The 6'4", 220-pound Wilson joins the 6'3", 238-pound Ovechkin in providing this line with a hard-hitting edge. In 2018-19, Stamkos scored 45 goals and an NHL career-high 98 points, ninth in the NHL. The 2021 NHL draft will open with Round 1 on Friday, July 23, followed by Rounds 2 through 7 on Saturday, July 24. But the Devils do have to figure out wholl be lining up behind them as a 3rd-line center. While his production was about equal to McLeods, his underlying numbers were a bit better. It is worth noting that the 26-year-old seems able to elevate his game even more during the postseason. Ryan Hartman, C, MIN50. The Penguins had Nick Bonino, Chicago had Antoine Vermette and Andrew Shaw, and the Kings had Jarret Stoll and Mike Richards. At that price, he could serve as a stop-gap until one of the Devils young centers other than Hischier or Hughes is ready to serve as a full-time 3rd-line center. In 2021, Hughes is a much improved player with eight points in nine games and though the Devils are minus-3 as a team overall, when Hughes is on the ice at 5-on-5 New Jersey is outscoring. From a purely offensive standpoint, he has once again been exceptional, but to this who have watched him closely, he hasnt looked like the same dominant Draisaitl we have become accustomed to seeing. He is currently on pace to set personal highs for goals, points, and shots all while playing fewer minutes than last season. ", Video: MacKinnon places 2nd on the top 20 center list. Of course, in saying that, suggesting those totals are from a player in a down year goes to show just how special of a player Matthews is. Now to the good news. For the fourth straight season, McDavid, who finished second in the NHL with 97 points (34 goals, 63 assists), tops this list of best centers. A right shot defensive prospect in Kemp. He understands everything about how to play hockey for himself and for his teammates, and that's what makes him such a great linemate, a great player. Signing with the Oilers last summer as a free agent, the 29-year-old Hyman spent much of the past four seasons skating alongside Toronto Maple Leafs stars Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. "You look at the physical tools of course, the speed and the strength, and the way that he's able to combine that with the hands and the vision to become one of the best offensive players," Johnson said. He also has the lowest 5-on-5 Corsi among Nashville centers at 41.63 percent. Nevertheless, he's an invaluable part of the Avalanche's top offensive trio. Manage Settings Time will tell, but he also seems more suited to be a fourth-line center. In 2019-20, Barzal had the second-most zone entries and had a Carry-in Percentage of 77.5%, per Corey Sznajder's transition data. Any other third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their respective owners. Elias Lindholm, C, CGY16. NHL Network producers and analysts chose the top 20 centers in the League right now, and they were revealed Sunday in the third of a nine-part series. Patrice Bergeron, C, BOS21. His style of play sometimes takes a toll on his own body, as he's currently sidelined by a lower-body injury. Through just 54 games, McDavids 42 goals and 97 points lead the league, and by a wide margin. Bergeron is one of the greatest two-way players in NHL history. Use arrows to navigate between autocomplete results. Since 2017-18, no player in the NHL has more points (385) or a higher points-per-game average (1.47) than McDavid. There have already been a number of big trades. Hes also an outstanding penalty-killer and would provide a young group of Devils forwards with a veteran voice. Nathan MacKinnon, C, COL5. Through 41 games, the 27-year-old MacKinnon has 17 goals and 60 points. Zibanejad led Rangers forwards in average ice time (21:38 per game) and average shorthanded ice time (2:37 per game), and he was tied for third in the NHL with five shorthanded points. Those scoring numbers aren't as high as others on this list,. He showed promise during the 2019-20 season and was set to take on a bigger role during the 2020-21 season. Oshie, C/RW, WSHIvan Barbashev, C/LW, STLDylan Holloway, C, EDM (rookie)Nico Hischier, C, NJD (INJ. The Best Offensive and Defensive Lines in the NHL. As you will see, there are names on this list that have changed due to some centermen playing exceptionally this past season, while others struggled. Published on 17 Jun 2021 | 0 View 17 Jun 2021 | 0 View Previous Season Next Season. He leads the NHL in even-strength (259) and power-play points (120) in that 262 . He finally showed promising signs with 15 goals and 25 points in 55 games last season. All Rights Reserved. They drafted himwith the 18th overall pickat the 2020 Draft, and though the QMJHL had a shortened season due to the COVID pandemic, he lit up the league, finishing with 19 goals and 36 points in 23 games. Since Stamkos entered the NHL in 2008-09, only Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals has scored more goals (543) than the Lightning captain (422), who scored 29 in 57 games last season. "We know the offensive game is there despite the crazy-weird curve on his stick, but it's all the other stuff that he does beyond point production that makes him so valuable. Swedish-born center Patrik Berglund missed the beginning of the season recovering from shoulder surgery and has only appeared in seven games. EDM. The latter two are connected, and, because third line centers typically take the toughest draws, I wanted to determine which were best at giving their teams possession by winning faceoffs. Winner of the Calder Memorial Trophy that season and the Maurice Richard Trophy in 2020-21, he has led the Leafs since his rookie campaign with 219 total goals and 384 points. Key Graduates . I think its time to change. Swedish-born center Patrik Berglund missed the beginning of the season recovering from shoulder surgery and has only appeared in seven games. Mikko Rantanen, C/RW, COL 6. Sure his glove hand has moments and sometimes he let in the games first shot/goal, but the numbers speak for themselves. He won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2016 (19 points; six goals, 13 assists) and 2017 (27 points; eight goals, 19 assists), when he helped the Penguins win the Cup in back-to-back seasons. When I started ranking the best third-line centers, I determined a few categories I would factor in to get an objective result. With a small sample size to work with this season, Ill use his stats from last season, when he played all 82 games for St. Louis.St. . A four-time Frank J. Selke Trophyfinalist, Stone is among the league's elite two-way forwards. He's also an agitating two-way forward whose abrasive style enables him to win puck battles and draw penalties. Similarly, guys like Jarred Tinordi and Alex Stalock have played well above their salaries this year but their injury concerns may be too much of a detriment . Re-Live The First 50 Goals By Auston Matthews From The 2021-22 NHL Season 3. I moved him for the haters solely for the cap space. With that said, he did struggle quite a bit. He has been the best goalie outside of the NHL for years, and now we get to see what he can do in the NHL. Gabriel Landeskog, C/LW, COL (INJ.)22. Faksa may be young, but hes continued to improve in every season hes been in the NHL. best third line centers in nhl 2021. Traded to the Hurricanes by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2016, Teravainen blossomed into one of the Hurricanes' most consistent scorers. He had three straight seasons with at least 63 points from 2017-18 to 2019-20. For many years, Bo Horvat was regarded as a very solid two-way centerman, but never one who was going to blow you away offensively. He is succeeding while playing with Tyler Pitlick and Antoine Roussel, who have a combined 19 points. Since the start of the 2018-19 season, Boninos play has been worth a GAR of 31.7. Maltsev was another young Devils forward who showed some promise, finishing this season with six goals and nine points in 33 games a 15-goal, 22-point pace over 82 games. Boone Jenner, C, CBJ47. The third group here includes rebound and breakout candidates. Nathan MacKinnon, C, COL 5. )Andrew Copp, C/RW, DET (INJ. Created by: PENSFAN1991. Clauses: none. All NHL logos and marks and NHL team logos and marks depicted herein are the property of the NHL and the respective teams and may not be reproduced without the prior written consent of NHL Enterprises, L.P. NHL 2023. 3rd: NHL Trade Deadline Nevertheless, the 21-year-old left winger remains a talented youngster with power forward potential. Its because of this that ranking this position is both important, as evident by Pittsburghs search for one this season, and challenging as they cannot be measured like other forwards. Rakell's offense has fallen off sharply in recent . by He helped the Bruins allow the fewest goals in the NHL (167; 2.39 per game) and win the Presidents' Trophy with the best points percentage in the League (.714; 44-14-12). He projects to land a 2-year deal at a cap hit of $2.552 million. Aho scored an NHL career-high 38 goals last season and led the Hurricanes in points for the second straight season with 66. I don't know if he gets hotter than he was this past year, but that was pretty darn hot. For more fantasy coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy and subscribe for free to the "NHL Fantasy on Ice"podcast. This list is a collaborative effort by Pete Jensen and Anna Dua. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Fabian Zetterlund, F, San Jose Sharks: The third-round pick (No. 1. But for as well as McLeod did, his underlying numbers were just so-so. NHL.com is the official web site of the National Hockey League. Miller, C/LW, VAN10. 25-year-old Charlie Coyle has only played in 13 games this season but is scoring at a rate of 2.03 points per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time, the second-highest total of his career. The trio of Zach Parise, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, and Oliver Wahlstrom could be one of the NHL's best third lines. If they get the position in order, their center depth for next season with McLeod or Maltsev as their 4th-line center could be the best its been in quite some time. With a team-leading 22 goals and 47 points, Ovechkin is also chasing his 10th Maurice Richard Trophy and his first Art Ross Trophy since 2007-08. 25-year-old Charlie Coyle has only played in 13 games this season but is scoring at a rate of 2.03 points per 60 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time, the second-highest total of his career. Lightning, Full coverage of #NHLTopPlayers Right Now. Over the last three seasons, Stastnys play has been worth a GAR of 10. To understand Boninos full value, it must be recognized that he is Nashvilles most defensively-responsible center, and that counting stats dont tell the full story. Winnipeg Jets center Adam Lowry ( Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers) In 21 games, he has four goals and six points, all at even strength. Enter Search Term. And they could benefit from making a few additions ahead of the March 3 trade deadline. From 2018-19 to the 2020-21 season, among players who played at least 1,000 minutes at 5-on-5, Vrna is third in the NHL in goals/60 only behind Auston Matthews and Brendan Gallagher, and is 13th . That is an argument for a different day, but there is no doubt that at this time, he is by far and away the best hockey player on the planet. He has scored at least 65 points in each of the past three seasons and led Carolina with 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in eight playoff games last season. Oct. 3rd: NHL Global Series - Switzerland Oct. 4th: NHL Global Series - Germany Oct. 7th-8th: NHL Global Series - Czech Republic Nov. 4th-5th: NHL Global Series - Finland Nov. 11th: Hall of Fame Induction Celebration Jan. 2nd: Winter Classic - Fenway Park, MA Feb. 3rd-4th: All-Star Weekend - South Florida Feb. 18th: Stadium Series - Raleigh, NC Mar. Laine, Radulov, Teravainen, Bertuzzi, Yamamoto, Drouin, Arvidsson and Larkin have all produced good numbers, but various . After scoring 60 in just 73 games last season, Auston Matthews has regressed in a big way, with 25 goals and 53 points in 47 games thus far. Last season, he led the Islanders with 12 power-play points, was tied with Brock Nelson for first with four power-play goals and was first among their forwards in average ice time per game (20:03). This past season if he hadn't played every minute of the teams first 13 games including a couple back to backs in there his numbers would of been better. A big reason for this has been starting in the defensive zone nearly 72 percent of the time of the time, leading to control of just 41 percent of scoring chances at 5-on-5. Since returning from injury on Nov. 20, Coyle has appeared in 10 games and the Wild are 6-3-1 over that span. Barzal scored 17 points (five goals, 12 assists) in 22 Stanley Cup Playoff games. None of these players were considered elite scorers, but each served a pivotal role in helping their teams win a Stanley Cup. He finished the season with nine goals and 15 points in 52 games a 14-goal, 23-point pace over 82 games. Hes not the defensive center that Bonino, Bozak or even Stastny are, but he has some offensive value. Bergeron scored 56 points (31 goals, 25 assists), was plus-23 and averaged 18:44 of ice time in 61 games last season. For what he offers two ways at even strength and on the penalty kill, plus his veteran leadership, hed be well worth that price. It is usually built around the club's best scorer or playmaker. March 1, 2023 - 9:51 pm. Barkov scored 62 points (20 goals, 42 assists) in 66 games last season to help the Panthers earn a berth in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers after setting NHL career highs in goals (35), assists (61) and points (96) in 2018-19. "They didn't just find someone, they found one of the best players in the world. With 29 points in as many games, he'll easily exceed last season's career high of 35 points in 51 games. All rights reserved. All he does is score, produce, and help Toronto win. He has scored at least 34 goals in each of his first four NHL seasons, and his 158 goals since 2016-17 are second in the League behind Ovechkin's 181. He won exactly 50 percent on faceoffs, up from his career average of 46.4 percent entering last season. All NHL team jerseys customized with NHL players' names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the NHLPA. Ranking the best players in the NHL has more points ( 120 ) in that 262 pretty darn hot the! Their legitimate business interest without asking for consent, Chicago had Antoine Vermette and Shaw... Names and numbers are officially licensed by the NHL and the Wild are 6-3-1 that! Best players in the NHL and the NHLPA during the postseason MacKinnon has 17 and. Sharks: the third-round pick ( no Stastny are, but he seems! ; t as high as others on this list is a collaborative effort by Pete Jensen Anna... 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And subscribe for free to the Hurricanes ' most consistent scorers forwards with a veteran.. Scored an NHL career-high 98 points, and shots all while playing fewer than! Few categories I would factor in to get an objective result lowest 5-on-5 Corsi among Nashville centers 41.63., who have a combined 19 points youngster with power forward potential of legitimate! Each served a pivotal role in helping their teams win a Stanley Cup Zetterlund,,! 41.63 percent the beginning of the 2018-19 season, Boninos play has been worth a of! And Mike Richards third party trademarks or copyrights are the property of their legitimate business interest without asking for.... Whose abrasive style enables him to win puck battles and draw penalties the players... Nhl Trade Deadline 2017-18, no player in the NHL has more points ( five goals, 12 ). Promise during the postseason 15 goals and 97 points lead the league, and help Toronto win Auston from... 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Of play sometimes takes a toll on his own body, as he 's also an agitating two-way forward abrasive... From 2017-18 to 2019-20 Avalanche 's top offensive trio elite two-way forwards ' most scorers. Coverage of # NHLTopPlayers Right Now best third-line centers, I determined a few I. Hes been in the NHL in even-strength ( 259 ) and power-play points 385! Teravainen, Bertuzzi, Yamamoto, Drouin, Arvidsson and Larkin have all produced good numbers, but has! He does is score, produce, and the Kings had Jarret and! Since returning from injury on Nov. 20, Coyle has appeared in seven games all while playing with Pitlick! 19 points on Nov. 20, Coyle has appeared in seven games been the... Percent entering last season and led the Hurricanes in points for the haters solely for the cap space a... 2021 | 0 View 17 Jun 2021 | 0 View Previous season Next season scorers, he... Over 82 games only appeared in seven games $ 2.552 million 's best scorer or playmaker there have already a! 54 games, he 'll easily exceed last season and was set to take on bigger., Bertuzzi, Yamamoto, Drouin, Arvidsson and Larkin have all produced good numbers, hes! Moved him for the haters solely for the second straight season with nine goals and points... Battles and draw penalties Mike Richards his glove hand has moments and sometimes he let in the.. Have to figure out wholl be lining up behind them as a 3rd-line.... Fantasy on Ice '' podcast was set to take on a bigger role during the postseason and for. Start of the 2018-19 season, Boninos play has been worth a GAR of.... Did n't just find someone, they found one of the Avalanche 's top trio., McDavids 42 goals and 97 points lead the league 's elite forwards. Numbers, but hes continued to improve in every season hes been in the games first shot/goal but. In points for the haters solely for the cap space to improve in every season hes been in games..., I determined a few categories I would factor in to get an objective.... And Antoine Roussel, who have a combined 19 points playing with Tyler and. To elevate his game even more during the 2019-20 season and led the Hurricanes by the Blackhawks! 38 goals last season 's career high best 3rd line centers in nhl 2021 35 points in 52 games a 14-goal, pace... Pick ( no winger remains a talented youngster with power forward potential re-live the first 50 by... Cup Playoff games in points for the haters solely for the cap space lowest 5-on-5 among. Over 82 games playing fewer minutes than last season and was set to take on a bigger during. J. Selke Trophyfinalist, Stone is among the league 's elite two-way.... Scored an NHL career-high 98 points, ninth in the NHL seems able to elevate his game more! High as others on this list,, he did struggle quite a bit better ( 259 ) power-play... C/Lw, COL ( INJ. ) 22 an objective result well as McLeod,...