News Article: NHL Network Top 20 Centers (4: Matthews, 10: Tavares)

[Its not your fault]

I guess if they are taking future into account. Sure.
If it’s now I would say

Mcdavid
Crosby
Malkin
Kopitar
Bergeron
Matthews
Mackinon (has had a bunch of 60 pt season)
Scheifele
Tavares
Barkov
Seguin

Thank you Kessel lol who ever thought the day would come so soon the leafs have 2 centers even better then Seguin.

 

[Wafflewhipper]

Matthews is too high I’d say. But there’s nothing wrong with dropping him a few spots until he really unloads a dominant season.

That could very well be this season, but in ranking the position right now, i see a problem putting him over guys like Kopitar and Scheifele for example.

Matthews is good. Tavares is good. No team matches our center depth if you add in Kadri.

Matthews is the best 5v5 scorer in the league I believe. So yeah, he is really good.

Matthews matches up against any center in the league in areas but it shouldn't be long before his entire game rounds out and he ranks 2 nd overall.

 

[34]

McDavid is not #1. He is the most overrated player ever.

Tavares is better than #10.

I believe Matthews is going to have a monster season coming up to warrant a top 3 spot.

 

[Gallagbi]

McDavid is not #1. He is the most overrated player ever.

I'll bite, how so?

 

[lovemyleafs]

McDavid is not #1. He is the most overrated player ever.

Tavares is better than #10.

I believe Matthews is going to have a monster season coming up to warrant a top 3 spot.

Lol come on man. McDavid isn't overrated. But I'd still have Crosby at #1.

 

[Sweet Leaf]

Seguin is ranked way too high.

 

[zeke]

last 2yrs centers in order of primary points per 60 at even strength (min 14esmpg), with quality of competition and xgf relative in brackets

1.Malkin 2.49p1/60 (B+ qoc, -0.2xgf)
2.McDavid 2.43p1/60 (A+ qoc, +7.1xgf)
3.Matthews 2.34p1/60 (A- qoc, +2.2xgf)
4.Barzal 2.14p1/60 (B qoc, +5.9xgf)
5.Stamkos 2.10p1/60 (B+ qoc, +0.9xgf)
6.Scheifele 1.95p1/60 (A qoc, +3.6xgf)
7.MacKinnon 1.92p1/60 (A+ qoc, +2.8xgf)
8.Crosby 1.87p1/60 (A+ qoc, +4.5xgf)
9.Drai 1.81p1/60 (A qoc, +2.8xgf)
10.Kuz 1.79p1/60 (B+ qoc, -0 4xgf)
11.Barkov 1.75p1/60 (A qoc, +4 0xgf)
12.Getzlaf 1.75p1/60 (A- qoc, +3.1xgf)
13.Staal 1.68p1/60 (B+ qoc, +1.5xgf)
14.Couts 1.66p1/60 (A qoc, +7.2xgf)
15.Eichel 1.58p1/60 (A- qoc, +2.1xgf)
16.Zetts 1.58p1/60 (B+ qoc, +7.0xgf)
17.Tavares 1.56p1/60 (A+ qoc, +2.8xgf)
18.Horvat 1.56p1/60 (B qoc, +3.4xgf)
19.Seguin 1.55p1/60 (A qoc, -0.8xgf)
20.Point 1.55p1/60 (B+ qoc, +1.6xgf)
21.Krejci 1.54p1/60 (B qoc, -3.6xgf)
22.Duchene 1.53p1/60 (A- qoc, +1.8xgf)
23.Toews 1.52p1/60 (A+ qoc, +1.1xgf)
(Karlsson 1.51p1/60 (B qoc, +1.6xgf)) - less than 14esmpg
24.Kadri 1.51p1/60 (A qoc, -0.3xgf)
25.Backstrom 1.49p1/60 (A+ qoc, +2.7xgf)
26.Kopitar 1.43p1/60 (A+ qoc, +1.8xgf)
26.Bergeron 1.43p1/60 (A+ qoc, +4.6xgf)

nice to finally have stats that correspond with the eye test .

we can quibble with the order but all 20 of these guys are top 26 on this p1/60 list.

imo they jumped the gun with Karlsson. he shouldn't be there. I'd probably also take out Seguin.

but the rest mostly make sense when you adjust for Qualcomp, possession....and also linemates, which I didn't try to include here (but obviously effect the rankings of guys like drai and tavares).

 

[willmma]

Kadri is better than some of those on the list.

 

[Marshy]

We have two top 10 centers in the league. One isn't 21 for 6 more weeks. Our 3rd line center is one of 8 centers to score 30 goals each of the past 2 years AND the main boards are salty AF. The Ballard curse isn't just over - it's in reverse!

 

[Peiskos]

We have two top 10 centers in the league. One isn't 21 for 6 more weeks. Our 3rd line center is one of 8 centers to score 30 goals each of the past 2 years AND the main boards are salty AF. The Ballard curse isn't just over - it's in reverse!

Yeah the mainboards are losing their minds. Its not even just us who are claiming we have two top centres anymore, its the NHL Network lol. Ask people on the mainboards on where Matthews should be ranked and they'll tell you 30th and below with a straight face.

Irrational jealously, nothing more.

 

[leburn98]

The main boards are hilarious, they are so focused on Matthews being 4th on the list that they haven't even discussed the rest of it. Isn't it strange how a team is suppose to offer sheet Matthews next year risking 4 x 1st rounders for a player who shouldn't even be near the top 10 . The Leafs should even trade him now for that haul given that he isn't even that good (as per the experts at the HF main boards).

 

[White Shadow]

#NHLTopPlayers: Top 20 Centers

The most accurate and definitive list on the planet. It is basically gospel and cannot be challenged.

Why? What makes Hradek and Johnson unchallengeable?

 

[Peiskos]

The main boards are hilarious, they are so focused on Matthews being 4th on the list that they haven't even discussed the rest of it. Isn't it strange how a team is suppose to offer sheet Matthews next year risking 4 x 1st rounders for a player who shouldn't even be near the top 10 . The Leafs should even trade him now for that haul given that he isn't even that good (as per the experts at the HF main boards).

Ya or even worse with their contradictory comments about how Matthews, Marner, Nylander aren't as good as other young players (just look at any poll they're involved in on this site) yet when it comes time to sign them they are going to command massive amounts of money. So they openly claim they are inferior to other young players but then they turn around and claim they are worth soooo much $$$$.

Comedic gold really.

 

[CanadasTeam]

Why? What makes Hradek and Johnson unchallengeable?

Sarcasm detector broken?

 

[Vinsanity89]

Why? What makes Hradek and Johnson unchallengeable?

sir did I not just say this is gospel and cannot be challenged?

 

[Mitchy]

Forget Matthews, even Tavares at 10 is some huge crime. Tavares was unanimously considered a top 10 C here before last season and many had him top 5.

That mainboards thread is another thread that will get bumped by Leaf fans when Matthews and Tavares are inevitably having terrific seasons. I can't wait to see the reactions then.

 

[TheDoldrums]

I think Matthews is 3-4 spots too high. I'd have him behind MacKinnon, Kopitar and Bergeron. Some other guys are too high as well, but they obviously don't get the same attention. I don't think Seguin is a top 10 centre with this many talented guys but that seems to be the consensus. 4-15 or so are relatively close, it's really not worth freaking out over.

 

[Leafs at Knight]

I also think Matthews is too high, and I think Tavares is a spot or 2 too low.

 

[Leafsman]

last 2yrs centers in order of primary points per 60 at even strength (min 14esmpg), with quality of competition and xgf relative in brackets

1.Malkin 2.49p1/60 (B+ qoc, -0.2xgf)
2.McDavid 2.43p1/60 (A+ qoc, +7.1xgf)
3.Matthews 2.34p1/60 (A- qoc, +2.2xgf)
4.Barzal 2.14p1/60 (B qoc, +5.9xgf)
5.Stamkos 2.10p1/60 (B+ qoc, +0.9xgf)
6.Scheifele 1.95p1/60 (A qoc, +3.6xgf)
7.MacKinnon 1.92p1/60 (A+ qoc, +2.8xgf)
8.Crosby 1.87p1/60 (A+ qoc, +4.5xgf)
9.Drai 1.81p1/60 (A qoc, +2.8xgf)
10.Kuz 1.79p1/60 (B+ qoc, -0 4xgf)
11.Barkov 1.75p1/60 (A qoc, +4 0xgf)
12.Getzlaf 1.75p1/60 (A- qoc, +3.1xgf)
13.Staal 1.68p1/60 (B+ qoc, +1.5xgf)
14.Couts 1.66p1/60 (A qoc, +7.2xgf)
15.Eichel 1.58p1/60 (A- qoc, +2.1xgf)
16.Zetts 1.58p1/60 (B+ qoc, +7.0xgf)
17.Tavares 1.56p1/60 (A+ qoc, +2.8xgf)
18.Horvat 1.56p1/60 (B qoc, +3.4xgf)
19.Seguin 1.55p1/60 (A qoc, -0.8xgf)
20.Point 1.55p1/60 (B+ qoc, +1.6xgf)
21.Krejci 1.54p1/60 (B qoc, -3.6xgf)
22.Duchene 1.53p1/60 (A- qoc, +1.8xgf)
23.Toews 1.52p1/60 (A+ qoc, +1.1xgf)
(Karlsson 1.51p1/60 (B qoc, +1.6xgf)) - less than 14esmpg
24.Kadri 1.51p1/60 (A qoc, -0.3xgf)
25.Backstrom 1.49p1/60 (A+ qoc, +2.7xgf)
26.Kopitar 1.43p1/60 (A+ qoc, +1.8xgf)
26.Bergeron 1.43p1/60 (A+ qoc, +4.6xgf)

nice to finally have stats that correspond with the eye test .

we can quibble with the order but all 20 of these guys are top 26 on this p1/60 list.

imo they jumped the gun with Karlsson. he shouldn't be there. I'd probably also take out Seguin.

but the rest mostly make sense when you adjust for Qualcomp, possession....and also linemates, which I didn't try to include here (but obviously effect the rankings of guys like drai and tavares).

What is the xgf stat?

 

[al secord]

Hit 'em with a 4.

 

[Liminality]

What is the xgf stat?

I believe that's expected goals for, not positive on how it's calculated though.

 

[LeafFever]

McDavid is not #1. He is the most overrated player ever.

Tavares is better than #10.

I believe Matthews is going to have a monster season coming up to warrant a top 3 spot.

Have you missed his stats the past 2 seasons?

 

[LeafFever]

The main boards are hilarious, they are so focused on Matthews being 4th on the list that they haven't even discussed the rest of it. Isn't it strange how a team is suppose to offer sheet Matthews next year risking 4 x 1st rounders for a player who shouldn't even be near the top 10 . The Leafs should even trade him now for that haul given that he isn't even that good (as per the experts at the HF main boards).

I like how Matthews is not good and the most overrated player. Yet when it comes to contract time or teams being interested in him, Arizona will basically bankrupt their franchise and he will be the highest paid player.

 

[Mess]

Have you missed his stats the past 2 seasons?

Matthews stats do not put him at #4OA among centres. He hasn't broken 70 points yet nor 30 assists in a single season.

So this list is projecting him based on potential, and heavily weighted on his goal scoring particularly at ES 5v5.

 

[The Best Leafs Ever]

Scheifele over Tavares, Stamkos gave me a good laugh.