Hagens measuring at only 5'10.5'' ... not too many centers that size in the NHL.
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3 - Brayden Point (5-10, 183 pounds) – C – Tampa Bay Lightning
I’ll never understand how the Lightning were able to uncover this gem in the third round of the 2014 draft. Point isn’t just one of the best “small” players in the league, he’s one of the top guys in the game today. The 25-year-old missed an extended period of time with an injury, but he’s back and rolling again. He’s picked up 56 points in 46 games during Tampa’s last two playoff runs.
7 - Sidney Crosby (5-11, 200 pounds) – C - Pittsburgh Penguins
I still have a hard time believing Crosby is 34 years old. He’s never been the flashiest of super stars, but he’s been so efficient throughout his career. His goal production is a little low so far this year, but he’s still rolling at more than one point per game. Crosby has four goals and 16 assists in 19 games this season. He’s going to go down as one of the all-time greats.
10 - Claude Giroux (5-11, 185 pounds) – C – Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers’ three leading scorers are all below six feet. Giroux, Cam Atkinson (5-8) and Travis Konecny (5-10) have all made an impact this year. Giroux’s level of consistency has been remarkable. Yes, his production dipped over the last couple of years, but there was no way he was going to be able to keep producing 85-plus point seasons into his mid-30s. He has a very healthy 29 points in 32 clashes in 2021-22.
11 - Jack Hughes (5-11, 175 pounds) – C – New Jersey Devils
Hughes missed time with an injury, but he’s made a big-time impact on the Devils roster this season. New Jersey’s two leading scorers are both listed at 5-10 (Jesper Bratt and Andreas Johansson), but neither of those players is better than Hughes. The 20-year-old has 15 points in 16 games this season. He’s quickly developing into an electric offensive threat.
15 - Joe Pavelski (5-11, 195) – C – Dallas Stars
Someone should tell Pavelski that 37-year-old forwards aren’t supposed to produce this much offense. He put up 51 points in 56 games with Dallas last year and he’s already up to 27 points in 29 games this season. He leads the team in points and he’s tied for the team lead in goals (12). Assuming he stays healthy, he should continue to score points for a Stars team competing for a playoff spot.
20 - Nick Suzuki – (5-11, 205 pounds) – C – Montreal Canadiens
After going to the Stanley Cup Final last year, the Habs have been a mess this year. Suzuki hasn’t taken the next step many expected him to take, but he doesn’t have much help around him. I still think he’s going to be a quality two-way center for a very long time. He leads the team in scoring with seven goals and 19 points in 34 games.
27 - Alex Kerfoot (5-10, 181 pounds) – C – Toronto Maple Leafs
Kerfoot gets the nod because Mitch Marner is listed at 6-feet on the nose (yeah, right). The Leafs center is a quality depth forward that also finds a way to get under the opponent’s skin at times. He’s put up a very respectable 19 points in 31 games this season.
29 - Jean-Gabriel Pageau (5-11, 180 pounds) – C – New York Islanders
The smaller players on the Islanders roster have struggled this year. Pageau, Anthony Beauvillier and Kyle Palmieri haven’t produced as much as we expected them to. Of course, starting the season on a 13-game road trip and having your roster decimated by Covid hasn’t helped.
32 - Cole Perfetti (5-11, 177 pounds) – C – Winnipeg Jets
Don’t get it twisted, Perfetti has a very high ceiling, but he’s not there yet. He’s only played two games for the Jets and he’s failed to register a point. The Jets don’t really have a smaller player that makes a significant impact on their team.
