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

[BHD]

It was Toronto. But the Penguins just brought back Matt Cullen. So now it’s clearly the Penguins again.

This person knows what they're talking about.

 

[Eat The Rich]

top 5

definitely not better than the caps edmonton or pitt. theyre likely better than philly's depth but giroux's the most proven of the bunch. florida's centers are strong too.

don't overrate jt91. barzal outscored jt and everyone of the leafs centers and it didn't do squat for them. and a lot of the "center depth" top-end you're comparing the leafs to have 1) already won cup(s) 2) are still making less money than jt91.

Edmonton?

For that to be true, you'd have to be here claiming that McDavid is better than all three of them combined, because Nugent-Hopkins isn't better than any of them.

 

[Scotty Pucks]

In all seriousness, if Kuzy and Eller carry over their play in these past playoffs and Backstrom is his typical 70-80 pt self... I feel some of you are underrating the Caps.

That trio combined for 73 pts this past postseason. That’s disgusting. Especially considering they missed some games/Backstrom was hurt.

 

[SirGoose]

Edmonton?

For that to be true, you'd have to be here claiming that McDavid is better than all three of them combined, because Nugent-Hopkins isn't better than any of them.

no, for that to be true, leon draisatl would have to outscore all of the leafs centers.

(he has)

and comparing McDavid at his age and contract to JT's new contract at his age? I hope that's not an argument anyone is foolish enough to attempt

 

[radapex]

All I’m saying is that Toronto has arguably the best centre depth in the league. It wouldn’t be absurd to say that Matthews-JT-Kadri could put up more offence than Crosby-Geno-Brassard this coming season.

Matthews-Tavares-Kadri is just drool worthy.

Let's take a look at what would happen if they all continued with their career-average production to date:

TOR - Matthews (75.17 points) + Tavares (76.17 points) + Kadri (52.59 points) = 203.93 points
PIT - Crosby (105.92 points) + Malkin (97.27 points) + Brassard (49.02 points) = 252.21 points


How about over the past 3 season?

TOR - Matthews (75.17 points) + Tavares (76.12 points) + Kadri (55.47 points) = 206.76 points
PIT - Crosby (91.00 points) + Malkin (94.90 points) + Brassard (50.33 points) = 236.23 points


And the past 2 seasons?

TOR - Matthews (75.17 points) + Tavares (77.36 points) + Kadri (58.72 points) = 211.25 points
PIT - Crosby (92.97 points) + Malkin (99.57 points) + Brassard (45.56 points) = 238.10 points

 

[BM14]

Oh my god this summer is going to be unbearable on these boards...

No, the next 7 years.

 

[Mantis]

No. No they do not.

 

[Riddum]

LMFAO

What's so funny about this? Backstrom is better than Matthews. Kuznetsov is better than Tavares. Kadri is better than Ellers

Matthews is undoubtedly a better goal scorer than Backstrom. Backstrom is a superior center. Backstrom is one of the best in the world at controlling the pace of the play.

 

[LeafFever]

What's so funny about this? Backstrom is better than Matthews. Kuznetsov is better than Tavares. Kadri is better than Ellers

You are assuming Matthews does not get better though. Would anyone take Backstrom over Matthews at this point?

 

[tictactoe]

Does Matthews - Tavares - Kadri surpass even Pittsburgh's Crosby + Malkin + Brassard?

No... and it does not surpass Tampas centers tampas d or tampas goalie.

 

[Riddum]

You are assuming Matthews does not get better though. Would anyone take Backstrom over Matthews at this point?

Of course Matthews will get better. But his production might suffer from having Tavares on his team. Matthews was clearly the #1 Center on the team. I don't think it's true anymore.

 

[Novak Djokovic]

Toronto will likely have the best offense overall, but looking at centers strictly, I'd still give Pittsburgh the edge.

 

[redwings25]

pens,caps then toronto for now. pretty damn good though

 

[Slicknitty]

Still Sid and Geno. Toronto is in serious contention tho for 2nd.

 

[Empoleon8771]

It's clearly the Penguins for the best center group, especially now that they added Cullen. The Penguins centers are now Crosby, Malkin, Brassard, Sheahan and Cullen, no team can match that.

 

[StumpyTown]

Do the Leafs have 2 awesome and 1 really good centremen now? Sure. They even have 2 very good wingers....
Last time I checked there were 4 lines that have to play. That's 12 guys. Having 5 great players, 1 good player who is just getting older, and 6 marginal NHLers isn't going to cut it in the NHL playoffs.
Don't forget that the Leafs have lost 3 pretty good forwards that contributed a ton to last season's success.
Kadri may have scored 30+ goals the last two seasons, but that was playing 2nd line minutes and lots of power play time. He'll be effective, but he is very unlikely to hit 30 goals playing a 3rd line centre role. He may now be one of the best 3rd line centres in the league, but 30+ goals just isn't realistic for that position, especially when you consider much of his power play time will be taken away as a result of Tavares being available.

The best group of 12 forwards is what is important in the NHL today and that the Leafs do not have.

 

[LordZapp]

No... and it does not surpass Tampas centers tampas d or tampas goalie.

I would give the edge to Toronto for the better centers. But i would agree that our forward, d core and goalie are all better than Toronto.

 

[DopeyFish]

Do the Leafs have 2 awesome and 1 really good centremen now? Sure. They even have 2 very good wingers....
Last time I checked there were 4 lines that have to play. That's 12 guys. Having 5 great players, 1 good player who is just getting older, and 6 marginal NHLers isn't going to cut it in the NHL playoffs.
Don't forget that the Leafs have lost 3 pretty good forwards that contributed a ton to last season's success.
Kadri may have scored 30+ goals the last two seasons, but that was playing 2nd line minutes and lots of power play time. He'll be effective, but he is very unlikely to hit 30 goals playing a 3rd line centre role. He may now be one of the best 3rd line centres in the league, but 30+ goals just isn't realistic for that position, especially when you consider much of his power play time will be taken away as a result of Tavares being available.

The best group of 12 forwards is what is important in the NHL today and that the Leafs do not have.

Just for the fun of it... The players Leafs are adding are better than the ones they are losing. You can bank on it. Johnsson and Grundstrom are a LOT better than people give them credit for. Leafs offense is about to become insane and it was already ridiculous

 

[tictactoe]

I would give the edge to Toronto for the better centers. But i would agree that our forward, d core and goalie are all better than Toronto.

What edge? Stamkos is the man and Kucherov is a monster. I do not see edge.

 

[LordZapp]

What edge? Stamkos is the man and Kucherov is a monster. I do not see edge.

Kucherov is a winger.

 

[Sempiternal]

John Tavares is awesome. Great signing for the Leafs.

 

[BBB24]

Anyone else have a 30 goal scoring 3rd line centre? Anyone?

Talk when he scores 30 playing third line minutes

 

[tictactoe]

Kucherov is a winger.

So is Giroux..

 

[LordZapp]

So is Giroux..

What is your point? And Claude is a center.

 

[Leafidelity]

Talk when he scores 30 playing third line minutes

Cant wait to find out.