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 with the most depth, the centers. Part 1 came out yesterday, and you can read that here, but let’s get right into it with #15.
#15 Mika Zibanejad
After a not talked enough 59 goal 108 point pace season in 19–20, Zibanejad had a disappointing follow up in 2021. He still had a 35 goal 73 point pace, but it just wasn’t the same. He shot an unbelievable 19.7% in 19–20, and he still shot a very good 14.0% in this past season. I don’t think he’ll ever be that player he was in 19–20 again, but he’s still one of the best finishers in the NHL who is a great playmaker and powerplay player who isn’t afraid to play sometime on the penalty kill. He isn’t a good defender, and he surprisingly isn’t a great offensive play driver either, but his elite play at everything else on the ice is what slots him in at #15.
#14 Elias Pettersson
Trust me, Pettersson would be higher on this list if he had a more healthy 2021 season. Over the past two seasons, Pettersson has become one of the best two-way players in the NHL who has a handle on the puck that most NHL players could only dream of. He’s an elite finisher with a hell of a shot who is very hard to stop. He’s also a great playmaker if you had even a single thought that Pettersson was weak at anything. The only thing that Pettersson isn’t elite at is the powerplay, but that’s partly because of the system that the Canucks run. Let’s just say that there’s probably a good reason that the Canucks haven’t resigned Pettersson yet, and that’s because of the money that he deserves.
#13 Mark Scheifele
Despite being criticized by many, Scheifele is still a top 15 center in this league. I understand that he basically gives up in his own end, but he is so good offensively that it makes up for it. He’s one of the most elite offensive play drivers in the NHL, and despite him not getting the most goals in the world, he is still a fantastic finisher. He’s a top-of-the-line playmaker who you can bet on to be healthy and around a point a game every single season. Scheifele is still 28, so the Jets are going to have to take advantage of the few prime seasons that Scheifele has left.
#12 Sebastian Aho
Sebastian Aho has done nothing but lead the Hurricanes to the most playoff success they have had in more than a decade and for something people still don’t respect him enough. Aho is one of the best play drivers in the NHL, and over the past two seasons, he has emerged as a player who is very capable of scoring 40 goals in a full season. Aho has a great shot and he knows how to use his fantastic speed to his advantage. He’s a great powerplay player who knows how to playmake and can hold his own in his own end. Aho can also play well on the penalty kill, and that makes him one of the most versatile players in the league.
#11 Jack Eichel
If it wasn’t for questions around how Eichel will come back after this terrible neck injury is all that is keeping him out of the top 10. His talent is certainly there. Since the 16–17 season Eichel has been one of the best offensive play drivers and finishers on the NHL. In this past season, he only had 2 goals in 21 games, which is obviously unlike Jack Eichel. He can hold his own defensively, which is different from most players with his kind of offensive talent. He is obviously elite on the powerplay and his great playmaking skills are only a bonus that comes with him. His speed and stick handling are fantastic to watch, and I think that he can absolutely bounce back next season on whatever team he ends up playing for.
#10 Ryan O’Reilly
After leaving the hell hole that is the Buffalo Sabres in 2018, O’Reilly has been to two all-star games, won Frank J. Selke Trophy, a Stanley Cup, as well as the Conn Smythe, all in 2019. As I have said for many centers on this list, O’Reilly is one of the best two-way forwards in the NHL. His elite defence mixed with his great playmaking is what makes him that kind of player. He also knows how to put the puck in the net, and with all of his abilities wouldn’t be surprised if he has another playoff run in him soon with a kind of retooled Blues team.
#9 Evgeni Malkin
This is the ONE Penguins player on these rankings that I will say is probably a bit biased. After a down season in 2021, where Malkin wasn’t able to train before the season in Russia, people are starting to say that Malkin is already washed. I just won’t take that. Despite being 35 years old, Malkin is still a great skater who is one of the best play drivers in the league, and he’s still an elite finisher at times. He’s one of the best playmakers in the league who doesn’t get the credit he deserves a lot of the time because he plays behind Sidney Crosby. I understand that he isn’t good defensively and that he can be very inconsistent at times, but the only thing that would make me put him lower is how injury prone he is at this stage of his career, and I probably should’ve because of it.
#8 Brayden Point
I understand that Point has been a humongous part of the Lightning’s back-to-back cup runs, but #8 is as high as I can put him right now. His numbers may have been lower during the 2021 season because of the absence of Nikita Kucherov, but he did not look the same in the playoffs either. He’s still an unbelievable talent don’t get me wrong, but he needs to show me more next season, and I certainly believe that he can. He’s an elite two-way forward who is consistently a great finisher as well, and Kucherov has benefitted a lot from his unreal playmaking as much as Point has benefitted from him. This may seem high to seem people, but I think that I may have him too low, we’ll have to wait and see next season.
#7 Leon Draisaitl
This is probably the one that I think I may be completely wrong about. I have never been as high on Draisaitl as most people, and this kind of shows it. I still know that he’s a top-of-the-line talent, but I don’t think that he can lead a team on his own as the 6 players above him can. However, I still understand that he’s one of the best offensive players in the game. He’s an outstanding play driver who has a hell of a shot and can playmake just as well. He and McDavid are two of the best, if not the two best powerplay players in the NHL. The one thing that holds him down is that he is possibly the worst defensive player in the NHL. That’s about it.
#6 Patrice Bergeron
With this man ever regress? Please, I’m sick of the Bruins. Patrice “Selke” Bergeron is a 36-year-old defensive mastermind who has been the best two-way forward since the 13–14 season and has only gotten better in the offensive zone during his career. He’s one of the best faceoff players of all time, and he has been an easy bet for more than 30 goals over the past 4 seasons. He may not be the best player on his line, but he certainly is the main part of that line. Bergeron is the glue that makes that line the best line in hockey. His playmaking helps, but his leadership and his elite two-way ability are what makes him still be a top 6 center in this league.
#5 Aleksander Barkov
This was a very difficult decision to pick between Barkov and Bergeron, but I think I made the right choice. Barkov does everything that Bergeron does, except I believe that he is a better offensive player than Bergeron. Bergeron is still a better defensive player, but I think that the gap between their offence is bigger than their defence. Barkov is still just 26, and he has plenty of years left of dominance with the Panthers, hopefully.
#4 Auston Matthews
#4 through #2 are 3 players that I think are very close to each other talent-wise at this point in their careers, but I think Matthews has to be #4 because of his lack of success in the playoffs. I know the other three above him haven’t had much success in recent years, but at least they’ve won a damn playoff round. I don’t care how many Rocket Richards you win if you put up 1 goal in 7 games as the heavy favourite in the first round. I love Matthews and I think that he is by far the best goal scorer in this league, but I just can’t put him above the players higher than him.
#3 Nathan MacKinnon
If the Avs had won the cup in this past season, MacKinnon would’ve had a shot at #1. He is probably the 2nd best offensive driver and powerplay player in the NHL. He’s a solid bet for 40 goals a season when he’s healthy, and he’s slowly been improving defensively since his rookie season. His playmaking is near the top of the league, and at just age 26, I expect that we’re going to see a lot of MacKinnon dominating the league over the next decade.
#2 Sidney Crosby
So, this was a tough choice. I believe that there is still a solid argument for Sid being the best player in the game, but because of the past 3 postseasons, I just can’t do it. Sid deserved a Selke nomination this past season because he was one of the best defensive forwards in the league. He is still extremely dominant offensively, as he doesn’t have a single bad spot in his game. The only knock on him is that he isn’t the faster skater in the world, but his hockey sense is still the best in the NHL. He knows how to use his skates like no other in the league, and I don’t think there’s anything else I need to say.
#1 Connor McDavid
I was more hesitant than others to pick McDavid over Sid, but his 19–20 season just put him over the top. So, seeing him score 105 points in 56 games while being the best skater, playmaker, offensive play driver, powerplay player, and puck handler in the league makes him the obvious, and should be unanimous #1 player in the NHL. Don’t forget about his unbelievable goal-scoring ability. He’s the best player in the league, although, if he keeps struggling in the playoffs, a certain 26-year-old from Nova Scotia isn’t too far off.