We can quantify these qualities through several metrics, of both the fancy and traditional variety, starting with the possession metrics based on shot attempts. If a center's line is generating more shot attempts than it is giving up, then it helps tilt the ice in its team's favor. Perhaps more important, we also can see which players improve their line by looking at those teammates both with and without the player in question. If the skaters are better with the center, then it could be reasoned that he is a driver for that line.
We also can get a sense of the opposition faced by quality of competition metrics based on ice time; the more an opposing player skates, the higher the likelihood he is a better player and, thus, tougher competition. And of course we have our basic stats, including goals, assists (split between primary and secondary) and faceoff percentage.
With that said, whom would you want as your center to help win the Stanley Cup this season, taking injuries into account? Here are my top 10 choices:
Crosby
1. Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
The pinnacle of today's pivot begins and ends with Crosby, who leads the league with 67 points in 47 games for the Eastern Conference-leading Penguins. Crosby scores goals (25), makes passes (42 assists with 23 primary setup passes) and drives play to an extent that it prevents the other team from scoring (Pittsburgh outshoots opponents 693 to 427 with Crosby on the ice). So if I were going to the Stanley Cup finals this season and could take just one center, Sid the Kid would be my guy.
Toews
2. Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks
Toews has 17 goals and 47 points for the Blackhawks, who lead the Central Division with a 30-8-11 record. However, Toews provides value in ways that are all but invisible on the score sheet. For example, he has been whistled for eight minor penalties but has drawn 18, giving his team, which currently has the fourth-best power-play unit in the league (23.4 percent), 10 opportunities with the man advantage.
Plus, ignoring special-teams and lead-protecting situations (Fenwick Close situations) over the past five seasons, Chicago takes more than 57 percent of the shot attempts with Toews on the ice. Those same linemates playing without the Blackhawks' captain drop to 53 percent. And let's not forget he wins 57.4 percent of his faceoffs while taking the fifth-most draws in the league.
Kopitar
3. Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings
Kopitar continues to fly under the radar when it comes to who most people think should be considered the most valuable player in the league, which is unfortunate. The Kings have outshot opponents 615-397 when Kopitar skates, and that's despite skating against the toughest competition the opposition can muster.
Offensively, Kopitar has chipped in 13 goals and assisted on 25 others while his 38 points leads all Kings skaters. He also leads all Los Angeles forwards in ice time per game (21:13), which includes time killing penalties (2:17) and on the power play (3:23). Plus, he has won 54.7 percent of the 850 faceoffs he has lined up for.
Bergeron
4. Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins
Bergeron is second only to Vladimir Sobotka on the league leaderboard with a 60.7 percent win rate during faceoffs, but perhaps even more important is his 53.6 percent success rate when taking draws short-handed. In addition to playing 1:56 per night on the penalty kill, Bergeron also skates 1:56 with the power-play unit, making him one of the few players trusted by head coach Claude Julien in all three phases of a game. And why not? When Bergeron skates, the Bruins outshoot opponents 480-358. Bergeron has been contributing offensively as well, as he's on pace for 20 goals and 48 points.
Getzlaf
5. Ryan Getzlaf, Anaheim Ducks
If you asked hockey fans and pundits to cast their ballots right now for the Hart Trophy, awarded to the player "judged most valuable to his team," my guess would be that Getzlaf makes the final three. The Ducks' captain leads one of the best teams in the Western Conference with 53 points, 44 of them the primary marker (goal or primary assist). Getzlaf also helps give Anaheim opportunities with the man advantage: He has been called for five minor penalties but has drawn 15.
Backstrom
6. Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals
There is a notion floating around the interwebs that Backstrom would be a mere shell of his dynamic scoring self without superstar Alex Ovechkin on his wing. That is not the case. In fact, there is evidence that the opposite is true (see chart below).
Before head coach Adam Oates reunited Ovechkin and Backstrom last March, The Great Eight had nine goals in 25 games. Since the reunion, Ovechkin has tallied 55 in 66 games, a 68-goal pace over an 82-game season. Backstrom's 37 assists place him third in the league and his 26 power-play points rank tops in the NHL. Oates also relies on the super Swede for a lion's share of the defensive draws, which Backstrom has won at a 53 percent clip.
7. John Tavares, New York Islanders
After scoring four goals and six assists last week, on Monday the Mississauga, Ontario native was named the NHL's first star of the week. Overall, the line of Thomas Vanek-Tavares-Kyle Okposo has registered 27 even-strength goals, third best in the NHL behind Chicago's top line of Marian Hossa-Toews-Patrick Sharp (32) and Boston's best trio of Milan Lucic-David Krejci-Jarome Iginla (29).
Individually, Tavares is on a 100-point pace, showing he has the scoring chops to be regarded as one of the league's best. In terms of puck possession, the entire Long Island squad has struggled but teammates see more shots in their favor when Tavares skates with them (48.6 percent Fenwick with him, 45.1 percent without).
Thornton
8. Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks
The San Jose Sharks continue to be among the league's best teams year after year, and Jumbo Joe is a big reason why. During even strength when the game is within a goal, the Sharks take 58.6 percent of the shot attempts with Thornton on the ice, but just 48.7 percent when he is on the bench. His 21 secondary assists are more points than 306 other skaters who have played at least 30 games this season. Some say this is now Logan Couture's team, but I think that is a tad premature.
Duchene
9. Matt Duchene, Colorado Avalanche
The leading scorer for the Avalanche has 16 goals and 40 points plus skates 2:29 on the league's eighth-ranked power-play unit, which he helps get on the ice with frequency, taking only five minor penalties all season while drawing 17. Duchene's excellent speed also helps Colorado outshoot the opposition (474-364) when he is on the ice.
Seguin
10. Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars
A change of scenery appears to have done the second-overall pick in the 2010 draft some good. Seguin is on a career pace for goals (39) and assists (39) while skating 19:12 a night for the Stars. If there is a knock on the 22-year-old Brampton, Ontario native, it's his lack of faceoff success (40.9 winning percentage), but that hasn't stopped him from driving possession (53.3 percent Fenwick Close percentage).
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