Top center in NHL in 3 seasons debated

NHL Network is spending the offseason presenting the best current NHL players at each position. On Sunday, the network's producers and analysts chose the top 20 centers in the League in a special program that airs at 5 p.m. ET on NHL Network. To add to that conversation, we asked six NHL.com writers to pick the player they think will be the best center in the NHL in three seasons. Here are their choices:

Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers
There's no reason to overthink this one. McDavid was the best center in the game three years ago, he is today, and will be three years from now. He led the NHL in scoring for the second straight season with 123 points (44 goals, 79 assists) in 80 games last season and he's ranked first or second in scoring each of the past six seasons. A two-time Hart Trophy winner as NHL most valuable player, and a three-time Ted Lindsay Award winner as MVP voted by the NHL Players' Association, McDavid has 697 points since entering the NHL in 2015-16, 74 more than Patrick Kane, who is second and has played 44 more games. McDavid is good for at least a handful of highlight-reel plays every season. And he is only 25. -- David Satriano, staff writer
Auston Matthews and Nathan MacKinnon are generational players in their own right and should be acknowledged as that. But for me, McDavid isn't just the best center in the NHL; he's the most skilled hockey player I've ever seen, regardless of position. The Oilers forward leads the league in points per game (1.59) the past four seasons and holds a significant statistical advantage over the second-place player, Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (1.43). On the all-time list, he ranks fourth among players who have played a minimum 100 NHL games at 1.43, trailing Hall of Famers Wayne Gretzky (1.92), Mario Lemieux (1.88) and Mike Bossy (1.50). Like colleague David Satriano astutely pointed out, he's only 25 and hasn't even reached his prime yet. But it goes beyond the analytics. Use the eye test. At least once per game No. 97 has a dominating shift in which he makes his opponents, established NHLers, look like beer league players. For me, case closed.-- Mike Zeisberger, staff writer
Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs
Well, let's put a little bit of thought into it. Matthews wasn't the player he is now three seasons ago, but you can see where he's trending from the way he played last season. He became the first player in a decade to score 60 goals, and he won the Hart Trophy and the Ted Lindsay Award. Matthews also has become a much-improved defensive player, which has helped him create even more offensive opportunities for himself and his teammates. And for some historical context, Matthews has averaged 0.64 goals in his first six seasons (259 in 407 games); Alex Ovechkin, the greatest goal-scorer of his generation, averaged 0.63 goals in his first six seasons (301 in 475 games). Matthews already has been phenomenal, but the best could still be yet to come for the 24-year-old. -- Adam Kimelman, deputy managing editor
Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils
McDavid and Matthews are solid choices, but I'm projecting that in three years, Hughes will be at least two times the player he was in his breakout season of 2021-22. He missed 17 games because of a dislocated shoulder but still emerged as an offensive force with 56 points (26 goals, 30 assists) in 49 games. The 21-year-old led the Devils in points-per game (1.14), power-play goals (six) and shooting percentage (15.8; minimum 10 games played) and ranked first among New Jersey forwards in average ice time (19:34). He was the youngest player at the 2022 NHL All-Star Game and had four points (three goals, one assist) in two games for the champion Metropolitan Division. His trajectory is too good to ignore and with the additions made by the Devils this offseason, it's his turn to shine. -- Mike G. Morreale, staff writer
Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado Avalanche
Yes, I know, big surprise that when the question of great NHL centers arises, I'm going with MacKinnon. I love watching his game that much, he's been outstanding thus far and I expect him to be tremendous going forward as well. The 26-year-old, who is entering his 10th NHL season, was seventh among NHL centers with 88 points (32 goals, 56 assists) in 65 games last season. His 1.35 points-per-game average was fourth-best among NHL forwards, behind McDavid (1.54), Matthews (1.45) and Leon Draisaitl (1.38). And if you want to see some pretty goals now and then, MacKinnon supplies those, too (see the third of his three goals against the St. Louis Blues in Game 5 of the Western Conference Second Round). He tied for the Stanley Cup Playoffs lead in goals with 13 and helped Colorado win the Cup last season. MacKinnon is the straw that stirs the Avalanche drink and will continue to do so for a while. -- Tracey Myers, staff writer
Aleksander Barkov, Florida Panthers
This is one of those rare cases where I actually agree with Mike Morreale -- sort of. All kidding aside, Mike is correct in that someone other than McDavid, MacKinnon and Matthews will emerge over the next three seasons, but I'm going with Barkov. This guy is a sleeping giant for a Panthers team that added forward Matthew Tkachuk and coach Paul Maurice this offseason. Barkov is already one of the most dynamic playmaking centers in the NHL and is a scoring machine; over the past four seasons, he's fifth among centers with 184 assists and tied with Steven Stamkos of the Lightning for fifth with 304 points. Now imagine what he can do playing on a line with Tkachuk, who scored 104 points (42 goals, 62 assists) for Calgary last season. Barkov, who has already played nine seasons in the NHL, will turn 27 on Sept. 2. He's just hitting his prime and so are the Panthers. -- Bill Price, Editor-in-Chief