What makes a forward in the NHL a true center and who is considered the top five best true centers in the league today?
Before we discuss who the top five true centers are in the NHL today, we need to back up and address a more pressing topic. When we talk about the top players at a given position in the show, it’s easy to get distracted by the number of points a player puts up instead of how effective they are at that position. At no other position is this more prevalent than when discussing the top centers in the NHL.
To put things into perspective, any forward in ice hockey can take and win a faceoff from time to time. However, not everyone can play center. While winning draws is a vital part of playing center, far greater responsibilities supersede it. The high-scoring offense and blistering speed of our game today have generally led to the thinking that the more points you put up as a player, the better you are at your position. This, however, is simply not true.
A perfect example is New Jersey Devils superstar Jack Hughes. NHL.com has him listed as a center in their database, but under the eye test, he’s genuinely not capable of being a true center. When you watch his game, Hughes is often bounced outside to the wing so that he can use his elite offensive skillset without having the responsibility that comes with being a center in the NHL.
Another way to identify whether or not someone is a legitimate center, place them in a hypothetical scenario as such: There are five minutes left remaining in the third period, the faceoff is in the defensive zone and you’re on the penalty kill. Do you trust Jack Hughes or Buffalo Sabres star Tage Thompson to take this draw? Absolutely not. However, NHL.com considers them to be the No. 6 and the No. 11 overall centers in the league, respectively. This goes to show how little we understand what makes a true center.
It’s easy to say players like Hughes and Thompson are elite centers in the NHL because they fill the stat sheet each night. However, contrary to popular belief, putting up points isn’t the center’s job. Offensive production is the role of the left and the right wing.
The center, second only to the goaltender, is held to the highest standard on the ice and in all situations is directly supporting the puck carrier. When their team doesn’t have control of the puck, the center is either spearheading the attack or is the first line of defense. There is never a moment’s rest at this position.
While left and right-wingers are best in open space, using their speed and creativity to their advantage to generate offense, centers make their bread and butter in the dirty areas: the corners, front of the net, and the defensive and neutral zone. To be a true center in the NHL, you need to be able to play a sound 200 ft game as well as dominate puck battles along the boards and in open ice.
Now with the prerequisites being stated, let’s take a look at who the top 5 true centers are in today’s NHL.