Why are some guys simply incapable of being effective NHL centers?

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Going into the offseason it's pretty clear that literally every team feels they have a shortage of NHL quality centers. Certain teams have been trying desperately to add NHL quality centers for years in their contention window (Colorado in particular has been trying to replace Kadri for 3 years now, making multiple desperate trades) and failing. I can't think of a single team that has a surplus of guys they think are capable of being top 9 centers.

There's a lot of guys that could play center in lower levels, and have plenty of the skills that would make them effective but what is it about playing center in the NHL that makes it so monumentally difficult, and why can't teams seem to develop their talented younger players to serve in this role unless they get hit by a stroke of luck?

 

[FlyguyOX]

It was exceptional IQ, size, skating, and skill. A very rare combo

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Generally speaking, you need to have a baseline level of some combination of skating/athletic ability, smarts and faceoff ability. That eliminates a bunch of guys right off the bat.

Second, it's just harder to produce and be as effective offensively @ center than wing for lots of guys. Think of your Panarins/Pastrnaks/Kucherovs/Rantanens/Kanes etc. These guys rely on slowing the game on the wings, they would not be as effective if they were forced to tie up with an opposing center on faceoffs every shift and be forced to go through the guts of the ice more often. They have the freedom to blow the zone and stretch the ice that centers do not have etc.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

Going into the offseason it's pretty clear that literally every team feels they have a shortage of NHL quality centers. Certain teams have been trying desperately to add NHL quality centers for years in their contention window (Colorado in particular has been trying to replace Kadri for 3 years now, making multiple desperate trades) and failing. I can't think of a single team that has a surplus of guys they think are capable of being top 9 centers.

There's a lot of guys that could play center in lower levels, and have plenty of the skills that would make them effective but what is it about playing center in the NHL that makes it so monumentally difficult, and why can't teams seem to develop their talented younger players to serve in this role unless they get hit by a stroke of luck?

Sens would fit the category of “surplus of top 9 Cs” in Stutzle, Cozens, Pinto, Greig, but you (and I) could also argue that Stutzle is the only legitimate top 6 C in that group.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

You need high hockey IQ at a minimum. As a C you have greater responsibility on the defensive side of things for your line. In the offensive zone, faceoffs and vision are important aspects.

Some C's are good defensively but do not have vision or offensive talent. Some have offensive talent and vision but don't process the defensive side of things.

A great offensive C can get away with a poor defensive game because they control the play.

C is a very difficult position to play that takes time and experience.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

Hmm, yeah seems to be mostly the need to make so many more decisions, with substantially less time to make them in the NHL (hockey IQ). Even when guys who have this ability eventually age out of the NHL it's not because their physical abilities have slowed them down to the point they can't keep up, it's their body/health failing them and deciding they are tired of the 82+ game NHL grind.

 

[catnip]

If just about every team is lacking quality centers, the bar is simply set too high. NHL quality doesn't mean everyone has a prime Malkin centering their second line and a Selke nominee as the 3C.

 

[andora]

Some good answers here

Quietly the undertone is the talent pool spreading out mixed in with fan expectations of the past

I mean look at floridas center depth.. perfect example of 1 stud then good players in good roles with good support

 

[stevo61]

IQ and an overall understanding of the position are requirement #1 by a long shot. As a Columbus fan Monahan vs Fantilli is a perfect example of IQ+experience vs physical talent. Fantilli is getting there but Monahan with his calmness and less exciting skills put him far ahead of a far superior physical player (for now)

 

[1989]

Well, I can't skate, I can't pass, I can't shoot...

but I can make a save or two.

 

[Dr Robot]

If you are even skating in the NHL you are probably one of the top 1000 humans on earth at playing hockey. To be a top 6 center you are getting into even more elite territory. I think the issue stems from how hard it is to find people who can be effective against the other elite hockey players when the talent level keeps getting better and better.

 

[KrisLetAngry]

Think how hard it is to be in the top 6 in the NHL. Now imagine the most important forward position in being a center with more responsibility.

Tough as hell. I feel a bit of a size requirement is needed as well at times. If you are smaller going to the wing may be easier at times.
Not always required but I do feel that is done at times.

 

[edevils]

Which country develops the best centers and if there is a significant edge to one country, what are they doing differently in the developmental leagues to put them at an advantage?

Once you figure that out, you can try to replicate it across all the developmental leagues.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

It’s, like, exponential. The 2% increase in speed and skill in the NHL over the AHL makes being a center 10% tougher, somethin like that.

a better opposing center was on my breakout before I could even get going, and they were always one step ahead with the puck. I’d eat worse centers for lunch, but a dude better than me was just impossible. On the wing I could always pick up a loose puck and see what happened, the skill of the opponent didn’t matter as much because I wasn’t getting burned right in front of the goalie.

 

[JFedol]

Everything was said perfectly in the thread. But I feel like it could be a effort thing maybe? (heavy reach)

It could be their "game" being suited greatly at different positions, but maybe some of the best players just don't have the effort inside them to fully make the transition and gain the experience? Idk.

I find the examples of Messier and Kuznetsov, Aho being drafted as wingers where they then made the transition to C very fascinating, if not insane. And It sort've makes me ponder why so many other elite players haven't done it yet lol. It would make their impact 10x better by a significantly LARGE margin.

Like, just imagine a hypothetical Kuch centre with the exact same production. That's more games than 45-48 won in the RS, 2 balanced lines with Kuch and Point down the middle, more assists, more guaranteed possessions just off won faceoffs for Tampa. He'd no doubt be the 2nd best player in the league just behind McDavid IMO.

It fundamentally makes more sense for your best player to be a centre. Way more offensive control, 2 sides of the ice for passing and playmaking. Greater Vision, Higher IQ and more game sense as well. Nothing wrong with the wing or any other position aside from D, but you're very hampered and restricted.

 

[the valiant effort]

If just about every team is lacking quality centers, the bar is simply set too high. NHL quality doesn't mean everyone has a prime Malkin centering their second line and a Selke nominee as the 3C.

As customers paying exorbitant prices we should set the bar very high. There are too many jobs to fill and not enough qualified applicants.

 

[syz]

I'm sure there are some teams who could have 3 strong centers but feel better off running one of them on the wing (i.e. Edmonton).

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

I can't think of a single team that has a surplus of guys they think are capable of being top 9 centers.

 

[Giant Panda]

I once heard it said that the defensive play of a center impacts the game more than the defensive play of your dmen.

You are asking a player to control play in all zones, drive play possession, read play to anticipate their team's gaps, while also producing 50+ pts per game? That's so many skill sets put together, it's incredibly difficult to do.

Being a center is so much more difficult than being a winger.

 

[Mr grumpy]

Centres live and die on the dot. Unless you are getting 80+ pts a year? They will move you to the wing.