I see him as a center too, but I'd still wait another season. Or at least part of it. Because if he gains muscle mass, strength, his body has to get used to it.He’s a better option at center than Sillinger, Roslovic, and Laine.
Down the line when he adds significant weight/strength I think he could be looked at and used as a center, but, I really think he should be looked at like a Panarin/Gaudreau type, where they are “better” (aka more productive point-wise), or can be just as impactful on the wing. That’s to say, I do believe he has more center qualities than both those guys.
With where the CBJ center position is at we might end up “rushing” or “forcing” him at center before he’s absolutely ready, but, I don’t think it will hurt anything in the long run regarding his development, and even if I would prefer 2 other centers(along with Jenner) instead of KJ to fill the “top 9”.
If anything, this past year as a “wasted”/“development”/“tank” year, we should have given KJ all the time at center that Sillinger was given.
I think Sillinger is LESS of a center than Johnson. Sillinger would be better as a shooting/goal scoring/energy winger. The fact that we had Sillinger and Roslovic on the PK is asinine. But, what other options did Larsen have??
I’d have Johnson on the 1st line as a winger next year, with looks at center. He’s seemingly very skinny, we could see a huge physical “transformation” or growth spurt/“man strength” kick in, in the next 2 summers where he comes into camp with a completely different physique and it shows on the ice, like we just saw with Chinakhov. I think then, the move to center might be best for the team and him.
IMO, Sillinger could be a good center, just a question of whether there will be spot for him at that position. However, the future will tell.