Top 5 Centers

Crosby
Datsyuk
Zetterberg
Malkin
Getzlaf

over 2 years ago Rob Parker 26 comments 0 recs |

Comments

I have Backstrom definitely top 5. Zetterberg would be my #1 IMO since there’s a distinction between “best” and “most effective”. Malkin and Crosby are most effective, Hank and Dats are the best.

by red army line on Sep 1, 2009 2:31 PM EDT reply actions

5 was the hardest to pick. There are a lot of guys that could go there but I love Getzlaf’s all around game. I think when Datsyuk is healthy he’s the better player, but we unfortunately didn’t get to see that in the most recent SCF.

A man must have a code.

by Rob Parker on Sep 1, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I like the inclusion of Getzlaf….He’s been a monster over the past 12-18 months.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Sep 1, 2009 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah he has. If he can learn to limit the retarded penalties he’ll be even better. I love the toughness and meanness but I don’t love all the minor PIMs he racks up.

A man must have a code.

by Rob Parker on Sep 1, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

effective: adequate to accomplish a purpose; producing the intended or expected result

Given they won it all at age 21 and 22, I agree, most effective.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Sep 1, 2009 2:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Well all 5 won Cups in the last 3 years so I don’t know that you can knock the effectiveness of any of the players based on that criteria. All those guys are productive. I basically approached it as who which 5 Cs would I want on the Caps, and in which order.

A man must have a code.

by Rob Parker on Sep 1, 2009 2:39 PM EDT up reply actions

I basically approached it as who which 5 Cs would I want on the Caps, and in which order.

Fair enough. Can’t go wrong with PD or HZ, but given the ages of all, I’m guessing you must have looked fairly short-sided on this.

Personally I’d rate the reigning Art Ross and Conn Smythe winner a little higher. And as far as defensive abilities go, he led the league in takeaways, y’know :)

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Sep 1, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions

Hank and Pavel aren’t that old that I think they need to drop off the list. Maybe if they were a couple years older.

I’ve said it several times so I’m sure you’ve probably seen it at least once, but I put no stock in takeaway/giveaway numbers because they are so variable and not overseen (or even defined by the NHL). It makes it easier to overlook Malkin’s takeaways when the Selke winner is on the list, and Hank has done an amazing job (probably better than anyone else has managed) at controlling Crosby in the SCF two years in a row. Defensive qualities are a factor, but not that high (or Crosby would have dropped).

Malkin drops because of his amazing disappearing-reappearing man act. When Crosby isn’t on the score sheet he still is a force in the game. Same with certain other studs that may or may not play C. When Malkin isn’t scoring he’s invisible. Until he picks up his consistency I’m not ready to put him above the other guys. Do I think he’ll get there some day? Probably. Is he there now? No, Conn Smythe notwithstanding.

A man must have a code.

by Rob Parker on Sep 1, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

I can accept consistency as a reason, especially given the 2 guys you rank ahead of him. For the record, I’d point out Malkin recorded at least a point in 83 of 102 games that he played in (reg season + playoffs). And he never had a point-less streak of more than 2 games throughout the entire 102 games.

Malkin, like most offensively skilled players, does need to score, but there aren’t many games that go by that he doesn’t create.

When Malkin’s in his groove or “higher gear” (like the Carolina series — 6 ES goals, 3 assists in 4 games) he’s capable of out-performing everyone, Crosby and AO included, IMO. I don’t punish Geno because his “baseline” performance isn’t as high as that, no one runs that hot forever.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Sep 1, 2009 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I have Backstrom definitely top 5

I’m not so sure about that, when someone like a healthy Vinny Lecavalier is on the board and considering the other 5 guys on the list. You could make an argument but it’s certainly not definite. At least not if it’s a one-year-and-done type list.

by Knee high to a duck on Sep 1, 2009 4:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Sorry; meant definitely top 10, knocking on the top 5.

by red army line on Sep 1, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

I might buy that. I could see him top 10 (though I haven’t put my list together so I’m not committing to it). As for top 5, there are a few other guys I’d say are knocking on it before him, starting with Vinny.

A man must have a code.

by Rob Parker on Sep 1, 2009 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions

I’d guess Thornton and Richards are in the conversation, anyone else?

by Knee high to a duck on Sep 1, 2009 4:51 PM EDT up reply actions

E. Staal, Toews and Jeff Carter have to be at least mentioned as well, I’d say.

Maybe Marc Savard and Anze Kopitar as well, though I’d think Backstrom would rank above them.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Sep 1, 2009 4:55 PM EDT up reply actions

I don’t think Toews is quite there yet, although he could be this year and Carter is rising quickly.

I’d take Backstrom over the guys you just mentioned, but not over Vinny and probably not over Thornton. Like you say, Jumbo Joe is a money center, I was really impressed with his vision when the Sharks played and I managed to catch the game on TV. Admittedly though, the sample size there is small.

by Knee high to a duck on Sep 1, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions

You know I’m not a huge E. Staal fan, but he has to be in the discussion for the top 10. Savard I am really not a fan of. I don’t think he’s particularly tough, I’ve heard too much about him being a diva, and I think he’s relatively one-dimensional (not great on D). I’d throw Patrick Marleau into the discussion but I’ve really liked him for a long time (and still don’t know how Shane Doan makes Team Canada over Marleau) and I realize he takes a lot of heat from other people. Kopitar is great but I’d like to see him take that next step.

A man must have a code.

by Rob Parker on Sep 1, 2009 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions

M. Richards yes, B. Richards probably not.

A man must have a code.

by Rob Parker on Sep 1, 2009 5:16 PM EDT up reply actions

Y’know, I’d completely forgotten about B. Richards, Smythe, huge contract, and all.

M. Richards is a player I’d absolutely love the Caps to have – gritty, offensively capable, a stud PKer with great anticipation and very strong defender. He’s a point-per-game guy with stats that look suspiciously like Backstrom’s in goals and assists, just not quite as nasty on the power play.

I also wonder where Henrik Sedin figures into the discussion, he’s another point-per-game guy who’s worth more than a full goal to his team per game than is scored against, per behindthenet.

by Knee high to a duck on Sep 1, 2009 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions

The Sedin package does nothing for me. They are the nucleus of a great second line being paid like they are a great first line. The whole conjoined twin situation also is a turn off, do we just, like, put a bed sheet over Daniel if we sign Henrik?

A man must have a code.

by Rob Parker on Sep 1, 2009 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions

They are the nucleus of a great second line being paid like they are a great first line.

I guess that’s true, you could pretty safely call Ovie/Backs/X an elite first line and that line is probably good for 240+ points a season. The Sedins would have to be paired with another 80 point scorer to approach that production level. That’s obviously just crude napkin math and a very simplified approach.

Daniel’s no slouch, 30 goal guys don’t grow on trees, but they don’t normally get paid like he does, either.

The whole “have to play together” thing is definitely weird, though. I wonder how that plays in the room.

by Knee high to a duck on Sep 1, 2009 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I’ll say it: Joe Thornton has averaged 73 assists over the past 3 regular seasons. He might be a train wreck in the post-season but Jumbo Joe is a money center.

Pensburgh.com -- it's like the Max Talbot of blogs*

*not just because we only work for 12 minutes a night

by Hooks Orpik on Sep 1, 2009 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Post-season is the key. No doubt I’d take Joe on a regular season team (and he’s knocking on that door right behind Vinny), but I don’t think Joe has shown an ability to adapt his game to playoff hockey. He’s too much of a perimeter player and until he challenges the D at the center of the ice he won’t produce in the playoffs. Teams sit back and take away the middle, along with his passing option, and let him play with the puck on the boards staring into the stands. All things considered that’s where I want a guy like Joe if I’m the opposing coach. Why is it that you see Crosby hanging out around the crease far more than Joe? Until that point penetrates Joe’s dome he’s going to disappoint in the playoffs, IMO.

A man must have a code.

by Rob Parker on Sep 1, 2009 5:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree with Most of these...

1) Datsyuk
2) Malkin
3) Crosby
4) Zetterberg
5) Backstrom

Getzlaaf would be in my top 6….

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 2, 2009 10:44 AM EDT reply actions

What makes you vault Backstrom over Getzlaf and the other potential Cs? I like him but I have a hard time saying I’d take him over Getzlaf or Vinny right now.

A man must have a code.

by Rob Parker on Sep 2, 2009 10:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Backstrom seems to have more of an upside than Getzlaaf, in that it may be possible that Nick could lead the league in scoring one year. I don’t see that happening for Getzlaaf as easily. After Datsyuk and Crosby, Backstrom may be the best passer in the NHL.

I’ll take either one (or better, both), but Nick has a slight edge right now.

Let's go Caps!

by MikeL-Pivonka on Sep 2, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Fair enough. I think right now Getzlaf is the better developed player; he’s a much bigger scoring threat than Backstrom is and is still an excellent passer. I think Backstrom may have a higher upside, and is a better passer, but I’ll just wait and see how much of this potential he fills out. Getzlaf is big, tough, has carried the offensive load for his team, and is a more well rounded than Backstrom right now, but we’ll see how that looks in 2 or 3 years.

A man must have a code.

by Rob Parker on Sep 2, 2009 3:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Southeast Standings

	GP	W	L	OTL	PT
Florida Litter Box Cats	54	26	17	11	63
Washington Japers' Rink	54	28	21	5	61
Winnipeg Arctic Ice Hockey	57	26	25	6	58
Tampa Bay Raw Charge	54	24	24	6	54
Carolina Canes Country	56	20	25	11	51