Most centres people consider elite are adequate at defence at best. A few, like Bergeron or Datsyuk, exceed that level. But Gretzky and Lemieux weren’t “great” defensively. Mackinnon and Matthews are OK but I wouldn’t think of the as some defensive wizards.
I think what you want in an elite C is someone who can handle playing against a top line, either because their offence is so overwhelming it covers up for mediocre defence or because they can at least play in their own zone a bit.
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