Connor McDavid tops NHL Network's top 20 center rankings

NHL Network analysts have released a ranking of the top 20 centers in the league. Connor McDavid of the Edmonton Oilers holds the top spot following a season where he recorded 138 points in 82 games. He is followed by Nathan MacKinnon of the Colorado Avalanche and Macklin Celebrini of the San Jose Sharks.

Finnish players secured notable positions on the list, with Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers ranked fifth and Sebastian Aho of the Carolina Hurricanes ranked twelfth.

Discussions regarding McDavid have also touched upon his potential evolution as a player. Analysts have debated whether he might need to incorporate more defensive elements into his game to secure a Stanley Cup, drawing comparisons to the career trajectory of Steve Yzerman.