Best Centers? - NHL.com

[JeffDFD]

Nice little article to discuss while we wait for the Philly game.

Apparantly 10 "experts" on NHL.com votes on the best centers. They had to vote top 8 with their #1 getting 8 pts #2 getting 7, on down to 1 pt for an 8 vote.

Crosby and Malking were #1 and #2. We are lucky. Interesting to see the other results.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=6580 ... L|NHL|home

Crosby got 7 out of 10 first place votes. When he wasn's first he was second and one time was third. Also, when he wasn't first - he was beaten by Malkin or Stamkos. Malkin a lot of 2nd/3rd place votes, couple first.

Giroux didn't make the top 10. and only received 3 overall votes (two 7's, one 4th.)



What are people's thoughts on the rest of the list? Stamkos' shot is a thing of beauty but I am not sure if I would put him #3. Maybe that is because we Pens fans have seen a lot of Datsyuk in recent years.

[Godric]

Crosby
Malkin
Stamkos
Getzlaf
Datsyuk
E. Staal
Kopitar
Toews
Giroux
Duchene
Tavares

[Great58]

Nice little article to discuss while we wait for the Philly game.

Apparantly 10 "experts" on NHL.com votes on the best centers. They had to vote top 8 with their #1 getting 8 pts #2 getting 7, on down to 1 pt for an 8 vote.

Crosby and Malking were #1 and #2. We are lucky. Interesting to see the other results.

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=6580 ... L|NHL|home

Crosby got 7 out of 10 first place votes. When he wasn's first he was second and one time was third. Also, when he wasn't first - he was beaten by Malkin or Stamkos. Malkin a lot of 2nd/3rd place votes, couple first.

Giroux didn't make the top 10. and only received 3 overall votes (two 7's, one 4th.)



What are people's thoughts on the rest of the list? Stamkos' shot is a thing of beauty but I am not sure if I would put him #3. Maybe that is because we Pens fans have seen a lot of Datsyuk in recent years.

I have no real objections the the list as assembled. You could argue a spot or two, but why bother? My only real amazement is that Stamkos got a #1 vote, when Steven himself is on record with Crosby being the best player in hockey.

[Gaucho]

I keep forgetting that Stamkos is a center.

[Great58]

I keep forgetting that Stamkos is a center.

Me too, I think of him as the scoring winger.

[Pitts]

Well, I learned that Kevin Weekes is an idiot.

[scals37]

Well, I learned that Kevin Weekes is an idiot.

late to the party?

[Pitts]

Well, I learned that Kevin Weekes is an idiot.

late to the party?

Apparently so.

[shmenguin]

weekes used to be great on "On the Fly". but ever since that show turned into a bowl of suck, he did too.

as for his opinion, he's probably just trying to be evocative. if asked about his crosby at 3 ranking, i bet he'd say something about not knowing if he's going to stay healthy

[mikey287]

Surprised about Giroux...

[Kovy27]

Giroux is a top 5 center, imo.

[Pitt87]

Saw Toews play for the first time in a while last night. Kid looks like Joe Sakic reborn. Totally agree with him #4, maybe even a better center than Stamkos, since I think Stamkos would be equally productive as a wing.

Sedins.... guess I forgot about them, which I guess begs the question how he makes the list at #5.

[mikey287]

Giroux is a top 5 center, imo.

Yeah, I would probably agree. I'm quite surprised he didn't make the top-8...

[tunez33]

i would agree with not having giroux only because he has 1 good season, a great playoff and a slow start but picking up this season, every one else on the list has quite a few years of high play.

[sniper]

I'd like to see Toews play without all the talent around him. He's been surrounded by it his entire career and really hasn't put up a ton of points for all the media attention he gets. I don't see anything he does extremely well. Good at lots of things, but great at nothing. Never been a point per game player in his career despite all the talent on his lines.

[mikey287]

He is also elite defensively. Never was a game breaker, compared to someone like Evgeni Malkin...but he wins a lot.

[sniper]

He is also elite defensively. Never was a game breaker, compared to someone like Evgeni Malkin...but he wins a lot.

Sounds like Mike Richards when he was in Philly.

[MRandall25]

Toews is closer to Staal than Malkin.


That said, Toews' talent >>>> Staal's

[sniper]

Toews is closer to Staal than Malkin.


That said, Toews' talent >>>> Staal's

Eric or Jordan? I'd take Eric over Toews.

[MRandall25]

Toews is closer to Staal than Malkin.


That said, Toews' talent >>>> Staal's

Eric or Jordan? I'd take Eric over Toews.

It's close. I'd say Toews right now, because it appears Eric's production has dropped significantly since his second season, whereas Toews production has only been going up, save last year (due to his concussion). I also believe Toews is better defensively.

[Pitt87]

Giroux is a top 5 center, imo.

Yeah, I would probably agree. I'm quite surprised he didn't make the top-8...

If you look at the top 8... they all have a Cup, Ross, Hart, Lindsay, Richard... hardware. The Honorable Mentions are the ones that have video game covers...

[pittsoccer33]

i dont know how i didnt realize stamkos was a center until the two recent games.

[Great58]

i would agree with not having giroux only because he has 1 good season, a great playoff and a slow start but picking up this season, every one else on the list has quite a few years of high play.

How long has he been playing center? Two years? He was a right wing before that, and is still listed as a right wing on NHL.com, and played RW in the 2011 All Star game.

[Desiato]

Well, I learned that Kevin Weekes is an idiot.

Exactly what I was thinking.

[Staggy]

If we're not talking entire body of work, then I think Tavares should be much higher. Kid is an absolute phenom and probably a year or two away from being one of the top four players in the league.