This should come as no surprise. Of the Kraken’s weaknesses, “lack of number-one center” is always at the top of the list.
Still haven’t found him …
The NHL Network came up with its Top-20 Center list this week, or as they call it “Top 20 Centers Right Now”.
As opposed to last year, next month, or in 1998, I reckon.
Anyway, here it is in graphic form, right off social media.
Interestingly, four of those Top-10 centers didn’t make the playoffs this past season. We’ll give Aleksander Barkov a pass, given he was injured the whole time, like a lot of his teammates, and the Florida Panthers were coming off back-to-back Stanley Cup wins.
Auston Matthews didn’t make it with his Maple Leafs, nor did Jack Hughes with his New Jersey Devils. However, they did both manage to win a Gold Medal at the Olympics with Team USA. Not a bad consolation prize for two elite pivots.
Heck, the young man listed 3rd didn’t even get in. Macklin Celebrini. But that San Jose Sharks rebuild is in turbo mode and it won’t be long.
Here’s the next ten:
Mark Scheifele and the Winnipeg Jets failed to make the postseason one year after winning the Presidents Trophy with the NHL’s best regular season record. Weird, but that’s hockey.
Devils captain Nico Hischier didn’t get in, as pointed out above, neither did Connor Bedard with the rebuilding Blackhawks, or Dylan Larkin of the perpetually middling Detroit Red Wings.
See Kraken fans, having a number-one center doesn’t matter. Look at all the Top-20 guys that didn’t get in!!
Kidding, of course. By the way, only 16 teams make it.
Where would the top Kraken center be if this list were extended?
Honestly, likely somewhere around 30 … ish.
In due time.
By the way, a bit nerve wracking for the Kraken’s neighbours north of the border: Canucks fans don’t see $11.6-million man Elias Pettersson’s name on that list either.
Ouch. Ongoing ouch.
Earlier Seattle:
— Call Him ‘Tony Stark’, Larsson Is Kraken Ironman
— Time Ticking For Kraken’s Ancient Mariner
Fun fact, I’d you add all of these names + Beniers, and rate them by Evolving Hockey GAR (Goals Above Replacement) — Beniers is 12th on the list, with 11.5
If you just look at players listed as centers, he’s 27th (64th overall forward, 92nd overall skater, 92nd percentile)
If you remove the players listed as C that really only play W, he’s in the top 20 by GAR
Kraken are going to be fine — C is the last thing we need to worry about right now
Also, any top-20 C list missing Robert Thomas is probably completely invalid. There were only 13 ppg+ Cs in the NHL the past season, and he’s one of them