2025 Draft - Center Rankings

[Castle8130]

Every year there are an abundance of prospects that are labeled as "centers" in their draft year, but end up on the wing in the NHL. This thread is to rank the players you feel will be NHL centers and how confident you'd feel in your team taking one of them. Every team needs a center and it is the most important position in hockey (debatably). I thought it'd be fun to go on a deep dive into the center class this year because there seems to be a lackluster of clarity on who the top center of the class is and which of the top prospects will even play center. Frondell and Desnoyers have been playing wing recently, but occasionally play center. Hagens and Misa have both been criticized by some scouts by not projecting as centers, but have played at center all year.

There are a ton of other projectable centers in the mid-1st - early 2nd such as; Jake O'brien, Brady Martin, Roger Mcqueen, Braeden Cootes, Ben Kindel, Cole Mckinney, Jack Nesbitt, Milton Gastrin, Ivan Ryabkin, Cullen Potter, Cole Reschny, and Bill Zonnon. That is a large group of players to choose from. Who do you want your team to target in the late-mid 1st? Whose your dark horse? Which player is overrated/underrated? Getting the center position right will change a franchise.

 

[Stewie Griffin]

Are we supposed to vote on who the best is? or who is a clear C at the NHL? Or who is underrated? I'm confused why there is a poll.

I voted Misa. Have him 2nd overall. He plays better when placed at C, as opposed to the W so I think he is more than capable of playing C in the NHL. Maybe he starts as a winger.

 

[Castle8130]

Are we supposed to vote on who the best is? or who is a clear C at the NHL? Or who is underrated? I'm confused why there is a poll.

I voted Misa. Have him 2nd overall. He plays better when placed at C, as opposed to the W so I think he is more than capable of playing C in the NHL. Maybe he starts as a winger.

The poll is simply for people to vote on what prospect they want their teams to draft. A lot of teams don't have a high pick, so picking players that are projected lower will be more realistic for them. I thought it'd be more fun for people to vote on their favorites

The questions in my post are for discourse throughout the thread that want to talk about the center class in general

 

[SympathyForTheDevils]

Best prospect that I think is likely to be a center long-term? Probably Misa

Surest bet to be an NHL center? Probably Desnoyers

 

[SannywithoutCompy]

Every year there are an abundance of prospects that are labeled as "centers" in their draft year, but end up on the wing in the NHL. This thread is to rank the players you feel will be NHL centers and how confident you'd feel in your team taking one of them. Every team needs a center and it is the most important position in hockey (debatably). I thought it'd be fun to go on a deep dive into the center class this year because there seems to be a lackluster of clarity on who the top center of the class is and which of the top prospects will even play center. Frondell and Desnoyers have been playing wing recently, but occasionally play center. Hagens and Misa have both been criticized by some scouts by not projecting as centers, but have played at center all year.

There are a ton of other projectable centers in the mid-1st - early 2nd such as; Jake O'brien, Brady Martin, Roger Mcqueen, Braeden Cootes, Ben Kindel, Cole Mckinney, Jack Nesbitt, Milton Gastrin, Ivan Ryabkin, Cullen Potter, Cole Reschny, and Bill Zonnon. That is a large group of players to choose from. Who do you want your team to target in the late-mid 1st? Whose your dark horse? Which player is overrated/underrated? Getting the center position right will change a franchise.

I'm not sure this poll is set up to give you particularly useful information to be honest. There's multiple selections available, and the question seems to be about who we'd select with a mid-late 1st (although Misa, Hagens, Frondell, and Desnoyers are options?). I think you gotta make the intention of this a bit clearer.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Hagens is the best player in the draft and will be a center.

I would have Misa next. He'll likely be a center, but he may fit better on the wing as he's more of a goal scorer.

Frondell third.

Desnoyers fourth.

Fifth I'd have McQueen, despite the injury. There aren't enough good players in this draft to push him too far down the board.

I think probably all five end up centers.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

My team won't have the opportunity to draft one of the top centers, but would love Potter.

 

[JackSlater]

I'd take Hagens but he will be gone by then. I also like Desnoyers but he won't be there either.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Misa
Hagens
Frondell
Desnoyers
O'Brien

But Hagens and Desnoyers are the only ones I'm 100% confident are NHL centers. I think Misa and O'Brien are too, but not with 100% certainty.

 

[Hockeypete49]

Flyers are in serious need of centers. With 3 picks I hope they land Misa or Hagen early then Murtagh or Nesbitt later in round one.

 

[boredmale]

My team won't have the opportunity to draft one of the top centers, but would love Potter.

I could be wrong but looks like Rangers will finish anywhere from 10-13, which means in the win the draft lottery they will move up to at worst 3

 

[Kraken Jokes]

I don't think the Kraken need a C. If hypothetically we win the #2 spot in the draft and Schaefer is taken first, obviously we're not gonna reach. I would grab Misa and be happy with it.

 

[Czechboy]

I probably don't understand the premise.. are we ranking C's or picking the best one. If best one then I understand why no Benak. If we are just putting C's in order than I believe Benak should be in converation.