point at C. He just hasn't played it yet.

 

[a mangy Meowth]

Matthews two way game? Mackinnon focuses on being more of a dynamic offensive player that a all around two way center?

Stop talking out of your ass, you clearly don't watch any MacKinnon outside of highlights. He's a tier above Matthews.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Tbh I still haven't seen a convincing argument for Matthews over Crosby yet. I don't think it's "wrong", but I just don't think Matthews has had that continuous level of being better than Crosby to warrant being rated higher than Crosby. I'd probably call it "premature" more than "wrong".

I don't think Matthews has shown a sustained level above Crosby that would make me rate him over Crosby like MacKinnon and Draisaitl have.

 

[Muffin]

They are on the same level offensively.

Goals gotta count for more than assists if they are anywhere near the same in points. Matthews is on pace to hit ~40+ goals in shortened season...that's higher than MacKinnon's career high in full seasons.

Funny how Leafs fans don't seem to think that when conparing Marner and Rantanen .

Isn't it weird how Marner and MacKinnon seems to get all the assists and Matthews and Rantanen gets all the goal. Geez I wonder if there's a reason for that?

 

[Ryuji Yamazaki]

Barkov should be #3 behind MacKinnon and McDavid.

 

[Empoleon8771]

Barkov should be #3 behind MacKinnon and McDavid.

I'd love to hear the argument for Barkov over Draisaitl, Crosby or Matthews.

A guy with 1 PPG season (prior to this year) without even being a Selke finalist isn't the #3 center in hockey.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

You clearly don't watch Colorado games of you think MacKinnon doesn't play a two way game. You honestly think a guy that looks up to Crosby and trains with him every year is only an offensive player?

Imagine believing Matthews is a stud defensively.