NHL Top Players: Top 20 Centers

Winning important face-offs, leading rushes up the ice, and setting up teammates are the hallmarks of an elite center. NHL Network producers and analysts chose the top 20 centers in the League right now, and they were revealed Sunday in the first of a nine-part series. Here is the list:

20. Elias Lindholm, Calgary Flames

Lindholm had 64 points (22 goals, 42 assists) in 80 games last season, the fourth time in five seasons he's scored at least 20 goals. The 28-year-old led Calgary forwards in ice time per game (18:39), short-handed ice time per game (2:18) and was third in average power-play ice time (2:53). He won 55.7 percent of his face-offs, including the sixth most wins (857) in the NHL. Lindholm led Flames forwards in blocked shots (50), had 42 takeaways and was 10th in voting for the Selke Trophy, awarded annually to the best defensive forward.

"He's a 200-foot player," NHL Network analyst EJ Hradek said. "You can use him in all situations, he can kill penalties, he can obviously help you on the power play, you can use him late in periods, early in the game. You can use him everywhere and that's a big plus."

19. Dylan Larkin, Detroit Red Wings

Larkin led the Red Wings in goals (32), assists (47), points (79), power-play goals (16), power-play points (31), game-winning goals (five), shots on goal (244) and takeaways (56) last season and was tops among Detroit forwards in ice time per game (19:33). The 26-year-old has led the Red Wings in points in five of the past six seasons. He led them in power-play ice time per game (3:28) and was second among forwards in short-handed ice time per game (1:50). His 54.4 face-off winning percentage was also first on Detroit.

18. Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins

With 83 points (27 goals, 56 assists) in 82 games last season, Malkin scored at least a point per game for the 15th time in his NHL 17 seasons. It was also the first time since 2008-09 that he did not miss a game. He led Pittsburgh in power-play points (36) and penalty minutes (82) in 18:35 of ice time per game. The 37-year-old, a three-time Stanley Cup champion with the Penguins (2009, 2016, 2017), is fourth among active players in goals (471), and third in points (1,229) and assists (758).

17. Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings

Kopitar, who was fourth in the NHL in face-off wins (899) and 14th in face-off percentage (55.9 percent; minimum 600 attempts) last season, led the Kings with 74 points (28 goals, 46 assists) in 82 games, the 15th time in 17 seasons he's led them in points. The 35-year-old also won the Lady Byng Trophy awarded for gentlemanly play after he took two minor penalties all season. Kopitar was plus-20, and led Los Angeles forwards in ice time (20:18), power-play ice time (3:01) and short-handed ice time per game (1:52). His four penalty minutes were the fewest among the League's top 100 scorers. The Kings captain is a two-time Stanley Cup champion (2012, 2014).

"He was special right from the beginning," NHL Network analyst Brian Boyle said. "He's won a couple of Cups. I think next year and the year after, still he's got a lot of game left in him. ... He does it all for this team. He's a penalty killer, he's on the power play, obviously he's their captain, Selke winner. I think he's a Hall of Famer for sure."

16. Sebastian Aho, Carolina Hurricanes

The 26-year-old scored 36 goals in 2022-23, has led Carolina in goals for sixth consecutive seasons and was second in points with 67 in 75 regular-season games. Aho had 15 power-play points, three short-handed goals and nine game-winning goals in 19:30 of ice time per game, which led Hurricanes forwards. He has scored at least 24 goals in each of his seven seasons and ranks fifth in Hurricanes/Hartford Whalers history in goals (218) and points (468) and sixth in assists (250) in 520 regular-season games over seven seasons.

15. Video: Lindholm and Larkin rank 19th & 20th for top centers, Ottawa Senators

Stutzle has improved his goals, assists and points totals in each of the past two seasons, including 39 goals, 51 assists and 90 points in 78 games last season, up from 22 goals, 36 assists and 58 points in 79 games in 2021-22. He also had 10 power-play goals, 28 power-play points and three short-handed goals while leading Ottawa forwards in ice time per game (21:16). The 21-year-old also had NHL career highs in shots on goal (228), helping the Senators improve by 13 points in the standings.

14. Nico Hischier, New Jersey Devils

Hischier had NHL career highs of 31 goals, 49 assists and 80 points in 81 games last season for New Jersey, which had a franchise-high 52 wins and 112 points, improving by 25 wins and 49 points from 2021-22. He ranked second among Devils forwards in ice time per game (19:17), first in short-handed ice time per game (2:06) and takeaways (64), and second in blocked shots (61). The 24-year-old won 53.9 percent of face-offs and was runner-up for the Selke Trophy last season.

"He plays a game, he wants to play it perfectly. He wants to play the 200-foot game," Boyle said. "Career highs in points and goals, and he was a plus-33. He's the captain of that team for a reason. He was named captain at a young age (22) but it's because of his character and his humility and his work ethic and I think he's a great player to lead that team."

13. Roope Hintz, Dallas Stars

Hintz has scored 37 goals each of the past two seasons and had an NHL career-high 75 points in 73 games in 2022-23. He was also plus-31 with 21 power-play points, three short-handed goals and five game-winning goals in 17:33 of average ice time. The 26-year-old won 52.0 percent of his face-offs and was fifth on the Stars in SAT percentage, with Dallas taking 54.7 percent of all shot attempts when he was on the ice at 5-on-5.

12. Mika Zibanejad, New York Rangers

Zibanejad was second on the Rangers in points (91) and had 39 goals and 52 assists in 82 games last season. He has scored at least 24 goals in each of the past six seasons, including at least 10 power-play goals in each of them. The 30-year-old led New York with 20 power-play goals and led forwards with 57 takeaways. He led Rangers forwards in ice time per game (19:58) and short-handed ice time per game (1:56) and was third in power-play time (3:30).

"He has just developed and gotten better and better," Hradek said. "That one-timer is just lethal. ... Mika Zibanejad the last two years had over 50 assists... that shows you his play-making ability. ... The calling card for me with Zibanejad is that one-timer. He can hammer it."

11. Tage Thompson, Buffalo Sabres

Thompson showed his breakout season in 2021-22 (38 goals and 68 points in 78 games) was no fluke by scoring 47 goals, 47 assists and 94 points -- each an NHL career high -- in 78 games last season. He also had career bests in power-play goals (20), power-play points (34), game-winning goals (seven) and ice time per game (18:35). The 25-year-old finished sixth in goals and 15th in points in the NHL last season.

"He's got the vision, he's obviously a talented player and he's just blossomed into something that I mean it's exciting for the Buffalo Sabres, it's excited for USA Hockey," Boyle said. "He's going to command a lot of attention from opponents."

10. Elias Pettersson, Vancouver Canucks

Pettersson smashed his NHL career highs with 39 goals, 63 assists and 102 points in 80 games last season, leading the Canucks in goals, points, plus-minus (plus-16), and he tied for the NHL lead in short-handed goals (five) and points (nine) with teammate J.T. Miller. Pettersson skated 20:33 per game and tied for third in the League with three overtime goals. The 24-year-old has scored at least 27 goals and 66 points in four of his five NHL seasons.

"What a jump from 68 points to over 100 points," Hradek said. "Talking to Bruce (Boudreau), he said the thing that stands out about Elias Pettersson is he would come into the office and say 'I want to play against (Connor) McDavid, I want to play against (Jack) Eichel. ... I want to play against the best players.' He wants those matchups, he relishes those challenges and those are the kind of guys you love having in your group."

9. Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers

Barkov continues to be one of the best two-way players in the game. He had 23 goals and 78 points in 68 games in 2022-23, the eighth consecutive season he scored at least 20. He had 30 power-play points, six game-winning goals and won 54.9 percent of his face-offs while averaging 21:13 of ice time per game and leading the Panthers in takeaways (56). The 27-year-old is Florida's all-time leader in goals (243) and points (631) in 664 games and has finished top five in Selke voting in four of the past six seasons.

8. Jack Eichel, Vegas Golden Knights

There were questions as Eichel's level of play in a full season after having surgery in 2021-22 but he quickly quieted the doubters. He had 66 points (27 goals, 39 assists), including 14 power-play points, and his plus-26 rating in 67 regular-season games led the Golden Knights. Eichel averaged 18:46 of ice time per game, third among Vegas forwards. Playing for the first time in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the 26-year-old led the postseason with 26 points (six goals, 20 assists) to help the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup. Eichel has 446 points (180 goals, 266 assists) in 476 games over eight seasons.

7. Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning

Few players have been as clutch as Point has since he entered the NHL in 2016. Since then, he's scored 44 game-winning goals (seventh in the NHL) and 218 goals (tied for 10th). In the playoffs, his 40 goals are second over that span behind Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (42) and his three overtime goals are tied for third. The 27-year-old, who has won the Stanley Cup twice (2020, 2021) had NHL career highs in goals (51) and points (95) averaging 19:40 of ice time playing all 82 games last season.

"He is electric. You can not stop him. He is so determined, he's a humble kid. 51 goals last year, one-empty-netter," Boyle said. "... He'll do anything to win and I think next year, with a long summer finally for Brayden Point, he's going to have an even better year."

6. Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils

Hughes led the Devils with NHL career highs in goals (43), assists (56) and points (99) in 78 games last season setting the New Jersey/Colorado Rockies/Kansas City Scouts single season record for points. He was runner-up for the Lady Byng Trophy for gentlemanly play, taking three minor penalties, the fewest among the top 46 scorers in the NHL, and he was 11th in points. The 22-year-old led Devils forwards in ice time per game (19:58) and helped them advance to the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

"When you put up 99 points and 43 goals, you're going to make a move up the list," Hradek said. "Dynamic. So much fun to watch. ... He plays with a swagger, he does things you don't expect. I think he's learned how to protect himself a little better on the ice. ... Love his game."

5. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

Crosby led the Penguins with 93 points (33 goals, 60 assists) in 82 games last season, the 11th time he scored at least 30 goals and the 12th time he had at least 84 points. Crosby also led Pittsburgh with nine game-winning goals while averaging 20:09 of ice time per game. The 36-year-old led the NHL in face-off attempts (1,846) and was second in face-off wins (978) behind Video: Lindholm and Larkin rank 19th & 20th for top centers of the Boston Bruins (1,043). Crosby, who has won the Stanley Cup three times (2009, 2016, 2017), is first among active skaters in points (1,502) and assists (952) and second in goals (550), behind Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals (822).

"He is truly one of the greatest we've seen," Boyle said. "He just has a competitive drive that I've never seen in another teammate that I've had the pleasure of playing with. He is relentless, he is the hardest working guy. ... He wants to work at his craft, work at his game, find ways to get better. And he's just a joy to watch."

4. Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs

Matthews may not have led the NHL in scoring last season, but the 25-year-old scored 40 goals, the fourth straight time and fifth in seven seasons he's hit the mark. His 297 goals since entering the NHL in 2016-17 are two more than Ovechkin, who is second over that span. Matthews had 85 points, eight-game winning goals, 13 power-play goals and an NHL career-high plus-31 rating in 74 games last season. He averaged 20:17 of ice time and his 68 takeaways were ninth among all forwards.

3. Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers

Draisaitl was second in points (128), third in assists (76) and fourth in goals (52), trailing teammate Connor McDavid in each and has finished no lower than fourth in scoring in each of the past five seasons. Draisaitl led the NHL with 32 power-play goals and had 62 power-play points (second to McDavid's 71) and scored 11 game-winning goals (tied with McDavid for second to Bruins forward David Pastrnak's 13), while also winning 54.9 percent of face-offs. The 27-year-old was fourth among forwards, averaging 21:44 of ice time per game, and tied Vegas Golden Knights forward Jonathan Marchessault for the playoff lead in goals (13) despite only playing 12 games.

"He has got a great knack for making plays," Hradek said. "I think he's a little in the situation that Evgeni Malkin has been in in Pittsburgh behind Sidney Crosby; they get a lot of the attention. ... Draisaitil is one of the very, very best players in the League, there is no question."

2. Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche

MacKinnon set NHL career highs across the board with 42 goals, 69 assists and 111 points in 71 games last season, the first time he had more than 99 points in his 10 seasons. The 27-year-old was fifth in scoring and second among forwards in ice time per game (22:19). He led Colorado with a plus-29 rating and 366 shots on goal and tied Mikko Rantanen for the team lead with nine game-winning goals. MacKinnon also tied Oilers forward Evander Kane for the NHL lead with 13 playoff goals in 2022, helping the Avalanche win the Stanley Cup for the first time since 2001. He's third in points (553) since the 2017-18 season.

"This guy just chews up ice as he's going through the neutral zone," Boyle said. "Power, power, power. ... He can shoot but he can also make plays. He can pass. He is such a weapon for this team. ... He is an elite players in all aspects. He is a Stanley Cup champion. I don't know how you defend a guy like this."

1. Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

McDavid won the 2023 Art Ross Trophy, leading the NHL in scoring for the third straight season with 153 points, the most since Mario Lemieux had 161 for the Penguins in 1995-96. He also won the Rocket Richard Trophy as the leading goal-scorer with 64, and led the NHL with 89 assists, becoming the fifth different player in NHL history to outright lead all three categories in one season. The 26-year-old led the NHL in power-play points and ice time per game among forwards (22:23). McDavid has 850 points since entering the NHL in 2015-16, 115 more than Draisaitl (735), who is second and has played 32 more games.

"He's incredible, he's electric," Boyle said. "He is still getting better which is incredible. He can take on 3-4 guys at a time. He has multiple different gears with which he can play. He reads the game so well. ... He has elevated his game every single year and I can't wait to watch him next year."