So does Toronto now have the best centers in the league?

[Blowfish]

Tavares and Matthews probably the slowest 1-2 centers in the NHL...

Compared to the top centers they are definitely at the bottom. Going to hurt the team as they age.

 

[BigEezyE22]

You’re right on age my bad , Matthews is 21 this year and has Tavares to take some matchups so let’s see.

Is a third of the season still a "small sample size? "

 

[DictatorTots427]

I'm a Leafs fan, but if Pittsburgh literally didn't have a 3rd or 4th line centre, and just ran 10 forwards, they would have better centre depth than Toronto. Toronto is definitely top 5 tho, and if Crosby and Malkin start declining sooner than we expect, they may take the #1 spot.

 

[thethirdhockeyman91]

Compared to the top centers they are definitely at the bottom. Going to hurt the team as they age.

Matthews has an entire decade before he starts ‘’aging’’.

 

[PromisedLand]

Prime Crosby+Malkin is probably THE BEST one two punch in history of hockey.

That said,

Kadri as a third center who can produce and also play well defensively is the kicker if the top two lines play to a stalemate

 

[MattMartin]

The best centers and team.

 

[Cotton]

Oh hells yeah they do.

 

[Notsince67]

From 1st to 3rd line center absolutely they are...

Now from 1st to 2nd I'd say they rank 3rd behind Pittsburgh and Edmonton

Can't say that I am convinced about Pitt until I see them play but it is probably right. Edmonton is completely wrong.

 

[Notsince67]

He's not though

Slightly better maybe but Pens' top two centres are miles ahead of Toronto's and probably will be for the next two or three years. After that who knows?

Hyperbole. Nobody is miles ahead of those two

 

[Notsince67]

Tavares and Matthews probably the slowest 1-2 centers in the NHL...

And Al Iafrate was so fast, his speed record still stands. He was still crap

 

[Notsince67]

It's so absurd. as if it's even up for debate.

I love how smug Pens fans are. Just remember that leafs took 2 of 3 last year with a core of guys who can't grow beards and will likely sweep this year.

 

[TheNuge]

Oh hells yeah they do.

Ill easily take the Backstrom - Kuznetsov - Eller trio over Matthews, Tavares and Kadri, Id also take the Pittsburg trio as well.

Kuznetsov > Matthews
Backstrom > Tavares
Kadri > Eller

As of right now, I feel Kuznetsov and Matthews are close but Kuznetsovs ability to make players around him better is almost unrivalled he was a huge reason the Capitals won the cup this year. He is also controls the play on a very strong capitals power play. Whereas Marner does that for the Leafs. I also feel that Kuznetsov takes his play to a whole other level in the playoffs whereas Matthews has a record of fading while under pressure.

The Backstrom - Tavares comparison is close, Backstrom being a .98 PPG player and Tavares a .93 PPG

Eller was a monster in the playoffs this year but I would still take Kadri over Eller at this point.

 

[Regal]

Prime Crosby+Malkin is probably THE BEST one two punch in history of hockey.

Gretzky-Messier?

 

[DopeyFish]

Compared to the top centers they are definitely at the bottom. Going to hurt the team as they age.

Leafs likely have the fastest wingers in the league, though.

just think about this... marleau is the slowest winger in the top 9

that kinda boggles my mind tbh

 

[Holtbyisms]

Washington and Pittsburgh both have a strong case for #1 depending on your preference in player but Toronto is firmly in 3rd.

 

[TheNuge]

Also for the Leafs fans touting that they have the best forward group in the league.. You don't. Comparing the Leafs forward group to the Capitals group that just won the cup its not close.

Ovechkin >>> Nylander
Kuznetsov > Matthews
Wilson >> Hyman

Backstrom > Tavares
Oshie > Marleau
Vrana << Marner

Eller < Kadri
Burakovsky >/= Kapanen
Connolly >/= Johnsson

Don't even get me started on the Defensive pairings or Goaltending

 

[Battle Lin]

i think matthews will be better than tavares soon enough, but sid is still better than matthews and malkin better than tavares, like not a lot better but better...but hockey is still played on a line, and matthews and tavares will get to play with very talented linesmates in marner and nylander, so they might have the advantage...then with the best 3rd line C in nhl, i take leafs 3rd line too

 

[Belzebob]

hmmm op must be talking khl or something.

I would take the wager that if Toronto played in the central …. they would be lucky to make the playoffs

still way to soft and no defence

 

[Scott Stevens]

How is this a thread? Toronto doesn’t have a center better than Pittsburgh’s duo.

 

[PensandCaps]

I love how smug Pens fans are. Just remember that leafs took 2 of 3 last year with a core of guys who can't grow beards and will likely sweep this year.

Who cares. Do something in the playoffs.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

I love how smug Pens fans are. Just remember that leafs took 2 of 3 last year with a core of guys who can't grow beards and will likely sweep this year.

And the pens have taken 2 of the last 3 cups. If there's an incongruity between success and smugness it's not pens fans that are guilty.

 

[Notsince67]

And the pens have taken 2 of the last 3 cups. If there's an incongruity between success and smugness it's not pens fans that are guilty.

Do you know what time it is? You don't because it has passed

 

[John Eichel da GOAT]

Crosby-Malkin-insert anyone still tops every other team.

 

[K Fleur]

I love how smug Pens fans are. Just remember that leafs took 2 of 3 last year with a core of guys who can't grow beards and will likely sweep this year.

This account is a good source for some quality cringe.

 

[X66]

We still have to see this trio play out in practice.

Not a single person should be surprised if they’re better than the pens centers overall considering their ages.