In this edition of the hotstove, we share our thoughts on the best 1-2 center punch in the Central Division.
Todd Cordell
Nathan MacKinnon and Nazem Kadri.
MacKinnon has developed into a true superstar capable of breaking the game open every time he steps on the ice. Few, if any, can match his combination of speed, skill, and power. He's almost impossible to defend and that shows in the numbers, as he's mustered up 196 points (3rd) and 624 scoring chances (4th) over the last two regular seasons. I don't think anyone in the Central holds a candle so MacKinnon gives the Avs a clear edge over the other 1Cs.
With Kadri in the mix, the Avalanche now have a legitimately good 2C behind MacKinnon. He has averaged 28 goals and 56 points per 82 games over the last three seasons, and in one of those years he played on the 3rd line. That's no small feat. Kadri is also a very good defender and penalty drawer so he provides value in a lot of different aspects of the game.
Adam French Unlike the Metro, this one is a lot more up in the air and has a lot of question marks. A lot is left unknown until the season starts. I'll start by saying that the best centre in the Central is easily MacKinnon. Sorry Seguin, but you're not there.
MacKinnon since training with Crosby has turned into arguably a top-3 player in the game. One need only watch a few reruns of last years playoffs to see it. However...Kadri is holding him back from being the best 1-2 in my opinion. 30 goal Kadri? For sure, MacKinnon and he are the best duo. Last years up and down Kadri? Eh, not so much.
Toews-Strome is a very interesting combo, but I think it has a few too many questions to be begged. Can Toews replicate his season after a few years of decline? Was the decline the aberration? Is Strome the small sample size of excellent after the trade? Or somewhere in between the bust of Arizona vs the potential star in Chicago? Too many question marks for me, but I readily admit that if things go right this can be the best 1-2 in the Central...hell the West even.
Despite winning the Cup and Ryan O'Reilly having a monster season, I don't think Schenn is really good enough to make up for it. Aside from the 2017-2018 season he's basically a 50-60 point Power Play Specialist.
Johansen and Duchene is a very tempting tag team. My problem is that Duchene is that both are plagued with inconsistency. Some nights Duchene is the best player on the ice, others you'll be scanning the pressbox to see if he was sitting out the game. Johansen similarly frustrates one to no end. His blend of size and skill scream star, but it never really comes together. A very good duo, but not the best.
Winnipeg is the land of wingers and Scheifele. Realistically, who even is their second line centre? Little? Perreault? Decent players to be sure, but nothing special. David Gustafsson might one day become that very good second line centre, but he's years away.
The less said about the Wild the better.
Finally...I think the best duo might be Seguin-Pavelski. Seguin consistently has been one of the top scorers in the Central year after year. Basically hovering around a PPG player. Pavelski just never seems to age. He's been good for 60+ points, strong leadership and usually 30 goals for seemingly forever. His 38 last year with his 20% shooting is likely unattainable, but I can definitely see him hitting 30 goals with Dallas' insane Power Play. Just look at that Power Play, it's disgusting. Benn-Seguin-Radulov-Pavelski-Heiskanen-Klingberg, pick your bloody poison. i think that as a 1-2, that Seguin-Pavelski is the right balance of goal scoring and point getting. With one being near the end of his prime and the other being an old man, they don't have the sexiness of "potential" attached to them. But I think they are the most consistently good of all the Central pairs.
James Tanner Unlike most of the other divisions, this one isn't a slam dunk. The choices come down to Mackinnon / Kadri or O'Reilly / Schenn.
While both are worthy picks for the title, I'll go with MacKinnon/Kadri for how fun they are to watch , even though I suspect O'Reilly / Schenn might top them in overall impact. Can't really go wrong either way.
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