NHL Power Rankings: Top Ten Eastern Conference Centers

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Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

The NHL has a bunch of great centers. Who are the ten best in the Eastern Conference?

In the NHL, the Western Conference gets a lot of attention for being the best conference (and rightfully so). However, the one position where the Eastern Conference has a pretty clear advantage is at center. The West features such centers as Tyler Seguin, Ryan Getzlaf, Anze Kopitar and Joe Pavelski. The Eastern Conference is so deep at NHL center depth, it’s insane.

NHL Power Rankings: Honorable Mentions

Tyler Johnson of the Tampa Bay Lightning was going to be on my list. However, I realized that he had only played in two full seasons. His numbers over the past two seasons place him among the best centers in the NHL. However, in order to be one of the best, I think you need to prove it over three NHL seasons. As much as I want to make an exception for Johnson, that wouldn’t be fair. Barring injury or a severe drop in production, I can’t think of any reason why he won’t be on this list next year.

Brandon Dubinsky is an often overlooked center because he doesn’t put up the best boxcar stats. However, he’s a shutdown center who does his job better than most. Despite facing opponents’ top lines, he has impressive possession numbers. The Blue Jackets are simply a much better team when he’s on the ice. That’s about all that any NHL team can ask for from their shutdown center. He makes things a lot easier for his teammates.

Speaking of which, Dubinsky’s teammate Ryan Johansen is quickly rising among the NHL’s elite centers. His possession stats aren’t great, but when he’s on the ice, Columbus tends to generate more offense. The addition of Brandon Saad should accelerate him into the top 10 of this list in the next year or two.

Derick Brassard and Derek Stepan are two centers who are very important to the New York Rangers. They’ve had a lot of success over their past three NHL seasons. It’s not a coincidence that the Rangers have as well. Stepan plays a shutdown role while Brassard is used as the scoring line center. They’re both excellent at what they do.

Last year, Stepan had to face way too many defensive zone starts, and his numbers reflected that. With an improved fourth line that should be able to handle defensive zone starts, Stepan should see more favorable zone starts and return to producing like he has in the past.

There is a ton of really good young NHL centers in the Eastern Conference. I decided to make them their own special category. Here are guys who could accelerate into the top 10 within the next two or three seasons.

Next: The Young Guns

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

NHL Power Rankings: The Young Guns

Evgeny Kuznetsov of the Washington Capitals was fantastic from March onward in his rookie season. The rest of the NHL got introduced to him in the playoffs when he made ridiculous plays and was arguably the Caps’ best skater. Last season, Troy Brouwer really dragged him down. This season, he’ll likely be on a forward line with Justin Williams and Andre Burakovsky (or Marcus Johansson). That should certainly help him get rid of his possession woes.

The Florida Panthers have two of my favorite young NHL centers in Aleksander Barkov and Nick Bjugstad. The Florida Panthers are quickly improving thanks to their foundation of players built around Barkov and Bjugstad. Are they as good as Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin? No, but when you have two centers to build your team around, it makes the rebuilding go much faster. Barkov already has impressive possession numbers and he hasn’t even began to touch his offensive potential. Bjugstad is an excellent scoring line center.

Alex Galchenyuk of the Montreal Canadiens should skyrocket up this list if he is their first line center. Why? Because that means he gets to play alongside Max Pacioretty, who is one of the most underrated scorers in the NHL. His possession numbers are quite good, especially once you take into consideration Montreal’s puck possession woes.

There’s a lot of hype surrounding Jack Eichel, the second overall pick of the 2015 NHL Draft. While he’s no Connor McDavid, his offense and his two-way style of play should put him among the NHL’s elite fairly quickly. I was concerned about his development because Buffalo’s defensemen are awful at moving the puck, but the addition of Cody Franson helps immensely.

Next: #10

Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

NHL Power Rankings: #10

Coming in at number ten on our list of the best centers in the Eastern Conference is one of the NHL’s most underrated centers: Nazem Kadri. Kadri is often overlooked because he plays for such a bad team (the Toronto Maple Leafs) and they haven’t utilized him properly until fairly recently. Despite this, he has some very impressive stats.

The Leafs have been one of the worst possession teams in the NHL over the past three seasons. That’s what makes Kadri’s possession stats impressive. He has an even-strength SCF% relative of 5.36% (sixth among Eastern Conference centers) over the past three seasons. His 8.14% even-strength HSCF% (high-danger scoring chances for percentage) relative ranks third among Eastern Conference centers. His 4.55% even-strength FenClose% relative is fourth.

With 2.04 even-strength points per 60 minutes, he ranks 11th. Considering who he has spent a majority of his time with, that’s really good. His power play production numbers aren’t impressive, but considering the Leaf’s power play, that’s not a surprise at all. An added bonus is that he has become an expert at drawing penalties.

Another knock on him is that he’s never gotten consistent first line minutes in the NHL, though that’s not his fault. This season, he’ll likely get first line minutes because Mike Babcock and Toronto must determine if he’s worth keeping. Looking at his track record in the NHL, I expect success.

Next: #9

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

NHL Power Rankings: #9

Ryan O’Reilly is our ninth-best center in the Eastern Conference. He’s a newbie, as he was just traded to the Buffalo Sabres from the Colorado Avalanche this summer. Thanks to his reputation as one of the best centers in the NHL, he’s included in this countdown.

O’Reilly is a prototypical franchise center. He can contribute at even strength, on the powerplay and on the penalty kill. He’s the kind of center you can build a franchise around. Like Eichel, I had some concerns about him because of how bad Buffalo’s defensemen were, but Franson gives me enough confidence that he can be really good for the Sabres.

He ranks 14th among Eastern Conference centers in even-strength points per 60 minutes (1.92). Note that two of his former teammates are ahead of him, but they aren’t in the Eastern Conference. His 0.74 even-strength goals per 60 minutes rank 19th. His even-strength assist rate of 1.18 assists per 60 minutes is also 19th. He didn’t have the best of linemates while in Colorado, so that makes his production even more impressive.

Where O’Reilly separates himself from other NHL centers is (you guessed it) possession. O’Reilly ranks in the top ten among Eastern Conference centers in even-strength HSCF% relative (5.78%), even-strength SCF% relative (4.94%), even-strength CF% relative (3.98%), and even-strength FenClose% relative (5.60%).

O’Reilly has proven that he doesn’t need great teammates to be great. The Sabres are going to love him and Jack Eichel has about as good of an on-ice role model as a rookie could dream of having in O’Reilly.

Next: #8

Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

NHL Power Rankings: #8

Who’s the eighth best center in the Eastern Conference? It’s Claude Giroux, who I think will be higher on this list once a certain puck magician finally gets hit by Father Time. Giroux has quickly emerged as one of the NHL’s best centers. Heck, there was a time when his coach called him the best player in the world (and he probably wasn’t wrong). He might not be the best player in the world now, but he’s still extremely good.

Giroux ranks 22nd in even-strength points per 60 minutes (1.82). He also ranks 36th in even-strength goals per 60 minutes (0.63). That seems low, but it’s worth noting that he was pretty unlucky in 2014-2015. Giroux’s even-strength assist rate of 1.19 assists per 60 minutes is 18th.

If you want to know who I think is the best power play specialist in the NHL not named Alex Ovechkin, you could argue that it’s Claude Giroux. He ranks third in power play points per 60 minutes among Eastern Conference centers over the past three seasons. Basically, he and Jakub Voracek keep the Flyers from being terrible as far as production.

They also keep them from being terrible as far as possession stats. Giroux ranks in the top 20 in even-strength HSCF% relative (3.75%). He’s in the top 10 in even-strength SCF% relative (4.28%), even-strength CF% relative (4.88%), and even-strength FenClose% (4.31%).

Giroux is a tad bit underrated, but one more excellent season should quickly change that.

Next: Number Seven

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

NHL Power Rankings: #7

Ranked seventh on our list of the best centers in the Eastern Conference is the Magic Man, Pavel Datsyuk of the Detroit Red Wings. He’s been so good for so long, but he’s starting to decline. Even though he’s slowly declining, he’s still arguably one of the NHL’s elite centers.

Since the beginning of the 2012-2013 season, Datsyuk has been among the best centers in the NHL. He ranks second in even-strength FenClose% relative (6.03%), second in even-strength CF% relative (6.94%), fourth in even-strength SCF% relative (6.69%), and fourth in even-strength HSCF% relative (6.99%). Despite aging, he’s still 15th in even-strength points per 60 minutes (1.99).

So why isn’t he ranked higher than seventh? It’s mainly because of his age. He is 37 years old. Datsyuk has done a darn good job avoiding Father Time so far in his career. It catches up to every player, though, and history suggests that it will likely be this year. Also, the loss of Mike Babcock could be huge for him.

Also, while Datsyuk probably had one of the best five-year runs that we’ve ever seen from a two-way center, he is starting to become sheltered as far as his zone starts. He’s getting more offensive zone starts recently than he did earlier in his career. He’s also facing a lesser quality of competition.

Despite all of that, Datsyuk still might be the most fun player in the NHL to watch and still does things that I wish I could do in NHL 16.

Next: Number Six

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

NHL Power Rankings: #6

The NHL’s reigning assist champion, Nicklas Backstrom of the Washington Capitals, is number six on our list of the best Eastern Conference centers. Backstrom is one of the most underrated centers in the NHL. Despite being one of the best centers in the world, he rarely gets mentioned in the “best players in the world” conversation when he really should be in it. There are various theories as to why he’s so underrated. I think it’s because the spotlight tends to gravitate towards charismatic players like Alex Ovechkin and not towards more reserved players like Backstrom.

Backstrom doesn’t have great possession stats. As someone who watches every Caps game, that’s more due to the complete incompetence of Dale Hunter and Adam Oates than Backstrom himself. Despite the Oates Caps struggling mightily at even strength (and Backstrom playing two of his last three seasons under him), Backstrom still ranks 10th among Eastern Conference centers in even strength points over the past three seasons with 94. He is also third in overall points with 205.

Backstrom’s known for his passing, and rightfully so. Over the past three seasons, he has 64 even strength assists (tied for fourth among centers) and second in overall assists with 161. He isn’t much of a goal scorer, but keep in mind that he plays with the best goal scorer in the world. Deferring to him is usually a pretty wise decision.

A lot of people say that Backstrom is a “passenger” because he relies on Ovechkin. That couldn’t be further from the truth because Ovechkin struggles away from Backstrom. To be fair, Backstrom struggles away from his Russian buddy as well. Perhaps that’s a sign that they should never be separated.

Next: Number 5

Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

NHL Power Rankings: #5

The fifth best center in the Eastern Conference is Steven Stamkos of the Tampa Bay Lightning. It’s difficult to judge Stamkos compared to other centers because he scores goals at such a high rate. In fact, since he’s been in the league, he’s been the only Eastern Conference player even close to Alex Ovechkin when it comes to scoring goals and actually has more even strength goals than him (153 to 150). Ovechkin is the quintessential high volume shooter while Stamkos is selective but can sustain a very high shooting percentage.

Despite being on a team that has absolutely dominated puck possession over the past three seasons, he still has good possession numbers. He is a positive possession player when you look at even-strength HSCF% relative (4.11%), even-strength SCF% relative (1.59%), even-strength CF% (1.71%), and even-strength FenClose% (0.88%). He shouldn’t be punished for not having elite possession numbers because if he did, Tampa Bay would be unfairly good with him on the ice. Plus, his production more than makes up for the non-elite advanced stats.

Before this season, I probably had Stamkos in my top three. Several things changed that. First of all, Tyler Johnson emerged as Tampa Bay’s go-to guy to shut down top opposing lines. This has led to Stamkos facing a lesser quality of competition. Secondly, it has led to him getting more offensive zone starts, which obviously is a very beneficial thing for Stamkos. In a conference where you can find at least one darn good center on just about any team, facing lesser competition is a determining factor.

Next: Number Four

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

NHL Power Rankings: #4

It’s absolutely nuts that Evgeni Malkin is the fourth best center in the Eastern Conference. That’s quite telling of how deep the Eastern Conference is. Malkin is one of the most productive centers in the NHL, even if he does have some questions regarding his defense. The biggest reason that he’s not higher might be one of his teammates (who is up higher on this list).

Malkin ranks third in even-strength points per 60 minutes (2.31) over the past three seasons. He’s fifth in even-strength assists per 60 minutes (1.38) and fifth in even-strength goals per 60 minutes (0.94) as well. On the power play, he ranks fifth in power play points per 60 minutes and third in on-ice goals for per 60 minutes.

Malkin is also an elite possession forward, as he ranks in the top 10 in even-strength HSCF% relative (5.90%), even-strength SCF% relative (5.81%), even-strength FenClose% relative (4.32%), and even-strength CF% relative (5.45%).

One of the biggest concerns about him, as Pens Labyrinth points out, is his tendency to not shoot the puck on the power play. He’s not afraid to do it at even strength, which makes it even stranger that he doesn’t do it on the power play.

[Malkin’s] unwillingness to fire the puck is extremely frustrating to watch and negatively impacts both his line at full-strength and the Pittsburgh Penguins power play. Geno is the most dangerous shooter on this team. While he may not rival pure snipers like Alex Ovechkin or James Neal, he’s still dangerously accurate and has good velocity. Distributing to less formidable shooters too often is an issue that he needs to remedy. – Pens Labyrinth

Despite his slight power play issue (which honestly is a bit nitpicky but an issue nonetheless), I’d still take him over most centers because of his ability to create offense.

Next: Number Three

Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

NHL Power Rankings: #3

John Tavares of the New York Islanders comes in at number three on our list of the ten best centers in the Eastern Conference. Tavares has become one of the best players in the NHL over the past three years. He has the production to prove it, as he ranks in the top five among Eastern Conference centers in even-strength points per 60 minutes (2.25) and even-strength goals per 60 minutes (1.10). Stamkos is the only other Eastern Conference center who has averaged over a goal per 60 minutes at even strength during the past three seasons.

Tavares is also a beast on the power play. Over the past three seasons, he ranks ninth in power play points per 60 minutes (6.19) and third in power play goals per 60 minutes (2.58). He ranks ninth in on-ice power play goals per 6o minutes as well (8.26).

Tavares also has impressive possession stats despite being asked to take on a lot of tough minutes. He ranks in the top 15 in even-strength HSCF% relative and SCF% relative. He also ranks in the top 10 in even-strength CF% relative and in the top five in even-strength FenClose%.

Tavares is arguably one of the three most valuable players to his team in the NHL.

Next: #2

Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

NHL Power Rankings: Number Two

Coming in at number two on our list of the best Eastern Conference centers is the incomparable Patrice Bergeron. The three-time Selke Trophy recipient is well known for his defensive prowess, but he is extremely good on offense as well. When the phrase “shutdown center” was created, it was made with Bergeron in mind as an ideal one.

Bergeron isn’t known for his offense, but he’s quite effective. His 2.11 even-strength points per 60 minutes over the past three NHL seasons ranks ninth among Eastern Conference centers. His 0.91 even-strength goals per 60 minutes rank seventh among Eastern Conference centers. If there’s a weakness in Bergeron’s game, it’s the power play. His 3.94 power play points per 60 minutes are 37th among the 76 Eastern Conference centers with at least 100 minutes over the past three seasons, which is still slightly above average.

Bergeron has by far the best possession stats of any NHL center. Here’s where he ranks among Eastern Conference centers over the past three seasons.

First in even-strength HSCF% relative (10.13%)
Fourth lowest rate of high-danger scoring chances against per 60 minutes (12.10)
Second highest rate of high-danger scoring chances for per 60 minutes (19.81)
First in even-strength SCF% relative (11.08%) and scoring chances for per 60 minutes (34.28)
Second lowest scoring chances against per 60 minutes rate (21.47)
First in even-strength CF% relative (8.89%)
First in even-strength FenClose% relative (9.07%)

He’s also one of the best penalty killers in the NHL despite being heavily used while shorthanded. I’m not a huge fan of face-off win percentage, but Bergeron leads Eastern Conference centers in that as well. Patrice Bergeron deserves every bit of hype that he gets because he sets the bar extremely high for himself and still manages to consistently meet it. Bruins fans expect greatness out of Bergeron and he gives it to them about as consistently as any hockey player I’ve ever seen.

Next: #1

Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

NHL Power Rankings: Number One

Sidney Crosby, to the surprise of nobody, is the best center in the Eastern Conference and arguably the best player in the NHL. Not only does he have elite possession stats, his production rates that make everyone else look silly.

His 2.80 even-strength points per 60 minutes over the past three NHL seasons is the best in the Eastern Conference. The next closest? Tyler Johnson with 2.34. He narrowly missed being one of the three Eastern Conference centers to average over one even strength goal per 60 minutes (0.97), but he’s still third among Eastern Conference centers. His 1.83 even-strength assists per 60 minutes put him in first among Eastern Conference centers by a margin of .39. He also leads all Eastern Conference centers in total points per 60 minutes with 3.65. Crosby plays 21 minutes a night, so he averages a point per game.

He’s in the top five in every possession stat. While he might not be as good as Bergeron, he makes up for it with his unreal production. As a Caps fan, I hate Crosby with every fiber of my soul. But I respect him. He’s definitely the best center in the Eastern Conference and probably the best in the NHL.

Next: NHL Power Rankings

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