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[Athletic] – Every NHL team’s top-6 center duos ranked from best to worst -> Thompson/Cozens



[Athletic] – Every NHL team’s top-6 center duos ranked from best to worst -> Thompson/Cozens

by Spiritual_Bourbon

3 Comments

  1. Spiritual_Bourbon

    https://archive.ph/PbOod

    ## Tier 1: Generational

    – Edmonton Oilers: Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl

    ## Tier 2: Elite

    – New Jersey Devils: Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier

    ## Tier 3: High-end

    – Pittsburgh Penguins: Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin
    – Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews and John Tavares
    – Vancouver Canucks: Elias Pettersson and J.T. Miller

    #### Buffalo Sabres: Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens
    Contracts: Thompson $7.14 million AAV, seven years left; Cozens $7.1 million AAV, seven years left

    Thompson is a highlight reel machine with his rocket shot, silky smooth mitts and how well he moves considering his 6-foot-6 frame. He erupted for 47 goals and 94 points last season although it has to be noted that he allowed five-on-five scoring chances and goals against (3.35 per 60 minutes) at some of the worst rates among NHL forwards last season.

    Cozens, 22, broke out for 31 goals and 68 points as a sophomore. He has the high-end speed, size and competitiveness package to really level up defensively in his third season.

    – Ottawa Senators: Tim Stützle and Josh Norris
    – Colorado Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon and Ryan Johansen
    – Florida Panthers: Aleksander Barkov and Sam Bennett
    – Vegas Golden Knights: Jack Eichel and Chandler Stephenson

    ## Tier 4: Above average

    – Tampa Bay Lightning: Brayden Point and Anthony Cirelli
    – Dallas Stars: Roope Hintz and Tyler Seguin
    – Carolina Hurricanes: Sebastian Aho and Jesperi Kotkaniemi
    – Los Angeles Kings: Pierre-Luc Dubois and Anze Kopitar
    – Calgary Flames: Elias Lindholm and Nazem Kadri
    – New York Islanders: Bo Horvat and Brock Nelson

  2. ScottyOnWheels

    I think it’s a fair assessment, as well.

    I also find it fascinating that the Oilers havent had the success that other teams with similar cornerstone, generational talents have had.

    Were those previous teams better put together? Has the game changed that much where overall better athleticism can better neutralize elite players?

    They produce a crazy amount of points. Maybe they just aren’t as good, relatively speaking to previous peers. Maybe the rest of the team just isn’t very good at all.

    I just got to thinking and reading about them, wondering just how good Draisaitl is by himself without McDavid or if McDavid is the reason they are a generational pair on this list.

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