HM's: Roy, Plekanec, Riberio, Briere, Zajac, and Pavelski.
Briere missed the list because I'm not sure how he'll peform as a center the entire season, Riberio missed the list because he's TOO one dimensional, Zajac, Plekanec, and Roy were all very close.
25: David Krejci:
It's hard to pinpoint the players around here, because from like 20-30 are all pretty close, but Krecji is well deserving of his spot as 25, he was crucial to the Bruins post season run going nearly a PPG, posting almost at a PPG pace during the regular season, being a very good +/- player, being a strong physical presence, and a good defensive center. Well deserving of this spot.
24. Paul Statsny:
I find that the legendary Peter Statsny's son goes underrated around the NHL, true he got an all star game nod, but the guy goes silently about his business while racking up really impressive numbers. Statsny's a responsible two way player, who puts up respectable numbers, who have declined slightly because of playing on such an atrocious Avalanche team, and playing behind Matt Duchene.
23. Jason Spezza:
With the fall of the Senators, this rather decorated center has falling out of the lime light. He's overpaid, he's becoming more injury prone, and his defense has a poor reputation. However, Spezza still posts almost at a PPG clip, his defense has improved significantly, and all this on a very bad Senators team. He's well deserving of this spot.
22. Matt Duchene:
The other center of the Aves' 1-2 punch has been very solid the last two seasons, last season finishing well above the rest of his teammates. He plays a good two way game, he's not Joe Sakic, but he's as close they'll get.
21. John Tavares:
Tavares is the Islanders. Plain and simple. He's practically their entire offense, and performs admirably for being such a young player. Tavares numbers will increase greatly with more offensive support.
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| Carter's on the left |
20. Jeff Carter:
Carter's an offensively prolific player, being something in the top 5 in goals scored in the last few seasons. He now has an opportunity to play with one of the beloved, and underrated wingers(how is that possible?) in the game, Rick Nash. Both players are natural goalscorers, so chemistry is already being called into question, but the duo is highly anticipated.
19. Vincent Lecavalier:
Vinny had a bit of a renaissance this season, as his numbers improved and he wasn't as injury prone. Leacavlier's numbers dipped in recent seasons due to chronic wrist ailments and such, but he seems to finally be returning to form.
18. Patrice Bergeron:
Who some people call the true captain of the Bruins, Bergeron is a darn good two way center, one of the best of the game, and was absolutely amazing in the playoffs this season. He's a consistent point producer, and always has a very good +/-. If Tim Thomas wasn't as amazing as he was, Bergeron would have been highly considered for the Conn Smythe this year.
17. Mike Richards:
The former Flyers Captain plots down around number 17, (Carter's old number ironically), where he'll likely anchor the second line in Los Angeles this year. Richards is a perennial top 5 defensive forward in the league, who also is pretty consistent for about 25-30 goals a season.
16. Mikko Koivu:
The captain of the Wild is generally pretty underrated, as the Wild really haven't made much noise lately. He's a good Number 1 center who is almost always about at a PPG clip, and plays a generally solid two way game.
15. Claude Giroux:
A lot of pressure is being placed on Giroux this season as he is expected to anchor Philadelphia's first line. But in the past season, Giroux had a really impressive season, performing almost at a PPG pace, playing strong on both sides of the ice, and being a good Special Teams performer. It'll be a showing season for Giroux.
14. Brad Richards:
The crown jewel of the Free Agency market, Brad Richards finds himself on Broadway this season, the former Conn Smythe winner just finished a stint in Dallas, and generally performs over a PPG clip. He has a booming shot, and can be used as a Power Play Quarterback, Richards should perform very well in New York this season.
13. Nicklas Backstrom:
Backstrom is considered one of the premier play makers in the NHL, however he had a slumping season last year, and generally, people attest his impressive point production to Alex Ovechkin, his Superstar linemate. But regardless, Backstrom should have a bounce back year and return to more familiar numbers.
12. Ryan Kesler:
I almost had Kesler at Number 11, but the reason I could not bring myself to do it was because of the fact that he plays behind the Sedins. He generally plays against less fierce talent as they do, and thusly has more inflated numbers. However, even with that stated, Kesler is a premier two way forward, who was on a Conn Smythe quest, and won a Selke this season. I wouldn't be surprised if his stock improves over the next season or two.
11. Anze Kopitar:
Kopitar really exploded in production in the last two years, and has been probably the most prolific offensive player the Kings have seen since Palffy, or maybe even Robataille. Kopitar is a good two way player, and the best Slovenian hockey player in the world....(And it's not even close.) He and Richards promise to be a menacing 1-2 Punch this season.
10. Joe Thornton:
7-10 Were particularly hard to rank, but the reason why Thornton is 10 and not 7, is because he simply isn't clutch in the playoffs. This was by far his best post season to date, but the fact is, he still can't lift his Sharks into the finals. Thornton is a prolific scorer, top 5 since the lock out, but he's simply not clutch. There's a reason why he's called the Tin Man.
9. Eric Staal:
Staal has truly become the face of the Hurricanes taking the mantle from Brind'amour and before him, Francis. He's already got a Stanley Cup ring to his collection, and is one of the most well respected players in the league, while posting at a PPG, or almost at a PPG pace, for the last few seasons.
8. Jonathan Toews:
The most overrated Hockey player in the game today, bar none. Toews was ranked the third best player in the game in last year's The Hockey News magazine, and in Puck Daddy's recent top 25 center's ranking, which inspired this one, he was ranked third there too. I love Toews, he reminds me of Yzerman-lite, but the fact is, the man hasn't reached the PPG mark, nor has he scored more than 40 goals. Instead, his ranking comes from his intangibles, hence being called "Captain Intangibles." I think Toews is one of the best young leaders in the NHL, playing Selke caliber hockey, and already has a Conn Smythe to his name (and this is why he's ahead of Thornton and Staal, because he actually is very clutch), but he's very overrated.
7. Henrik Zetterberg:
Pavel Datsyuk was injured for most of the regular season last year, causing future Red Wings captain, Zetterberg to put the team on his oft-injured back. The result was finishing 3rd in the conference, and finishing at a PPG clip. Zetterberg isn't as graceful as he used to be, but he backchecks doggedly, is considered the most clutch player in the league, second only to maybe Daniel Briere, and would have several Selke's to his name if it weren't for Pavel Datsyuk, and already has a Conn Smythe to his name.
6. Ryan Getzlaf:
Getzlaf is a nasty player, puts up over a PPG pace, consistent +/- player, good on the PK and PP, and is the face of the Anaheim Ducks franchise. Getzlaf is a damn good hockey player, and he's the perfect center for the best line in the game right now.
5. Henrik Sedin:
How ironic that I put Jumbo Joe at number 10 for his lack of playoff performance, but am putting Sedin at number 5 for his. The difference is, when Sedin's brother Daniel was injured in the 2010 season, he put the team on his back and earned the Hart and Art Ross trophies without him, silencing the critics that the Sedin Twins couldn't perform alone. And unlike Thornton, he puts up better numbers, and has actually made the finals, coming one game away from winning the cup. Sedin is well deserving of his spot.
4. Steven Stamkos:
Stamkos has had two very strong seasons, but the reason he's being put at 4 and not 3, when 3 has more reason to be lower on the list is because of two reasons: For being as a big of Stamkos fan as I am, I feel like his production is greatly inflated by perhaps the best pure play maker in the game, St. Louis. AND, because his production seriously tapered off in the last half of the season last year. Stamkos has a lot of growing to do, but within three years has proven that he's a top 5 player in the game, and almost helped his Lightning from being one game away from the Stanley Cup finals last year.
3. Evgeni Malkin:
Malkin's only had one season where he finished below the PPG mark, and that was last year, and that was because of a lingering injury. That said, Malkin only played 43 games last year. But, without having a "what have you done for me lately" mentality, no one takes over a game like Evgeni Malkin does, as evidenced by his playoff perfomance in 2009, Malkin should return to the 11/12 season back to form, and proving why he's a top 3 center in the league.
2. Pavel Datsyuk:
Pavel Datsyuk is the most well rounded player in the world. Datsyuk was a monster in last year's post season, single handedly man handling the Phoenix Coyotes, making them look like CHL players. Datsyuk would have probably won his 4th consecutive Selke Trophy last season if it weren't for his wrist injury that caused him to miss 26 games last year. Fact is, Datsyuk is good for PPG production, while being the best defensive forward in the game leading the league in take aways and having an impressive +/-, while being probably the best deker in the league, bar none.
1. Sidney Crosby:
Crosby went down early last season to nagging concussions, but before that? Crosby was on a pace that had been unseen in years, putting up 66 points in 41 games. Crosby was on a tear, and poised to take home the Art Ross, the Hart, and the Richard trophies. Crosby is truly the undisputed best player in the world, already having two finals appearances, a Stanley Cup, a bunch of hardware, and improving on all aspects of the game.
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