Ranking the top-8 centers in the Metro Division

The New Jersey Devils predictably have two centers on the list. How high do they slot in?

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Every summer I like to rank the best Metro Division players by position and see how the New Jersey Devils stack up in each grouping.

I started the series this week by taking a look at the best six goaltenders the Metro has to offer.

Up next are the centers. Let’s get right to ‘em.

1. Jack Hughes (Last year: 1)

Hughes has developed into an absolute superstar in this league. From age 20-22 he averaged 42 goals and 99 points per 82 games, which is top tier production.

There was a time his shot was about as threatening as a golden retriever puppy. Now he’s one of the better finishers in the league while doubling as an elite facilitator as well.

Hughes is one of the most puck dominant players in the NHL. He carries it on a string each and every night and is relied upon to do *everything* for the Devils.

Be it lugging the mail through the neutral zone, creating endless chances for teammates, dancing defenders to open up lanes for his own shot, pickpocketing every opponent in his radius, or helping on breakouts, Hughes does everything. And he’s still getting better.

Forget centers; there isn’t a forward in the Metro Division who has posted a higher GAR/60 number than Hughes over the past two seasons. He’s sandwiched between Nikita Kucherov and Mitch Marner in that category and ranks top-20 in the entire league.

If Hughes stays healthy, I think he’s going nuclear this coming season. He has elite skill, he has the supporting cast, and he has a head coach with a pretty good track record of getting the most out of elite players.

2. Sidney Crosby (LY: 2)

They say father time is undefeated but Crosby is doing a damn good job of fighting it off. The guy is 37 years old and heading into his 20th NHL season yet he remains one of the league’s best players.

This past season Crosby put up 42 goals (the most since 2016-17) and 94 points (most since 2018-19) while almost single-handedly dragging an underwhelming Penguins team to the playoffs.

Some of the numbers beneath the surface are, quite frankly, absurd for a player of his age. At 5v5 he finished 11th in goals, 5th in primary assists, and 7th in points.

What business does a 37-year-old on a middling team (at best) have producing like that? None!

I don’t know how much time Crosby has left as an elite of the elites. I just know I’m going to appreciate it.

3. Sebastian Aho (LY: 3)