Where Does Barkov Rank Right Now for Best Centers in the NHL

[SeanMoneyHands]

I say #3.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Can I say #5 and put JT Miller at #4?

 

[BKarchitect]

For me, and this may be recent bias, but I'd have him #3. But if you want to put AM #3 I think that's fine too. Depends on what your priorities are. AM's the best goal scoring center of a generation who is also solid defensively. Barkov is probably the best (among the true #1 all-around centers) defensive center of the post-Bergeron generation and is also a pretty elite sniper with sick mitts.

It's real hard...real hard...to watch this series and put Drai ahead or even with Barkov. Which maybe is short-sighted, self-admittedly. The overall numbers are still outrageous. Year after year. Regular season, post-season. Healthy or on one leg. The frame and overall offensive tools are still perhaps second only to McDavid. But...there just seem to be moments - often key moments - where he is missing and sometimes a lack of attention to detail it seems.

 

[Hockeyholic]

Obviously there's an argument for McDavid & MacKinnon to be above him.

None for Matthews. No GM in their right mind would take Matthews over Barkov. If Florida offered him in a trade, the Leafs take it and run.

I think Draisaitl is already starting to slip a little bit. Every postseason, he is exhausted near the end/beat up. That contract he gets may be ugly very soon.

 

[CanadienShark]

#3-5 seems reasonable. I've been beating his drum for years now. I wouldn't argue with anyone saying any spot within that range. He's clearly behind McDavid and MacKinnon. He's in the range with Matthews and Draisaitl. I voted #3 purely based on recency bias.

 

[dirtydanglez]

mcdavid and mackinnin are clear cut 1 and 2. after that matthews, drai, and barkov are interchangeable depending on what you're looking for.

 

[Hockey 4 Life]

Obviously there's an argument for McDavid & MacKinnon to be above him.

None for Matthews. No GM in their right mind would take Matthews over Barkov. If Florida offered him in a trade, the Leafs take it and run.

I think Draisaitl is already starting to slip a little bit. Every postseason, he is exhausted near the end/beat up. That contract he gets may be ugly very soon.

Barkov is a great center but it wouldn't be concensus that all teams would choose him over drai or Matthews.

 

[Mohar Ikram]

The problem with Barkov is... ourselves. We are too obsess with numbers and figures which tends to simplify our judgement so much. Barkov is included in an all-rounder C archetype who possess both abilities on offense and defense.

Before him, We rarely value Kopitar, Datsyuk, Bergeron and ROR as "the best C" since the best C in our opinion is the one who produce the most. So, Barkov will never be number one like McD, MacK and Syd in our bias opinion.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

Why is Matthews assumed to be top 3 in these options

 

[Hockeyholic]

Barkov is a great center but it wouldn't be concensus that all teams would choose him over drai or Matthews.

Depending on what a team's needs are I guess. Toronto would definitely do that trade.

A team needing scoring would take Matthews.

 

[KingPuckChoo]

He'll always be in that Kopitar category purely because he doesn't produce a 1000pts per season

 

[Satan]

Greatest of all time methinks

 

[Bruce Granville]

#2 behind MacKinnon.

 

[avocadosmoothie]

He's at #4 behind McD/MacK/Drai. #3 is too high, the narrative around his defensive prowess would be wildly different if his team wasn't getting superstar goaltending night in and night out.

 

[ViD]

I have him as #5 right now
McDavid
MacKinnon
Matthews
Draisaitl

 

[DingerMcSlapshot]

Best in the world still playing right now.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

#3? C'on

Boy he went from being underrated to getting overrated quicker than any player i've seen in a long time.

 

[bobholly39]

He's top 10. Possibly #5, but definitely top 10.

Also - poll options are absolutely idiotic.

 

[elmaco]

Only McDavid can be compared, he's above anyone else.

 

[AvroArrow]

He's not better than McDavid or Mackinnon for sure. Maybe 3rd ? He's had a great run this year. Somewhere between 3-5 is fair.

 

[Raccoon Jesus]

He'll always be in that Kopitar category purely because he doesn't produce a 1000pts per season

pretty much

years and years of people calling Kopitar barely a top 10 C despite him chewing up many of the guys 'better' than him

Guys like him and Barkov are worth the points they score plus the points they saw off in reducing the opposing 100 pt C into a puddle

 

[BB88]

#3? C'on

Boy he went from being underrated to getting overrated quicker than any player i've seen in a long time.

He just had what the most dominant Selke run and is currently in the middle of the most dominating 2way playoff run we’ve seen

He’s scored 88 points in 67 games with 96 point career high so you know he can put up the points as well and is a 2 time Selke winner at the peak of his prime

Soo you’re right let’s say 10th, in reality top 3/5

 

[PuckG]

The best defensively. Overall 5-10.

 

[pantherbot]

Depends. You want to win the Stanley Cup or the Art Ross? Barkov is #1 and he's proving it right now. He has just shut down major offensive threats.... That have scored ZERO goals against him at 5v5. He's producing at PPG. And we're still debating if be may be #3-5? This is why he's still considered underrated.

 

[norrisnick]

pretty much

years and years of people calling Kopitar barely a top 10 C despite him chewing up many of the guys 'better' than him

Guys like him and Barkov are worth the points they score plus the points they saw off in reducing the opposing 100 pt C into a puddle

It's a string of my favorite centers, Fedorov, Zetterberg, Kopitar, Barkov. Who is next?