Will a Number-One Center Please Stand Up?

It was no secret that the Columbus Blue Jackets were in a desperate search for a number-one center this off-season.

The very wording of this suggests that being positioned as the first center on the depth chart does not automatically qualify you as a “number-one center”.  In the end, it looks like the starting center for the Blue Jackets will be RJ Umberger—certainly not an elite center, but even more certainly, an upgrade.

There were lots of names thrown out during our quest.  Lots of names that, in my opinion, were not worth the price we were willing to pay. 

Patrick Marleau’s name, for example, was thrown in the mix.  Talk was that we might be willing to offer our first pick overall in 2008 plus a player for Marleau. 

I was horrified by that information.  Marleau may be a competent player—but he is (in my eyes) by no means an elite center. In fact, as an interesting note, Marleau fared worse this season in point production than our late Sergei Fedorov. 

More names were thrown around, and I was constantly underwhelmed at who we were “targeting.”

Then it hit me.  As I started looking at all of the centers across the league, I realized that there weren’t be more than a handful who could truly be considered as elite, playmaking centers. 

So, I give you my list—the true number one centers that are in the NHL. 

Now, before anyone shouts, I had some flexible criteria but my only set rule was this—the player has to be in his prime or close right now. One past season of greatness or signs of greatness to come does not make you a CURRENT number-one center. 

I tried to factor in the talent around the player, as well as the system that they are in. I think I’ve had some success, but this is subjective so take it with a grain of salt.

In no particular order:

Ryan Getzlaf, ANA

Marc Savard, BOS

Eric Staal, CAR

Brad Richards, DAL

Pavel Datsyuk, DET

Henrik Zetterberg*, DET

Anze Kopitar, LA

Jason Spezza, OTT

Olli Jokinen, PHX

Sidney Crosby, PIT
Evgeni Malkin, PIT

Joe Thornton, SJ

Vinny Lecavalier, TB

*I know Z often plays wing with Datsyuk, but if he were on any other team he’d be the number one center in a heartbeat.

So there you have it.  13 names, 11 teams.  Again, it’s a subjective list.  I only included those players who I considered ELITE.  Think of it this way—if there were a league-wide draft, these would be the guys (at Center) that are picked first.  These are the A+ players. 

Again, there are lots of “A” players who can step in and play the top spot—but the Gomezes, Marleaus, and Brieres of the league would all take a back seat to any of these players.