KingGallagherXI
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- Jul 10, 2009
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Teams with two elite/superstar centers
- Thread starter KingGallagherXI
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mrhockey193195
Registered User
A step or two below the list of pairs that you mentioned, but Gilmour/Sundin for the couple seasons they were together in TOR. Also, Modano/Nieuwendyk on Dallas, Lafontaine/Hawerchuk on Buffalo, Lindros/Brind'Amour on Philly, and Lecavalier/Richards on Tampa.
I don't think in any of these cases that both guys were considered top ten forwards at the same time, but these are as close as I can think of, at least for modern years.
I don't think in any of these cases that both guys were considered top ten forwards at the same time, but these are as close as I can think of, at least for modern years.
CanucksMJL
Context apologist.
- Jul 6, 2009
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Sedin / Kesler might fit the bill nowadays. Hard to put them in the same category of the OP's examples, but a Hart/Art Ross winner, backed up by a 40g Selke candidate is the backbone of this year's Canuck forward group and the Canucks do look poised to do some playoff damage this year.
John Flyers Fan
Registered User
Clarke and MacLeish.
MacLeish was a top 7-15 forward during the mid-70's, especially when the playoffs rolled around.
MacLeish was a top 7-15 forward during the mid-70's, especially when the playoffs rolled around.
TheDevilMadeMe
Registered User
Schmidt/Cowley mentioned are the only pair in the class of the guys in the OP - centers who were superstars for a long time while playing on the same team.
I'd submit Syl Apps / Ted Kennedy followed by Max Bentley / Ted Kennedy for the 40s Leafs.
I'd submit Syl Apps / Ted Kennedy followed by Max Bentley / Ted Kennedy for the 40s Leafs.
TheDevilMadeMe
Registered User
Alex Delvecchio / Norm Ullman sometimes formed a 1-2 punch in Detroit at center, though Alex sometimes played LW. They never won the Cup together.
Canadiens1958
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Center Duos
Abel/Delvecchio with Detroit, Mikita/P. Esposito with Chicago. Keon/Kelly with Toronto, Toronto had a trio in the early 1970's - Keon/Ullman/Sittler but each was either pre or post prime. Buffalo with Lafontaine/Hawerchuk,
Abel/Delvecchio with Detroit, Mikita/P. Esposito with Chicago. Keon/Kelly with Toronto, Toronto had a trio in the early 1970's - Keon/Ullman/Sittler but each was either pre or post prime. Buffalo with Lafontaine/Hawerchuk,
I've always felt the main ingredient of success to the best overall teams is having two elite centers, as opposed to building around a defenseman, winger or a combination of a defenseman/goalie and a forward as the core of your team, that's not to say you don't need good defense and goaltending whatsoever. It makes sense considering center is the most common position and at that position you are more able to have the most overall effect on a game. Detroit and Pittsburgh are good recent examples, best team in the league this year two elite centers. I'll be lucky to get one elite center in Toronto the next few years.
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Canadiens1958
Registered User
1947-48 Leafs
1947-48 Leafs had all three, Apps/Bentley/Kennedy. Probably the greatest center grouping of all-time.
1947-48 Leafs had all three, Apps/Bentley/Kennedy. Probably the greatest center grouping of all-time.
TheDevilMadeMe
Registered User
I just find it hard to believe they all played center at the time. My read on hockey of the era is that Lester Patrick was the first coach to use three lines in the late 30s/early 40s, but teams hardly rolled three lines, as 30 minutes of ice time for stars was common in the era. I have to think one of the three played wing that season.
Steve Kournianos
@thedraftanalyst
Canadiens1958
Registered User
60 Game Schedule
The teams started rolling three lines regularly when the NHL went to 60 games.
The 1947-48 Leafs rolled three as evidenced by the depth in their scoring.
http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/TOR/1948.html
Also Apps was 33, old by the norms of the era. It was his last season.
The teams started rolling three lines regularly when the NHL went to 60 games.
The 1947-48 Leafs rolled three as evidenced by the depth in their scoring.
http://www.hockey-reference.com/teams/TOR/1948.html
Also Apps was 33, old by the norms of the era. It was his last season.
vadim sharifijanov
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- Oct 10, 2007
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the 1-2-3 punch of gilmour, nieuwendyk, and otto might be a better example. none were at the time a top ten player in the league, but having two all-star centers and one of the best defensive centers in the league really powered that team. especially in the faceoff circle.
SealsFan
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- May 3, 2009
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RabbinsDuck
Registered User
Laughing at the centers the Wings had in 2002:
Yzerman, Fedorov, Datsyuk, Larionov, Draper
Wings have been drafting natural centers for some time now:
Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Filppula, Hudler, Helm, Franzen and Draper are all centers and they signed another center in Modano to add to them. Clearly a team that believes in over-stocking centers.
Yzerman, Fedorov, Datsyuk, Larionov, Draper
Wings have been drafting natural centers for some time now:
Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Filppula, Hudler, Helm, Franzen and Draper are all centers and they signed another center in Modano to add to them. Clearly a team that believes in over-stocking centers.
yzerman played RW in '02 and datsyuk played LW in '08.
'02
fyodorov
larionov
draper
datsyuk
'08
zetterberg
filppula
draper
helm
'02
fyodorov
larionov
draper
datsyuk
'08
zetterberg
filppula
draper
helm
I'll take the 02 centers and the Calgary example over the 48 Leaf sample 8 days a week.
Also the Wayne/Mark (and anyone) and Crosby/Malkin/Stall sets as well.
Goring wasn't top 10 but Trottier/Goring was a very solid reg/playoff 1/2 punch
Wasn't that basically only at home though in 08? I thought Babcock split up Datsyuk and Zetterberg for road games, making it impossible for teams to match up against both of them.
no, they played together for the entire playoffs, other than for part of OT in game 5 of finals.
edit: sometimes played separately. filppula was put with datsyuk and holmstrom sometimes, and zetterberg sometimes played with franzen and samuelsson. franzen or cleary or filppula sometimes replaced holmstrom.
dobberhockey has line combination stats.
datsyuk's (above 1%):
45.17% EV 13 DATSYUK,PAVEL - 96 HOLMSTROM,TOMAS - 40 ZETTERBERG,HENRIK
14.92% PP 13 DATSYUK,PAVEL - 96 HOLMSTROM,TOMAS - 40 ZETTERBERG,HENRIK
6.74% EV 11 CLEARY,DANIEL - 13 DATSYUK,PAVEL - 40 ZETTERBERG,HENRIK
4.91% EV 13 DATSYUK,PAVEL - 51 FILPPULA,VALTTERI - 96 HOLMSTROM,TOMAS
2.38% SH 13 DATSYUK,PAVEL - 17 DRAKE,DALLAS
2.33% EV 13 DATSYUK,PAVEL - 40 ZETTERBERG,HENRIK
1.93% SH 13 DATSYUK,PAVEL - 96 HOLMSTROM,TOMAS - 40 ZETTERBERG,HENRIK
1.34% SH 11 CLEARY,DANIEL - 13 DATSYUK,PAVEL
1.34% EV 13 DATSYUK,PAVEL - 37 SAMUELSSON,MIKAEL - 40 ZETTERBERG,HENRIK
1.14% EV 13 DATSYUK,PAVEL - 33 DRAPER,KRIS - 40 ZETTERBERG,HENRIK
1.04% EV 13 DATSYUK,PAVEL - 93 FRANZEN,JOHAN - 40 ZETTERBERG,HENRIK
1.04% EV 13 DATSYUK,PAVEL - 51 FILPPULA,VALTTERI
zetterberg's (above 1%)
43.88% EV 13 DATSYUK,PAVEL - 96 HOLMSTROM,TOMAS - 40 ZETTERBERG,HENRIK
14.5% PP 13 DATSYUK,PAVEL - 96 HOLMSTROM,TOMAS - 40 ZETTERBERG,HENRIK
6.55% EV 11 CLEARY,DANIEL - 13 DATSYUK,PAVEL - 40 ZETTERBERG,HENRIK
4.82% EV 93 FRANZEN,JOHAN - 37 SAMUELSSON,MIKAEL - 40 ZETTERBERG,HENRIK
3.9% SH 51 FILPPULA,VALTTERI - 40 ZETTERBERG,HENRIK
2.31% SH 93 FRANZEN,JOHAN - 40 ZETTERBERG,HENRIK
2.26% EV 13 DATSYUK,PAVEL - 40 ZETTERBERG,HENRIK
1.88% SH 13 DATSYUK,PAVEL - 96 HOLMSTROM,TOMAS - 40 ZETTERBERG,HENRIK
1.3% EV 13 DATSYUK,PAVEL - 37 SAMUELSSON,MIKAEL - 40 ZETTERBERG,HENRIK
1.11% EV 13 DATSYUK,PAVEL - 33 DRAPER,KRIS - 40 ZETTERBERG,HENRIK
1.01% EV 13 DATSYUK,PAVEL - 93 FRANZEN,JOHAN - 40 ZETTERBERG,HENRIK
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