Pick a young center to build around

[LionsHeart]

Stuck between Zegras and Lundell. Zegras has that high end skill, but I love the way Lundell plays the game. Hughes is no slouch either.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

Hughes while being very talented I think struggles to stay healthy and produce in the playoffs.

Well this could be said for any player on this list as not a single one has ever played a playoff game before. I like how the one player on this list who has played the most games/proven himself more, and probably has just as high a potential as anyone else on the list is the one you single out about struggling in the playoffs.

 

[Buck Naked]

He and Zegras were the easy picks here and anyone not having them as 2 of the top 3 please explain.

Apparently Hughes is too small and didn't produce enough in his zero playoff games.

 

[bert]

Well this could be said for any player on this list as not a single one has ever played a playoff game before. I like how the one player on this list who has played the most games/proven himself more, and probably has just as high a potential as anyone else on the list is the one you single out about struggling in the playoffs.

Well no, this wasnt a statement I made for no reason. He has not managed to stay healthy so far in the NHL and doesn't play in traffic. If he did manage to stay healthy and did play that way I would say he was hands down the number 1 player. But the fact of the matter is both these two things have been consistent in his game. Doesn't mean he cant change or wont stay healthy but I have my concerns.

I have been watching hockey for a long time, I played the sport at a high level I didnt make this post for no reason. You are fine to disagree with me but dont suggest there is no thought put into what I said. These are trends in players that have been consistent for the 35 + years that I have been watching/playing.

 

[alasania94]

Wright or Zegras. Zegras is currently the best by a country mile. Wright has the most potential and could be a legit top 5C.

by a country mile over hughes?

 

[bert]

Apparently Hughes is too small and didn't produce enough in his zero playoff games.

I guess you just cant read.

 

[NyQuil]

A bird in the hand.

Zegras, Hughes, Norris

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

A bird in the hand.

Zegras, Hughes, Norris

Norris Is criminally underrated. 40 ish goal pace and Noone talks about him.

Zegras
Lundell
Norris

Is seemingly super balanced.

 

[Buck Naked]

I guess you just cant read.

Hughes, while being very talented, I think will struggle to stay healthy and produce in the playoffs.

There, I corrected it for you.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

Or Byfeild (who I picked) as my 3rd), Lundell or MacTavish.

Not a bad choice either

 

[bert]

Hughes, while being very talented, I think will struggle to stay healthy and produce in the playoffs.

There, I corrected it for you.

Uh I quoted my post... Showed it to you, you ignored it then basically copied what I wrote which was suggesting its in the future. Are you ok?

 

[Golden_Jet]

So far Josh Norris leads the pack the last 2 years in points by 8 over Hughes.

 

[MuckOG]

Zegras
Lundell
Rossi

 

[Favin]

He doesnt play in traffic and he keeps getting injured, being small is likely part of that.

Neither of these things are even remotely true.

He is probably best known for rushing the puck and his o-zone entries, and is often statistically one of best in NHL at achieving them. He goes right through traffic.

Also, he has had one trip to IR. Shoulder injury at the beginning of this season.

Please do not pollute this thread with your hatred for one player.

 

[TheKrebsCycle]

So far Josh Norris leads the pack the last 2 years in points by 8 over Hughes.

Ottawa has played significantly less games than most others as well . Once they catch up his goal total could be even more impressive. That line is dominant at times.

 

[Xspyrit]

Norris Is criminally underrated. 40 ish goal pace and Noone talks about him.

Zegras
Lundell
Norris

Is seemingly super balanced.

Habs fans still think Suzuki is better. I legit think Norris is going to score 2 goals every game. He's actually like a lesser version of Steven Stamkos out there, they have many similarities. Stamkos is just the Elite version

Anyway, since Norris has started to figure out the NHL last season, he has 28 goals in his last 55 games (42 goals per 82 GP), but ok "small sample size" some will say. Since March 15th 2021, only 15 NHLers have scored more goals during that period of time (Matthews, Draisaitl, Ovechkin, DeBrincat, Marchand, Rantanen, Zibanejad, McDavid, Connor, Guentzel, Kaprizov, Hertl, Kreider, Barkov, Aho)

He has however played less games than some of these guys (Hertl 16 more games!)/, so if you look at G/GP for guys with at least 41 GP (half a season), he's actually 12th. Still only 22 years old.

I also voted Lundell and Norris but my 1st line center was Hughes as I didn't see Zegras in the list (still don't see him!)

Hughes, while being very talented, I think will struggle to stay healthy and produce in the playoffs.

There, I corrected it for you.

He corrected himself in post #22 already... Why have you continued with this? Why?

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Zegras/Hughes are the obvious top 2.

Mercer would be my number 3, tough choice between him, Lundell, and Beniers.

 

[Xspyrit]

So far Josh Norris leads the pack the last 2 years in points by 8 over Hughes.

It made me go look at this. Obviously, it takes too much time to list everybody but I also listed some wingers, most on this list are the leadings forward scorers from their draft class

PPG/GPG since 2020-21 for 2017+ draftees

2017
Robertson 0.97/0.38 (79 GP)
Batherson 0.78/0.33 (82 GP)
Necas 0.72/0.26 (86 GP)
Norris 0.69/0.38 (86 GP)
2018
Svechnikov 0.80/0.31 (87 GP)
Tkachuk 0.71/0.35 (84 GP)
2019
Zegras 0.71/0.22 (59 GP)
Hughes 0.67/0.26 (76 GP)
Newhook 0.48/0.24 (33 GP)
Pinto 0.47/0.06 (17 GP)
Dach 0.44/0.15 (54 GP)
Caufield 0.33/0.13 (39 GP)
2020
Raymond 0.80/0.28 (40 GP)
Lundell 0.68/0.26 (34 GP)
Jarvis 0.58/0.23 (26 GP)
Stutzle 0.54/0.20 (83 GP)
Mercer 0.54/0.24 (37 GP)

Norris, Robertson, Batherson and Necas are "older" but Norris and Robertson comfortably lead goals per game since the 2017 draft, although Tkachuk and Batherson might want to have a say here. 2 guys from the Sens also not mentioned are centers Shane Pinto and Tim Stutzle who would be in the conversation if healthier (Pinto) or not as raw (Stutzle). They will be in the near future.

But given the poll options, not sure why Stutzle was snobbed. I mean, it's not like he doesn't have very high potential.

 

[Favin]

It made me go look at this. Obviously, it takes too much time to list everybody but I also listed some wingers, most on this list are the leadings forward scorers from their draft class

PPG/GPG since 2020-21 for 2017+ draftees

2017
Robertson 0.97/0.38 (79 GP)
Batherson 0.78/0.33 (82 GP)
Necas 0.72/0.26 (86 GP)
Norris 0.69/0.38 (86 GP)
2018
Svechnikov 0.80/0.31 (87 GP)
Tkachuk 0.71/0.35 (84 GP)
2019
Zegras 0.71/0.22 (59 GP)
Hughes 0.67/0.26 (76 GP)
Newhook 0.48/0.24 (33 GP)
Pinto 0.47/0.06 (17 GP)
Dach 0.44/0.15 (54 GP)
Caufield 0.33/0.13 (39 GP)
2020
Raymond 0.80/0.28 (40 GP)
Lundell 0.68/0.26 (34 GP)
Jarvis 0.58/0.23 (26 GP)
Stutzle 0.54/0.20 (83 GP)
Mercer 0.54/0.24 (37 GP)

Norris, Robertson, Batherson and Necas are "older" but Norris and Robertson comfortably lead goals per game since the 2017 draft, although Tkachuk and Batherson might want to have a say here. 2 guys from the Sens also not mentioned are centers Shane Pinto and Tim Stutzle who would be in the conversation if healthier (Pinto) or not as raw (Stutzle). They will be in the near future.

But given the poll options, not sure why Stutzle was snobbed. I mean, it's not like he doesn't have very high potential.

2017: Pettersson 0.85 ppg

As for Stützle, I left him off since he has spent most him time as winger.

 

[Xspyrit]

2017: Pettersson 0.85 ppg

As for Stützle, I left him off since he has spent most him time as winger.

I see... But for Pettersson, note that I was only looking at stats since 2020-21

 

[Favin]

Here are heights, weights since it has come up

Name	Ht	Wt	Votes	%
Matty Beniers	6'2"	175	7	3.5%
Quinton Byfield	6'5"	220	25	12.5%
Logan Cooley	5'10"	174	1	0.5%
Dylan Cozens	6'3"	189	9	4.5%
Jack Hughes	5'11"	175	104	52.0%
Peyton Krebs	6'0"	185	0	0.0%
Anton Lundell	6'1"	185	48	24.0%
Mason McTavish	6'0"	213	9	4.5%
Dawson Mercer	6'0"	180	6	3.0%
Alex Newhook	5'10"	190	3	1.5%
Josh Norris	6'1"	199	11	5.5%
Cole Perfetti	5'11"	177	4	2.0%
Cole Sillinger	6'2"	203	3	1.5%
Alex Turcotte	5'11"	185	2	1.0%
Shane Wright	6'0"	185	47	23.5%
Trevor Zegres	6'0"	180	137	68.5%

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[EdJovanovski]

Hughes, Zegras & Lundell

 

[Dominance]

I would be interested to know who the 31.1% of poster who didn’t choose Zegras selected. Hughes, Wright, and Byfield, maybe? It’s not entirely indefensible.

 

[AD1066]

Hughes, Zegras, Lundell.

 

[Sweetpotato]

Tough poll.

Wright if he continued his play would be tops easily.

I really like McTavish so I went him but there's a few good NHLers already on here.