Quote:
Originally Posted by Knightslayer
I agree. Some are pretending he's an elite Center. He isn't. Like I've said before, he is an elite player.
That is different than being an elite center. He has the possibility of being one forsure but a lot of people are going to be disappointed if they think they're getting some great 2 way center.
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What are you on about? Plenty of elite centres are "average" defensively (Eichel is not bad defensively, he just has stretches where his motor isn't full throttle. Even Backlund and Lindholm and Dube do that.)
Sidney Crosby and Malkin aren't much better than average defensively.
McDavid and Draisaitl aren't great defensively, though CP probably underrates Drai's defensive play given how poor theirD are.
Nathan MacKinnon isn't exactly a Selke candidate.
Ryan Getzlaf in his prime wasn't either.
The reality is this: while Kopitar and Bergeron shutdown types are an awesome foundation, the things that're important in your number one centre are creativity through the middle, thd ability to backcheck, sticklift, forecheck, and the ability to handle the puck long enough along the perimeter (whether with speed or size) that their wingers can get open.
Typically, elite teams are built down the middle like this:
Matchup Centre (takes s against other team's top line)
All-around Centre (can take draws/matchups any situation)
Scoring Centre (Probably going to be used wherever exploitable)
Faceoff / Checking Centre (probably going to emphasize D zone draws, main role is late in games with a lead, blocking shots etc. Usually the 4C just due to cap)
And it actually doesn't matter which line centre plays the other three roles, as long as you have one of each. Of course you'd like guys who are versatile enough to succeed in different roles
For the 2014 Kings
Shutdown Centre - Mike Richards
All-around Centre - Anze Kopitar
Scoring Centre - Jeff Carter
Faceoff / Checking Centre - Jarrett Stoll
It actually wasn't Kopitar taking a shutdown role.
For the 2016 Penguins
Shutdown Centre / Faceoff - Matt Cullen (even though he was the 4C, and old, he was getting hard matchups)
Faceoff Centre - Nick Bonino (specifically though his line with Hagelin and Kessel had more of a transition scoring role, but he didn't)
All-around Centre - Sidney Crosby
Scoring Centre - Evgeni Malkin
And even the 2019 Flames were built this way
Shutdown Centre - Backlund
Scoring Centre - Monahan
All-Around centre - Ryan
Checking Centre - Jankowski, IIRC that was how Peters used him. Though One might argue Ryan's line eith Eatbread and Hathaway had a more strongly checking role and Jankowski was the leftover. Such a shame Peters never utilized Bennett, because Bennett is/was very much that all-around centre.
Well that's actually probably the closest to how the Flames would be built with Eichel
Shutdown Centre - Backlund to take the matchups
All-Around Centre - Lindholm.
Scoring Centre - Eichel doesn't necessarily need to be sheltered, but we can afford to do it.
Checking Centre - Even Brad Richardson might be just fine in that role. Maybe even Gawdin or Ruzicka. Or maybe that is why the Flames ask the Sabres to throw Girgensens into the trade, although his FO% is underwhelming.
Of course, maybe if Lindholm is centering Tkachuk and Gaudreau, his role becomes closer to a scoring role while Eichel might be centering more solid 200foot wingers like Mangiapane and playing more of an all-situation role. That's the beauty of fluidity. The only role that needs to really be clearly defined is that of Mikael Backlund's line with Coleman and Pitlick!
