Is the Center position less important now than it was three years ago?

[Peggy]

why would a position all of a sudden be less significant?

this is a random question

 

[ShonSaunders]

Centers are sooooo 2015.

 

[Thrive]

Could not agree any less. Goalie, #1 defenseman and #1 center are the cornerstones of a franchise. Take a look at all of the recent Cup winning teams - they have all of the above and then some. Most have been stacked at center to boot.

Why would you feel this way, OP?

 

[kunekune]

Center is way way overrated position in HFboards.

In reality center is not more important than winger.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

They're extremely important. There's a reason center depth is considered crucial amongst every team basically.

Doesn't work for Edmonton.

 

[LeafGrief]

They're just as important as they ever were, but maybe teams are realizing that they can't win without some decent wingers too?

 

[Butch 19]

Centers are sooooo 2015.

centers are stuuuuupid now

 

[Royale With Cheese]

Is a quarterback still important in football?

 

[tom leafers]

a #1 Center is of course important but not necessary in my mind. If your team has solid depth and can play defense by committee, then whats the difference.

 

[Tkachuk4MVP]

Uhh what? LA had


Kopitar
Carter
Richards

Two #1Cs... And Mike Richards.

And Chicago had Toews back when he was killing it. Those are bad examples. Who was the last SC winner to not have a legit #1C?

 

[DudeWhereIsMakar]

Well... goaltender is, but the centre is the second most important player on the ice. Then defensemen are, it doesn't matter if they are left or right, but replenish the opposite side when possible.

But centremen need wings.

 

[iginlafan77]

And Chicago had Toews back when he was killing it. Those are bad examples. Who was the last SC winner to not have a legit #1C?

2003 Devils maybe?

 

[rent free]

It's only important if you're team lacks it.

 

[Tkachuk4MVP]

2003 Devils maybe?

That's a good call. And they were matched up against the Ducks who didn't really have one themselves.

 

[iginlafan77]

That's a good call. And they were matched up against the Ducks who didn't really have one themselves.

That is true. It’s hard to pick anyone on the 2003 ducks team as a 1C.

David krejci might be debatable, but he sure looked like a 1C during the bruins cup run.

 

[M.C.G. 31]

Have you watched the Habs over the past couple years? How are they doing without even having a top-6 C let alone a top C? There's your answer.

 

[PuckInTheNards]

-Penguins say Hello

Oh, hey. What's up?

 

[Shockmaster]

Center is way way overrated position in HFboards.

In reality center is not more important than winger.

Really? Care to show some proof from recent history?

 

[Brock Radunske]

In order of importance for sustained success in the NHL

1. Goaltending*
2. #1C
3. #1D
4. #2C
5. #2D
6. #3D
7. Wingers

*Of course, you can have a mediocre goalie and still win but longer term success is unlikely unless you're an absolute powerhouse otherwise.

 

[ThirdManIn]

I believe we can all agree that David Poile is one of the best active GMs in the league, and he traded away a player as good as Seth Jones to get a center because his team lacked any sort of center depth. After the Preds lost in the Cup Finals, having been short their #1C and needing to play a guy like Colton Sissons (who is now centering their fourth line), he made another move to bring in Turris to play behind Johansen.

I'd say that Poile still views the Center position as very important, and I've learned to not question that guy's hockey opinions.

 

[iginlafan77]

I went through the past cup winners, noting the Center point leaders in both the regular season and playoffs. From this, I would say every team since the 2003 Devils has had a 1C.

2016-17 Penguins
Regular season: Sidney Crosby 75gp 89P
Playoffs: Sidney Crosby 24gp 27P
Or
Evgeni Malkin 25gp 28P

2015-16 Penguins
Regular Season: Sidney Crosby 80gp 85P
Playoffs: Sidney Crosby 24gp 19P

2014-15 Blackhawks
Regular season: Jonathan Toews 81gp 66P
Playoffs: Jonathan Toews 23gp 21P

2013-14 Kings
Regular Season: Anze Kopitar 82gp 70P
Playoffs: Anze Kopitar 26gp 26P

2012-13 Blackhawks
Regular Season: Jonathan Toews 47gp 48P
Playoffs: Jonathan Toews 23gp 14P

2011-12 Kings:
Regular season: Anze Kopitar 82gp 76P
Playoffs: Anze Kopitar 20gp 20P

2010-11 Bruins
Regular Season: David Krejci 75gp 62P
Playoffs: David Krejci 25gp 23P

2009-10 Blackhawks
Regular season: Jonathan Toews 76gp 68P
Playoffs: Jonathan Toews 22gp 29P

2008-09 Penguins
Regular Season: Evgeni Malkin 82gp 113P
Or
Sidney Crosby 77gp 103P
Playoffs:Evgeni Malkin 24gp 36P
Or
Sidney Crosby 24gp 31P

2007-08 Red Wings
Regular Season: Pavel Datsyuk 82gp 97P
Playoffs: Pavel Datsyuk 22gp 23P

2006-07 Ducks
Regular Season: Andy McDonald 82gp 78P
Playoffs: Ryan Getzlaf 21 gp 17P

2005-06 Hurricanes
Regular season: Eric Staal 82gp 100P
Playoffs: Eric Staal 25gp 28P

2003-04 Lightning
Regular Season: Brad Richards 82gp 79P
Playoffs: Brad Richards 23gp 26P

2002-03 Devils
Here’s where it broke down. Scott Gomez? John Madden? Joe Nieuwendyk? None of these was a clear 1C for the devils.

 

[sparxx87]

Center is way way overrated position in HFboards.

In reality center is not more important than winger.

don’t be silly.

If anything, HF doesn’t recognize how important centremen are.

 

[Shockmaster]

don’t be silly.

If anything, HF doesn’t recognize how important centremen are.

That explains why the Blue Jackets get so overrated on this board.

 

[justafan22]

The leafs are a bubble team at best without matthews

 

[The Winter Soldier]

I think you need good players to win a Cup. Whether this, D, Wing or Goalie and Centers. No one position wins a cup. So from that perspective, yes Center is overrated. As long as you capable Centers, you can still build around other positions. The 70 Canadiens dynasties are good examples of this.