Usually, in the offseason, there are a lot of lists ranking the top players in the NHL. Whether that comes from fans or media, there is a lot of discussion about the elite of the elite players across the league. After the 2021 playoffs, I thought that I would take a shot at it myself. So, let’s get started with the group of the most depth, the centers. Where I’m ranking the top 30 centers due to the sheer amount of talent across the league, I’m going to split this one into two parts. My ranking of 15–1 should be out tomorrow, so let’s get right into it.
#30 Nick Suzuki
While his former teammate, Phillip Danault barely didn’t make this list, Suzuki’s season puts him ahead for me. After his rookie year, there were concerns about Suzuki's goal-scoring ability. He scored at a 22 goal pace in the 2021 season, which is certainly an improvement. Suzuki has often been compared to Patrice Bergeron, and I think that that’s a fair comparison. Suzuki has been a top-tier defensive center since he’s entered the league, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon. Suzuki's offensive impact rose tremendously in his sophomore season, and I can see him being one of the top Selke candidates for years to come.
#29 Bo Horvat
After a very memorable 2020 bubble playoff run, Bo Horvat had a slightly disappointing season. However, people forget that despite having 10 goals in 17 games, Horvat only had 2 assists in that playoff run. He was on pace for a 28 goal 57 point pace. This is his worst point pace since the 18–19 season, and despite his reputation as a two-way forward I don’t think that he is very good in his own end either. Horvat is a really strong offensive player and finisher, and hopefully, he’ll gel well with Garland because I think that he can have a fantastic season if he can.
#28 Jonathan Toews
With a retooled Blackhawks roster, Toews is looking to come back next season after missing the entire 2021 season. I have no idea how he will come back and play. Based on his 19–20 season Toews has massively fallen on the defensive end, but as a result of that his offensive impacts have been near the best of his career. Toews is 33 years old now, so the question will be if he drops off of a cliff after a season of rest, or use it to his advantage to come back with another burst of energy.
#27 Roope Hintz
Much as I’ve said for players in past rankings, I bet you didn’t know that Hintz had an 86 point 30 goal pace in this past season. At just 23 years old, Hintz has proven that he can be a great center when given the proper opportunity. I’m hoping that the Stars run Hintz as their 2nd line center next season, as he filled up 1st line duties for Seguin for most of the year. I think he’s prepared for a full season breakout net year, and I think he’ll help lead the Stars to a bounceback year. He’s a fantastic finisher and defensive player, and he absolutely knows how to drive the offence as well.
#26 Dylan Larkin
Dylan Larkin is coming off of one of the worst seasons of his career, as he only had 9 goals and 23 points in 44 games. You can’t really blame him, and I can’t take him off of this list just yet. He’s going to get a chance to play on a better Red Wings team next season, and if he can develop some chemistry with Vrana, he can go back to being a near point-per-game player. Larkin is still just 25, and I think he can still hit his elite potential that we all thought that he could. Larkin is still an elite 2-way forward, with fantastic offensive and defensive impacts. He has been a terrible finisher over the past couple of seasons, and you can chalk that up to him being unlucky. If he stays healthy, I think that Larkin can rise this list next season.
#25 Anthony Cirelli
Cirelli was a very good player for the Lightning in the 19–20 season, but he didn’t have a great playoffs. That carried over into the 2021 season where Cirelli only put up 22 points in 50 games. Cirelli has been a near-elite defender since he came into the league, but that even wasn’t the same in this past season. I’m expecting a much better season for Cirelli next year with Kucherov being healthy and the top 6 having more pressure with the Lightning's entire 3rd line leaving this past offseason.
#24 Logan Couture
Couture has been one of the most consistent players since his breakout season in 10–11. Couture is still an elite finisher at age 32 and hasn’t shown any signs of decline. With Couture only having 31 points in 53 games this past season, there was one thing that certainly showed, which was his lack of playmaking. Understandably, the Sharks had a really bad season, but he played on a line with Evander Kane who had a great season. Couture could easily drop out of this list next season, but I think he deserves this spot for now.
#23 William Karlsson
Since his 43 goal season in the 17–18 season, Karlsson hasn’t been the same player. He isn’t that good of a finisher anymore, but he is still a very good two-way player who is also a great playmaker. He just had a great playoff run for the Golden Knights, and I think I may be still underrating him. He only had a 57 point pace in this past season, but his impact on the ice tells me that he deserves this #23 spot on this list.
#22 Tyler Seguin
Over the past couple of seasons, Tyler Seguins play has not been the same as it has the rest of his Stars career. However, he is coming off of an injury-ridden season, where he only played 3 games of a possible 56. Despite it feeling like he’s been in the league forever, Seguin is only 29 years old. If he can stay healthy next season I can absolutely see him jumping back up this list.
#21 Tomas Hertl
Since his breakout year in 18–19, Tomas Hertl has consistently been the best player on the Sharks. He is a great finisher, offensive driver, and defensive player. He can play very well on the powerplay as well as the penalty kill and is just a fantastic all-around player. His 70 point 31 goal pace on a terrible Sharks team doesn’t tell you Hertls full impact on the ice. There are currently rumours that Hertl wants out of San Jose, and I hope he goes to a contender so he can show off his elite play.
#20 Anze Kopitar
Anze Kopitar is certainly someone that I wish I didn’t have to rank this low. On a bad Kings team last season, Kopitar was still able to put up 50 points in 56 games. He has been very inconsistent defensively over the past 3 seasons, but he certainly isn’t the same player in his own end anyways. He’s still a solid finisher and offensive driver, but I don’t think that I can put him higher than 20 right now.
#19 John Tavares
Now before Leafs fans get mad at me, just know that Tavares would be top 10 in both wingers lists, there’s just so much depth at center across the league. In Toronto, Tavares has shown himself to be one of the best net-front presence in the league. He’s still one of the best offensive drivers in the league, but like many centers in this league, his defensive ability is very overrated. He’s a great powerplay player and is obviously one of the best leaders in the NHL. Since scoring his career-high 47 goals in his first season in Toronto, Tavares has had a 34 and 28 goal pace in the following seasons. I don’t doubt that Tavares can go back to being a 40 goal scorer, but he has to prove that to me before I can put him back up this list.
#18 Mathew Barzal
I know Islanders fans are going to be ecstatic at Barzal being over Tavares. Barzal has not been able to eclipse a point a game since he had an 85 point rookie season, which was somewhat due to Tavares. However, after Tavares left, Barry Trotz showed up. He makes the Islanders play a style of play that doesn’t lead to as many points as Doug Weight allowed him to get. However, Barzal has only gotten better. Over the last two seasons, Barzal has been a fantastic center to watch who has put up a total of 105 points in 123 games. His speed and handle with the puck is something that not many other players can say that they can do, and he’s still an elite play driver and a solid enough defender as well.
#17 Sean Couturier
In the 17–18 season Couturier put up a near point per game total in his breakout offensive season, and he has taken that and ran with it. Couturier is a solid finisher who is one of the best two-way forwards in the game, as he has elite impacts on both sides of the ice. He’s a great playmaker and you can play him in almost any situation on the ice. Couturier is one of the most versatile players in the league, and that’s what lands him at the #18 spot.
#16 Nicklas Backstrom
Last season Nicklas Backstrom had a confusing year to watch. He had one of the best finishing seasons of his career, and yet he looked much better defensively than he normally does. He had a great season, but I think that he may see a huge decline next season when he turns 34 mid-season. If he doesn’t keep this finishing up next season, he may fall down this list quite a bit.