NHL’s Top 10 Center Cores for 2026-27

At the time of writing, we’re three weeks into the free agency period. So, even with two months left before NHL hockey starts back up, most rosters are locked and loaded. In light of that, which 10 teams have the best center cores heading into 2026-27?

To determine each team’s center depth, I will be using lines as listed by Daily Faceoff. (So, complain to them, I guess.)

Note: Wins above replacement (WAR) is a metric used to quantify impact. Read more about it here.

10. Tampa Bay Lightning: Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli, Yanni Gourde, Dominic James

Combined 2025-26 WAR: 3.67

Last season was a bit uncharacteristic for Brayden Point, finishing with just 18 goals in 63 games and his lowest point-per-game rate (0.79) since 2016-17. That said, he was far from bad, and the 30-year-old is poised for a bounce-back to some degree.

Behind him, Anthony Cirelli and Yanni Gourde are above average for their spots in the lineup. Both finished top 10 in Selke Trophy voting, though the former’s defensive impact took a big step back last season. Dominic James had average 4C metrics, but entering his sophomore campaign, perhaps he has more to give.

9. Dallas Stars: Wyatt Johnston, Roope Hintz, Matt Duchene, Radek Faksa

Combined 2025-26 WAR: 5.23

Wyatt Johnston, 23 years old, has already forced his way into the Dallas Stars’ 1C spot, though it should be noted that much of his impact last season came on the power play. Nonetheless, the Stars have a solid center corps, with the speedy Roope Hintz and Matt Duchene able to play lower in the lineup. Radek Faksa works as a fourth-liner, especially with his defensive ability.

Apart from Johnston, this group is getting a little bit up there in age, so losing Mavrik Bourque stings, even if he spent most of his time on the wing.

8. Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Teddy Blueger, Colton Sissons

Combined 2025-26 WAR: 5.04

Pardon my Philadelphia Flyers bias, but about a decade ago, Claude Giroux battled through injuries for a few seasons, leading to some believing that he’d never be the same star player again. Then, he finished second in league scoring and put up elite defensive results at age 30. Auston Matthews could have a similar resurgence, in my eyes, only better.

If that ends up being the case, the Toronto Maple Leafs would deserve to be even higher on this list. For now, they settle for eighth, with John Tavares still being a very good second-line option. I’m not as thrilled about Teddy Blueger and Colton Sissons, though, which hurts the team’s ranking.

7. Vegas Golden Knights: Jack Eichel, William Karlsson, Tomáš Hertl, Nic Dowd

Combined 2025-26 WAR: 3.11

Is it crazy to call Jack Eichel underrated? He has a legitimate case as a top-five center in the NHL, putting up 90 points in 74 games and finishing eighth in Selke Trophy voting. William Karlsson and Tomáš Hertl are a solid duo to have behind you, but they’ve shown signs of slight regression, with both players being multiple years into their 30s. Nic Dowd is a great defensive fourth-line center, but his offense cratered last season. If that seemed negative, let me be clear: the depth here is good.

The Vegas Golden Knights are probably somewhere between their 95-point regular season and Stanley Cup Final appearance last season. Another addition could put them over the hump, though they hardly need help down the middle.

6. Florida Panthers: Aleksander Barkov, Sam Bennett, Anton Lundell, Lars Eller

Combined 2025-26 WAR: 2.17

I feel that Aleksander Barkov’s status as the best true two-way center in the NHL leads to him being underrated by many. He has the skill to put up 120 points, but he limits himself offensively to win championships (watch him on the power play if you’re unconvinced).

I think that the depth behind Barkov isn’t as good as it looks on paper, but that’s not to say Sam Bennett and Anton Lundell are liabilities. The former complements the wingers around him really well, and the latter is impressive defensively. Lars Eller probably has more name value at this point in his career than anything, but he’s a fine 4C. Overall, this group is poised to go on another Stanley Cup run.

5. Ottawa Senators: Tim Stützle, Dylan Cozens, Shane Pinto, Stephen Halliday

Combined 2025-26 WAR: 5.74

The Ottawa Senators find themselves in fifth place here because of how deep they are. Tim Stützle has evolved into a well-rounded top-line center, and you can say the same about the players behind him. Dylan Cozens and Shane Pinto could be the best middle-six center duo in the league, with the latter taking on some tough assignments. Stephen Halliday showed some promise as a rookie, too.

Losing Brady Tkachuk was unfortunate, but this center core could have the Senators in contender discussions if the goaltending improves.

4. Carolina Hurricanes: Sebastian Aho, Logan Stankoven, Jordan Staal, Mark Jankowski

Combined 2025-26 WAR: 7.08

The Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup last season thanks to having the deepest roster in the NHL, and that shows with their center depth. Sebastian Aho isn’t the fourth-best center on this list, but he’s a good 1C, to be sure. Elevating this core is that Logan Stankoven and Jordan Staal combine for an excellent middle-six duo down the middle, and Mark Jankowski has a case as the best 4C in the league.

Carolina’s center core isn’t getting bumped up this list because it won a championship. There’s truly no weakness here, and it’s a testament to how well-run the Hurricanes’ organization is.

3. New Jersey Devils: Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Cody Glass, Nick Bjugstad

Combined 2025-26 WAR: 7.13

The New Jersey Devils’ bread and butter is how good they are down the middle. A one-two punch of Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes is fantastic when they’re both healthy, which makes this a high-end center group by default. But the play of Cody Glass takes them to another level. Nick Bjugstad is, at best, a run-of-the-mill 4C at this stage of his career, but that hardly matters.

New general manager Sunny Mehta didn’t do much with these four specific players aside from extending Hischier’s contract, but he’s put them in a position to succeed in 2026-27.

2. Colorado Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon, Brock Nelson, Nicolas Roy, Fedor Svechkov

Combined 2025-26 WAR: 11.33

As a big Nikita Kucherov fan myself, Nathan MacKinnon probably deserved to win the Hart Trophy last season. His impact was literally off the charts, playing over 22 minutes per game and recording league-highs in goals (53), shots (350), and plus/minus (plus-57).

But it wasn’t just the MacKinnon show as opposed to seasons past. While Brock Nelson was technically the team’s second-line center, he impacted the game like an elite 1C. Nicolas Roy, who is set to take Jack Drury’s third-line center spot, was acquired at the trade deadline for a first-round pick, which says a lot about how the Avalanche feel about him. Finally, Fedor Svechkov is a passable 4C.

Roy and Svechkov are far from the strongest 3-4C duo on this list, but MacKinnon and Nelson were so dominant last season that Colorado finds itself in second place.

1. Edmonton Oilers: Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl, Jason Dickinson, Josh Samanski

Combined 2025-26 WAR: 13.07

Topping this list are Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers, for reasons that don’t need to be explained in too much depth. They combined for 235 points in 147 games last season.

Draisaitl and McDavid are great, of course, but the addition of Jason Dickinson helped the Oilers edge out the Avalanche for me. His defensive impact is as good as you’re going to get out of a third-line center, and he’s locked up for five more years. Josh Samanski offers interesting upside as a 4C.

Are there any other contenders that you think should have made the list? Feel free to leave a comment if so!

Advanced stats courtesy of Evolving-Hockey (not explicitly mentioned, but used to help compile this list), Hockey Stats