As we lead up to the beginning of the 2023–24 season, we’ll be breaking the depth charts at key positions for every NHL team to rank them from first to best. First up is the most important position in hockey: centre.
Every successful team is built down the middle of the ice. Just take a look at pretty much every Stanley Cup Champion from the past two decades and you’ll notice a similar trend. Depth down the middle is crucial to long-term success. Let’s take a look at every NHL team’s projected centre depth and how they stack up.
#1 Edmonton Oilers
Depth chart: Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Ryan McLeod, Lane Pederson
The Edmonton Oilers have held down this number-one spot for a while now and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. No team can come close to a one-two punch of McDavid and Draisaitl down the middle of the ice.
The duo finished first and second in NHL scoring last year by a wide margin and there’s a good chance they repeat the feat this season. McDavid alone propels the Oilers to the top of this list but with Draisaitl too? Unfair.
#2 New Jersey Devils
Depth chart: Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Erik Haula, Michael McLeod
The New Jersey Devils have skyrocketed up this list since last offseason. Jack Hughes finally broke out last season and at just 22 years old he’s only getting better. He’s arguably a top-five centre in the league already and should be an MVP candidate this season.
Behind him, the Devils have Nico Hischier who would be a top-line centre on most teams. The 2017 first-overall pick also had a breakout season racking up 80 points and finishing as the runner-up for the Selke. Only the Oilers boast a better duo down the middle.
#3 Toronto Maple Leafs
Depth chart: Auston Matthews, John Tavares, David Kampf, Dylan Gambrell
Not many teams can match up with the Maple Leafs’ duo down the middle in Matthews and Tavares, although the talent falls off quickly after them. Despite a down year by his standards last season, Matthews is still a top-five player in the NHL and the league’s best goal scorer when he’s on his game.
Even though he’s entering his mid-30s, Tavares still put up a point-per-game pace last year and is a luxury on the second line. It’s worth noting that William Nylander is skating at centre in training camp but I doubt that will stuck into the season so I didn’t consider him here.
#4 Pittsburgh Penguins
Depth Chart: Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Lars Eller, Noel Acciari
Despite both Crosby and Malkin being in their late 30s, they remain one of the best centre duos in the NHL. Crosby is still an elite number-one centre at 36 years old and one of the very best in the league at his position.
Malkin has taken a step back due to injuries, but when healthy he’s still a point-per-game centre and would be a first line option on most teams. Add in a couple of dependable veterans in Eller and Acciari and the Penguins are set down the middle.
#5 Los Angeles Kings
Depth Chart: Anze Kopitar, Pierre-Luc Dubois, Phillip Danualt, Blake Lizotte
The Kings are stacked down the middle of the ice, so much so that Quinton Byfield will likely line up on the wing. They don’t have a truly elite number-one centre, but not many teams can match their depth from top to bottom.
Kopitar and Dubois are both low-end number-one centres so having either on the second line is a big bonus. Danault meanwhile is an elite shutdown option and a luxury on the third line. Blake Lizotte is also one of the better fourth line centres in the league.
#6 Vegas Golden Knights
Depth Chart: Jack Eichel, Chandler Stephenson, William Karlsson, Nicolas Roy
Jack Eichel is an elite number-one centre when healthy and is coming off a tremendous playoff run as he leads the Golden Knights centre group. Behind him, the Golden Knights have Stephenson who is an all-around strong centre and coming off back-to-back 60+ point seasons. Not bad for your second line.
In the bottom-six, veteran William Karlsson is a luxury on the third line as a player who can chip in offensively and post solid defensive numbers. Roy needs a call-out as well as one of the better fourth line centres in the league.
#7 Carolina Hurricanes
Depth Chart: Sebastian Aho, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Jordan Staal, Jack Drury
The Hurricanes are carried by Aho here who is an elite number one centre, but the emergence of Kotkaniemi as an elite defensive centre helps a ton. Aho is a top-10 centre in the league despite his lower point totals last year and should see his point totals bounce back.
In Kotkaniemi and Staal the Hurricanes possess two of the better defensive centres in the league. With promising youngster Jack Drury also in the mix the Hurricanes carry depth at centre that many teams can’t match.
#8 Florida Panthers
Depth Chart: Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, Anton Lundell, Steven Lorentz
Similarly in Florida, the Panthers group is carried by the elite Barkov who is one of the best two-way players in the NHL. When he’s healthy, there are not many better centres in the league. Bennett has found a second wind in Florida and is more than capable on the second line.
The big question mark is Lundell who carries plenty of potential but didn’t take the big leap many expected last year. If he can reach his full potential, the Panthers likely rank even higher up on this list.
#9 Calgary Flames
Depth Chart: Elias Lindholm, Nazem Kadri, Mikael Backlund, Kevin Rooney
Despite some uncertainty around the long-term future of the position, the Flames will go into the season with one of the deepest centre groups in the NHL. Elias Lindholm isn’t elite but he’s a low-end number one who should bounce back to the 70-point range in 2023–24. Kadri meanwhile is perfectly suited on the second line as a guy who can put up 60 points.
The big boost in this ranking comes from Backlund who remains an elite two-way centre at 33 years old and is coming off a career year. The Flames may not possess any elite options, but having Backlund on your third line is a huge luxury and shows the depth at the position.
#10 Buffalo Sabres
Depth Chart: Tage Thompson, Dylan Cozens, Peyton Krebs, Tyson Jost
Thompson’s massive 94-point season last year established him as one of the best offensive centres in the NHL. Add Cozens who broke out last year and possesses a ton of potential and the Sabres look to have a deadly duo down the middle. The problem is both are woeful defensively which holds them back.
In the bottom-six Krebs was a highly touted prospect but has yet to translate that to the NHL. If he can take another step this year it would make the Sabres even more formidable down the middle.
#11 Vancouver Canucks
Depth Chart: Elias Petterson, J.T. Miller, Pius Suter, Teddy Blueger
Elias Petterson broke onto the scene and confirmed himself as one of the very best centres in the NHL last season with 102 points and carries the Canucks up these rankings. Miller can rack up points, but he gives up so much defensively that it really limits his impact. Still, you can do much worse on the second line.
Both Suter and Blueger are new additions to the lineup who are solid defensive centres that provide the Canucks with some nice depth.
#12 Tampa Bay Lightning
Depth Chart: Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli, Nick Paul, Luke Glendening
The Lightning have a balanced group down the middle that has everything you could ask for. Point is coming off a monster 51-goal year and is fully established as a true star at centre while Cirelli is quietly one of the best two-way pivots in the NHL.
Add in a dependable centre in Paul and a defensive veteran in Glendening and the Lightning boast a very solid albeit unspectacular group.
#13 New York Rangers
Depth Chart: Mika Zibanejad, Vincent Trochek, Filip Chytil, Nick Bonino
This group is led by Zibanejad who is coming off the best season of his career with 91 points and is a borderline elite number one centre. The Rangers boast some impressive depth behind him as well with Trochek who is perfectly suited in a second line role.
24-year-old Chytil finally started to show some promise last year and is a very nice option to have on your third line. If he takes another step in 2023–24, the Rangers would move up this list.
#14 Ottawa Senators
Depth Chart: Tim Stutzle, Josh Norris, Shane Pinto, Mark Kastelic
Stutzle’s breakout as a true star has the Senators in a nice spot down the middle. He’s on his way to becoming a franchise centre if he can build off his 2022–23 season. Past him, they’ve got a ton of potential in Norris and Pinto.
Norris was on his way to becoming a star before missing nearly all of last season due to injury. If he can return to his 2021–22 form the Senators will have a really solid duo. Add in highly touted prospect Pinto and the Senators group has one of the highest ceilings in the league.
#15 New York Islanders
Depth Chart: Bo Horvat, Brock Nelson, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, Casey Cizikas
Even with Matt Barzal skating on the wing, the Islanders still have a very solid group down the middle. Horvat had a disastrous start to his Islanders career but is still a decent number-one centre and should bounce back this year. Nelson is coming off a big breakout and is a perfect 2C.
In Pageau and Cizikas, the Islanders boast one of the better bottom-six centre groups in the entire league as both provide strong two-way play.
#16 Dallas Stars
Depth Chart: Roope Hintz, Wyatt Johnston, Tyler Seguin, Radek Faksa
The Stars group is floated by perhaps the league’s best secret in Hintz, who is a true superstar centre despite not receiving a ton of attention. Behind him, they’ve got promising youngster Johnston who is looking to build off his impressive 24-goal rookie campaign. If he can improve in his sophomore season, that’s a one-two punch among the best in the West.
Seguin isn’t what he used to be but he’s still an above-average option to trot out on your third line.
#17 St. Louis Blues
Depth Chart: Robert Thomas, Brayden Schenn, Kevin Hayes, Oskar Sundqvist
Thomas is a star on the rise and should continue to get better as the Blues’ number-one centre as he’s right on the cusp of being a true star in the league. Behind him is new captain Schenn who continues to put up points at an impressive rate but gives up a ton defensively.
Adding Hayes in the offseason gives the Blues an above-average option on their third line and someone who can still chip in offensively but overall the group is lacking anyone dynamic past Thomas.
#18 Colorado Avalanche
Depth Chart: Nathan MacKinnon, Ryan Johansen, Ross Colton, Ben Meyers
Colorado’s ranking is completely carried by MacKinnon here who is among the best players in the entire league and without a doubt a top-five centre in the NHL. Johansen is a good cheap gamble but it’s far from a guarantee he can still operate as a top-six centre.
Colton however is a perfect third line centre and at least provides the Avalanche with some nice depth in the bottom-six. Still though, without Mackinnon the Avalanches centre group is rough.
#19 Minnesota Wild
Depth Chart: Ryan Hartman, Joel Eriksson Ek, Frederick Gaudreau, Marco Rossi
The Wild haven’t had a true star down the middle in forever but they still possess an above-average group from top to bottom. With Hartman back at centre at training camp the Wild gain a big boost in these rankings even if he’s a below-average first liner. Eriksson Ek remains one of the best two-way centres in the NHL and is in a perfect spot on the second line.
The big wild card is blue-chip prospect Rossi. He carries a massive ceiling but due to COVID-19 his development path was stalled. Rossi beginning to show some progression this year would be massive for the Wild’s centre depth.
#20 Detroit Red Wings
Depth Chart: Dylan Larkin, J.T. Compher, Andrew Copp, Joe Veleno
Larkin continues to drive the Red Wings down the middle as the veteran is coming off the best season of his career with 79 points. Past him though there isn’t much to write home about. Adding Compher in free agency does give the Red Wings more depth but he’s not a second liner on most playoff teams.
Lastly, Copp is a really nice option to have on your third line but again like Compher, he’s nothing special. Overall the Wings have a pretty dull group other than Larkin.
#21 Washington Capitals
Depth Chart: Nicklas Backstrom, Evgeni Kuznetsov, Dylan Strome, Nic Dowd
The Capitals have a solid veteran group from top to bottom but lack any true difference-maker at centre. Backstrom is a franchise legend but since he’s 35 years old, there’s some uncertainty around how much he can still contribute. Kuznetsov meanwhile saw a big-time drop off in points last year and is dreadful in his own end.
The bottom-six is incredibly solid though as Strome is coming off a career year and is arguably the team’s best centre at this point while Dowd is an analytical darling and a perfect fourth liner.
#22 Seattle Kraken
Depth Chart: Matthew Beniers, Yanni Gourde, Alex Wennberg, Piere-Edouard Bellemare
The Kraken have a nice mix of young talent and veterans at centre but like other teams ranked around here lack a true star. That said Beniers had a great rookie season and is well on his way to becoming a bonafide first line centre. Gourde meanwhile remains an underrated two-way gem.
Unfortunately, after those two there’s not much here as both Wennberg and Bellemare fail to move the needle much.
#23 Winnipeg Jets
Depth Chart: Mark Scheifele, Cole Perfetti, Adam Lowry, Rasmus Kupari
Scheifele’s game has slowly declined over the past couple of years which leaves the Jets without an elite number-one centre. He can still produce points but as always his defensive game is a huge negative.
Lowry is a perfect third line centre but the real question mark for the Jets is Perfetti who is a highly-touted prospect and will now be given the reins on the second line centre job. If he can take another step it’ll be big for Winnipeg.
#24 San Jose Sharks
Depth Chart: Tomas Hertl, Logan Couture, Mikael Granlund, Nico Sturm
The Sharks are in full rebuild mode but continue to boast two solid top-six centres in Hertl and Couture. Hertl is right on the fringe of being a first line centre while Couture continues to chug along at age 34 and is coming off a solid 67-point season. Past the veteran duo, it gets bleak though.
Granlund had a disastrous 2022–23 season and at 31 years old it’s unlikely the bounce-back is coming. Overall this a stronger group than you’d expect from a bottom feeder but not one of a playoff team.
#25 Philadelphia Flyers
Depth Chart: Sean Couturier, Morgan Frost, Noah Cates, Ryan Poehling
The return of Couturier is a massive win for the rebuilding Flyers centre group as he was one of the league’s best two-way centres before going down with a serious injury in 2022. That said, it’s still a big question mark if he can return to his pre-injury form.
Past Couturier, the Flyers have an intriguing young group led by 2017 first-rounder Frost who is coming off a 46-point season and should continue to improve. Cates meanwhile was quietly one of the best defensive centres in the NHL last year.
#26 Anaheim Ducks
Depth Chart: Trevor Zegras, Mason McTavish, Leo Carlsson, Benoit-Olivier Groulx
The Ducks group is fully built on potential as they possess one of the highest upside groups in the league, but they’re a couple of years away still. Zegras is a thrilling offensive player but his play in his own end needs to improve before he can be considered a first line centre.
Behind him, the Ducks have a pair of top three picks in McTavish in Carlsson who both come with tons of upside. Carlsson is probably the best of the entire group and is one to watch over the next couple of years.
#27 Boston Bruins
Depth Chart: Pavel Zacha, Charlie Coyle, Morgan Geekie, Johnny Beecher
With long-time Bruins Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci both retiring this offseason, the Bruins go from having one of the best centre groups in the NHL to one of the worst. Zacha and Coyle are both respectable players but would be better suited as complementary pieces and not first liners.
Geekie was a nice depth addition in free agency but overall the Bruins group is lacking any star talent whatsoever.
#28 Nashville Predators
Depth Chart: Ryan O’Reilly, Tomas Novak, Cody Glass, Colton Sissons
Adding O’Reilly to replace Johansen is an upgrade but still doesn’t make the Predators’ group at centre look very strong. O’Reilly is still effective but on any contender, he’s a second line centre.
Novak is an interesting piece who came out of nowhere last season with 43 points in 51 games and the Predators desperately need him to repeat that as their group is completely devoid of top-end talent.
#29 Montreal Canadiens
Depth Chart: Nick Suzuki, Alex Newhook, Sean Monahan, Jake Evans
Suzuki is right on the cusp of being a first line centre depending on who you ask. Either way, he’s a solid building block which can’t be said about the rest of the Canadiens group. Newcomer Newhook has struggled to reach his draft hype and until he shows some more progression he’s far from a second line centre.
When healthy Monahan can still be effective but the issue is he’s rarely at full health. Overall the Habs have a long way to go at centre if they hope to exit their rebuild.
#30 Columbus Blue Jackets
Depth Chart: Boone Jenner, Adam Fantilli, Jack Roslovic, Sean Kuraly
Like the Blackhawks, the Blue Jackets are completely carried by their top pick from the 2023 NHL Draft. Fantilli has all the making of a high-end number-one centre but that’s probably a couple of years away still. Until then the Jackets centre situation is rough.
Jenner is a solid veteran but is nowhere close to a first liner while Roslovic has failed to take the next step in recent years.
#31 Chicago Blackhawks
Depth Chart: Connor Bedard, Lukas Reichel, Cole Guttman, Jason Dickinson
Adding a generational talent can do wonders for your centre depth as the Blackhawks would undoubtedly rank last here if they didn’t win the draft lottery. How effective Bedard will be in his first season on a dreadful roster is up for debate but there’s no denying how talented he is. By the end of the year, there’s a good chance he’s already being talked about as a top-10 centre in the NHL.
Shoutout to Riechel as well as he carries some nice upside even if he’s over his head on a second line right now.
#32 Arizona Coyotes
Depth Chart: Barret Hayton, Logan Cooley, Nick Bjugstad, Jack McBain
Will the Coyotes have a strong centre group in a couple of years? Yes. Is it the league’s worst group right now? Also yes. Hayton showed some major improvement last season but he’s far from a first liner on most teams for now.
The big addition this year is top prospect Cooley who could make a big impact right away. Until we see him in the NHL full-time though it’s too early to boost the Coyotes out of the last spot.
Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire
