There';s no reason to not expect him to still produce, but perhaps a 70-point
season signals success rather than a repeat 80-point season. If he fights
through it and produces, he will prove himself capable of playing a top line
role. But for now, he remains a first line center whose only experience has
been on the second line.28. Derek Stepan

28 Years Old, 9th Season

After going through an adjustment period with just eight points in his first 20
 games, Derek Stepan';s first season with the Arizona Coyotes was successful.
He finished with 48 points in his final 62 games to finish second on the team
with 56 points. While his 14 goals were a career low and the second straight
season he';s regressed in the category, his 56 points were second-most of his
career and represent consecutive seasons of growth.

He also shot a career-low 6.7 percent but won 47.7 percent of faceoffs, the
highest of his career, and averaged 19:16 of ice time, his highest since the
2012-13 season. He controlled over 52 percent of five-on-five goals and was
tasked with playing on both special teams units. Additionally, he was plus-14
in turnovers, his seventh season with a positive margin.Derek Stepan had a
strong season in 2017-18, his first centering the top line in Arizona. (Amy
Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Joining him on the top line was rookie Clayton Keller, a natural center, and
Brendan Perlini, who had career highs in goals and points last season. Keller
and Stepan had similar metrics at five-on-five and each improved the other
while Perlini needed the other two to be successful.

The problem is that for as strong of a season as Stepan had in 2017-18, he
isn';t a first line center. While he has six seasons with at least 50 points,
he has never reached 60, never scored 25 goals, and doesn';t have the skillset
to drive Arizona';s offense on a game-by-game basis. If the Coyotes are to
become consistent contenders, they are going to need a center who can generate
offense at a higher rate than Stepan. Is Keller that player? Could 2018 first
round pick Barrett Hayton solve that need? Both, either, or neither could be
the answer, but for now Stepan is that player and he';s not very good in the
role.29. Jordan Staal

30 Years Old, 13th Season

When Jordan Staal was with the Penguins, he was their third line center behind
Crosby and Malkin and was too skilled for the role. So the Penguins dealt him
to the Hurricanes to center their second line behind older brother Eric. Jordan
 was great in that role as it allowed him to use his two-way skills that made
him such a good third line center. But then the Hurricanes traded Eric and it
left Jordan in a top line role.After the Hurricanes traded his brother, Jordan
Staal has been the Hurricanes'; first line center, a role he';s not cut out
for. (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Jordan is a good player. He';s won at least 50 percent of faceoffs every season
 since 2011-12, including 56.6 percent last season, has positive metrics,
succeeds on both special teams units, and has had a positive turnover margin
every season. Yet he doesn';t have the abilities to produce like most first
line centers. He';s had 50 points once and has two seasons of 25 or more goals.

But, so far, he';s the best center Carolina has, at least until either Martin
Necas develops more or they use one of their blueliners to acquire one. Staal
centered Carolina';s best line with Sebastian Aho and Teuvo Teravainen on the
wings. That line scored 16 more five-on-five goals than any other. Aho and
Teravainen finished one-two on the team in points and both players have
increased their point totals the past two seasons and make Staal more
productive than he naturally is.30. Mika Zibanejad

25 Years Old, 7th Full Season

In year one of the New York Rangers rebuild, Mika Zibanejad set a new personal
best with 27 goals and his 47 points were the second-most of his career. Of his
 27 goals, 14 were scored on the man advantage, 27.5 percent of the team';s 51
goals on the power play. He did so while shooting 12.7 percent in all
situations and averaging 17:58 of ice time, a career high. He also won 50.8
percent of draws, his third straight season above 50 percent. He did have
positive possession metrics but the Rangers had a minus-16 goal differential at
 five-on-five with him on the ice.Mika Zibanejad is the de facto first line
center for the Rangers but is one of the league';s worst top centers. (Amy
Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

At five-on-five, he had career lows of 1.35 P/60 and .64 A/60 while averaging
8.63 S/60, second-most of his career and shooting 8.2 percent, his
second-lowest rate. He played over a minute shorthanded per game and almost
three minutes on the man advantage and set career highs in power play
production. He struggled to protect the puck with a minus-14 turnover margin,
his second season with a negative differential.

Zibanejad isn';t a terrible center but isn';t cut out for the top line. A team
can';t rely on a top center who is sub-50 percent at faceoffs and has a
negative goal differential. Before the Rangers can be competitive again, they
will need a more reliable and productive option than him.31. Jonathan Drouin

23 Years Old, 5th Season

Although he was a winger with the Lightning, the Montreal Canadiens acquired
Jonathan Drouin to be their first line center despite having never taken more
than 250 faceoffs in a season at the NHL level. So the odds were already
stacked against him. Compile that with an average-at-best forward core and the
pressures of playing in Montreal as a Francophile and the season was almost
destined to be a disaster for him.Jonathan Drouin isn';t a natural center but
serves as Montreal';s pivot on the top line. (Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports)

In 77 games, he managed just 13 goals and 46 points, averaged 17:36 of ice
time, and won 42.5 percent of faceoffs. He regressed in nearly every category
relative to 2016-17. He controlled 40.7 percent of five-on-five goals and his
production decreased for the second straight season. He also didn';t kill
penalties but had a career-high 3:16 of power play time per game. Unfortunately
 that increased ice time didn';t lead to production as his goals and
points-per-60 on the power play decreased from last season.

His minus-two turnover margin was his third straight with a negative
differential and his line with Brendan Gallagher and Paul Byron, his two most
common linemates, was Montreal';s fourth-most used line. Drouin actually
hindered both of them at five-on-five, the opposite of what';s expected from a
top center. Long-term, his best fit is on the wing, but that will have to wait
until one of Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Nick Suzuki, or Ryan Poehling take over the
top center role.

*All stats and information came from Hockey-Reference, Natural Stat Trick, and
Corsica Hockey

The post Ranking Every 1st Line Center in the NHL appeared first on The Hockey
Writers.

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