NHL Predictions 2011-12: Power Ranking the Top 25 Centers in the League

The NHL has many quality centers who serve as an important part of their team. Centers like Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins not only score many goals, they are playmakers too, who set up their teammates with great scoring chances.

To be a great center, you have to be able to play defensively too, and no one plays a better two-way game than Detroit Red Wings star Pavel Datsyuk.

Let's take a look at the top 25 centers in the NHL. Where does your team's center rank?

For updates on all NHL news throughout the season, follow Nick Goss on Twitter. Follow @NicholasGoss35

Nicholas Goss is a Boston Bruins featured columnist for Bleacher Report and was the organization's on-site reporter for the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Boston.

25) Paul Stastny, Colorado Avalanche

Paul Stastny is becoming a top-line center and his physical play and size make him a tough opponent to play against.

He can score goals, create for teammates and is a leader on a young Colorado Avalanche team. He has yet to reach his potential and will be a star for years.

24) Matt Duchene, Colorado Avalanche

Matt Duchene is one of the many quality young players that the Colorado Avalanche are hoping becomes a star this season.

Duchene scored 54 points in his rookie season, then tallied 67 points in his sophomore season. 

His combination of size, speed and scoring is very impressive, and he will be the Avalanche's No. 1 center for a long time.

23) John Tavares, New York Islanders

John Tavares had a very good sophomore season last year, tallying 67 points with 29 goals. He signed a new six-year contract in the offseason and will lead their offense for many seasons to come.

He will become a superstar this season.

22) Jason Spezza, Ottawa Senators

Jason Spezza is the offensive leader of the Ottawa Senators and led them in scoring with 21 goals and 57 points last season in 62 games.

Spezza's name is constantly coming up in trade rumors, but with his large contract he will be tough to move.

Spezza can score and is a consistent performer, but his talents are wasted on a bad Senators team.

21) Vincent Lecavalier, Tampa Bay Lightning

Vincent Lecavalier played in just 65 games last year, but scored 54 points, and he was good for the Tampa Bay Lightning in the playoffs where they came up a period short of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Lecavalier's size and offensive ability make him a top center, and when healthy he is a 40-goal scorer.

He is overpaid, however, and his contract is burdensome for Tampa Bay—especially considering Vinny is approaching his mid-30s.

20) Jeff Carter, Columbus Blue Jackets

Jeff Carter has scored 30 goals in three straight seasons, including a 36-goal effort last season.

Carter was traded from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Columbus Blue Jackets days before the 2011 NHL Draft and will be a big upgrade for the Jackets who have desperately needed a top center for years.

Carter's stats will be even better in Columbus since he's the man now and will get major ice time.

19) Brad Richards, New York Rangers

Brad Richards scored 77 points in 70 games last season for the Dallas Stars and was the most coveted free agent of the summer, ultimately signing with the New York Rangers.

Richards is a great passer, leader and scorer, and will give the Rangers a top-line center they have desperately needed for a few years now.

18) Mike Richards, Los Angeles Kings

Mike Richards was traded to the Los Angeles Kings from the Philadelphia Flyers this summer and brings leadership and goal scoring to the young Kings.

Richards is a good defensive player too, and is clutch in the playoffs—both are things L.A. needed more of going into this season.

17) Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks

Joe Thornton finally played well for the San Jose Sharks in the playoffs last season, but his 70 points in the regular season were the lowest he's amassed since 2001-02.

Thornton is still an elite power forward and is one of the best passing centers in the NHL.

16) Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals

Nicklas Backstrom is an offensive superstar, racking up 323 points during his brief career. However, he often fails in the playoffs, which really hurts the Capitals.

Not only can Backstrom score, he is a phenomenal passer and has great vision.

15) Mikko Koivu, Minnesota Wild

Mikko Koivu is an underrated center who has great passing and leadership skills. He will see his stats rise dramatically by playing with the Wild's two newest wingers, Devin Setoguchi and Dany Heatley.

14) Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings

Not only is Anze Kopitar the best scorer and all-around offensive talent on the Los Angeles Kings, he's one of their top penalty killers.

Kopitar is a big, strong player who has great passing skills and vision. 

He's a superstar player and has scored 20 goals or more in five straight seasons.

13) Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins

Patrice Bergeron is an underrated center and one of the best faceoff men in hockey. 

He's an all-around forward with great passing skills and a very good leader. Bergeron is also a good penalty killer. There's no role he can't fill for the Bruins.

He's arguably their most valuable skater.

12) David Krejci, Boston Bruins

Boston Bruins center David Krejci led the 2011 NHL playoffs in points with 23 and goals with 12.

He's an elite playmaker and has goal scoring ability as well, but doesn't show his scoring touch on a consistent basis.

Krejci is vital to the Bruins' success and, like most of his forward teammates, he excels defensively.

11) Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers

Claude Giroux is the next superstar of the NHL and impressed many with a 25-goal, 51-assist season last year for the Flyers.

Giroux is a great scorer and plays the game with a physical edge. He will be a top player for many years to come.

Expect at least 35 goals from Giroux this season.

10) Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings

Henrik Zetterberg is a top NHL player and his combination of scoring and playmaking skills is amazing.

Zetterberg scored 24 goals last season with 56 assists for 80 points. He's also a great defensive player who comes up big in the clutch.

9) Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks

Ryan Getzlaf is a great combination of size, offensive production and leadership. 

He's the captain of the Anaheim Ducks and the playmaking force that drives on the top lines in hockey, which includes reigning MVP Corey Perry.

Getzlaf can score goals, kill penalties and create for teammates. He's a complete player.

8) Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks

Ryan Kesler scored 41 goals last season and became a premier player. He plays hurt, he plays physical and if his teammates played with that same passion during last year's Stanley Cup Final, the Canucks might be the defending champions.

Kesler won the Selke Trophy last season and has become an elite hockey player.

7) Henrik Sedin, Vancouver Canucks

Henrik Sedin was the NHL's scoring champion in 2010 with 112 points and scored 94 points last season as his brother Daniel took over the title of league scoring champion.

Sedin's great passing skills make him a top assist man each season and his goal scoring ability is great too.

6) Eric Staal, Carolina Hurricanes

Eric Staal is a premier NHL player and arguably the most underrated center in the game.

Staal is a goal scorer, a brilliant playmaker and a great leader. He is the face of the Hurricanes franchise and has not scored less than 70 points in a season since 2005-06.

5) Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins

Evgeni Malkin is a unique player in that he can be a great scorer and playmaker on a team that already has that same player.

Malkin and Sidney Crosby are the best center combination in the NHL, but Malkin will have to carry the Penguins this season.

He's looked good in the preseason and will surely get back to a point-per-game pace this season.

4) Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning

Steven Stamkos is the best young offensive player in the sport and is as good of a goal scorer as you'll find.

He has scored 96 goals the past two seasons and isn't even close to the prime of his career.

Stamkos is also an improving defensive player and plays the game with a physical style that really helps the Tampa Bay Lightning.

He could be the future face of the NHL.

3) Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks

Jonathan Toews had 32 goals and 76 points last season—the best year of his remarkable, but brief career.

Toews is a leader and the top offensive player for the Chicago Blackhawks. He will be a Hart Trophy candidate this season.

There are few players who you'd want to start a team with in today's NHL over Toews.

2) Sidney Crosby, PIttsburgh Penguins

Playing with Sidney Crosby is often challenging because he sees things so much faster than other players and often his teammates can't keep up, but his vision and playmaking abilities are unmatched.

Not only can he score, he is an elite passer and has a tireless work ethic.

Whether you like him or not, there is no denying that Crosby is one of the best players ever.

1) Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings

Pavel Datsyuk is the best center in hockey—even better than Sidney Crosby.

Not only can Datsyuk score goals, create for teammates and be a leader, he is the example of what playing defense as a forward is all about.

He's won the Selke Trophy (award for top defensive forward) three times and has some of the best puck-handling skills in the NHL.

He's in a class of his own.