By In Hockey, the center position plays an important role for the team and for this particular reason, centers are required to do more than the rest of the players. They have to put up with faceoffs, be vigilant in the defensive area, and perform as a driving catalyst whenever needed. Of course, there are so many good centers out there but only a few of them have stood out the most.
So today, we will rank the 7 best centers in the NHL based on their performances.
1. Connor McDavid
Born: January 13th, 1997 (age 26)
Place of birth: Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada
Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Position: Centre
NHL squad: Edmonton Oilers
Playing as a center in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Edmonton Oilers, Connor McDavid is regarded as one of the finest players in the league by many players, fans, and correspondents. McDavid is being compared to names like Sidney Crosby and Wayne Gretzky. His quickness on the ice has been highly praised by his opponents as well. He is a three-time winner of the NHL All-Star Skills Competition three times, a four-time winner of the Art Ross Trophy, and a three-time recipient of the Ted Lindsay Award and so on.
2. Auston Matthews
Born: September 17th, 1997 (age 25)
Place of birth: San Ramon, California, U.S.
Height: 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Position: Center
NHL squad: Toronto Maple Leafs
Auston Matthews is an American ice hockey player who plays as a center in the National Hockey League (NHL) for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was highly considered an elite candidate for the draft and was picked first overall by the Leafs. He became the first American player to set records for the highest points scored in one season and as a player of the Leafs, achieved the sixty-point mark for the first time. Matthews was the recipient of the Rocket Richard Trophy for two consecutive seasons and won the Ted Lindsay Award for being the most outstanding player. He also won the Hart Trophy for MVP.
3. Nathan MacKinnon
Born: September 1st, 1995 (age 27)
Place of birth: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Position: Center
NHL squad: Colorado Avalanche
Nathan MacKinnon is mostly known as “Nate the Great”, “The Dogg” and “Winnin’ MacKinnon”, he is widely considered one of the greatest hockey players on the planet and is recognized for being an outstanding player in the postseason. He was the recipient of the Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022.
4. Leon Draisaitl
Born: October 27th, 1995 (age 27)
Place of birth: Cologne, Germany
Height: 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Position: Center
NHL squad: Edmonton Oilers
Currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a center, Leon Draisaitl– the German-born ice hockey player is the son of retired German national squad player Peter Draisaitl. He became the first German player to win the Art Ross Trophy in 2020 for the highest point scorer. Leon is widely regarded as one of the best centers in the NHL.
5. Sidney Crosby
Born: August 7th, 1987 (age 35)
Place of birth: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Height: 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Position: Center
NHL squad: Pittsburgh Penguins
Sidney Crosby plays in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a center for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He is widely known by his nickname “Sid the Kid” or “The Next One”, for his impeccable playing skills. He was picked 1st overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2005 NHL Draft and is widely considered one of the best ice hockey players in the history of the NHL.
6. Aleksander Barkov
Born: September 2nd, 1995 (age 27)
Place of birth: Tampere, Finland
Height: 6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Position: Center
NHL Squad: Florida Panthers
Aleksander Barkov is a Finnish pro ice hockey center who serves as the captain of the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Barkov is the son of retired Russian hockey player Alexander Barkov Sr. and possesses both Finnish and Russian citizenship. He is considered a top two-way center and one of the finest defensive forwards in ice hockey, receiving the Frank J. Selke Trophy in 2021.
7. Steven Stamkos
Born: February 7th, 1990 (age 33)
Place of birth: Markham, Ontario, Canada
Height: 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Position: Center
NHL squad: Tampa Bay Lightning
Currently playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL, Steven Stamkos is a 2x Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy winner as the NHL’s top goal-scorer. He is also a two-time NHL second-team All-Star, has been declared to seven NHL All-Star Games, and is regarded as one of the finest ice hockey players of all time.
