Canucks with Two Centres on NHL Network Top-20 List

Although one of them will likely be playing the wing, two Vancouver Canucks centres made the top-20 pivot list according to the NHL Network in the US.

JT Miller, coming off his career best 99-point season, was slotted as the 12th best centreman in the NHL at the moment, while teammate and on-again-off-again linemate Elias Pettersson was ranked 19th. Not a bad problem to have when you consider Bo Horvat is the third option and is a number-two centre if ‘Petey’s’ on the wing.

Vancouver Canucks Internal

Think about it, if Pettersson picks up where he left off from last season, these rankings might be way off, and that’s just as it relates to inside the Vancouver Canucks organization. One wouldn’t expect him to get off to a slow start again, he won’t be missing training camp and he’s not coming off injury, and it’s possible he could pass Miller in the productivity department this season.

Of course, everything comes with an asterisk moving forward until we know Miller’s future, which might involve a re-signing or a trade. The latter seems to be the more likely option for the club as it stands.

Regardless, the Vancouver Canucks do have strength up the middle, especially when you consider Pettersson’s second half, and the fact that he (32) and Horvat (31) both finished with more than thirty goals, as did Miller (32).

What do you think of this list? 🤔#NHLTopPlayers pic.twitter.com/Tin4NjYNnh

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 14, 2022

The Top-20

It’s hard to argue with the guys ahead of Miller. Even if you jockey them around, they still deserve to be there. The Edmonton Oilers are absolutely loaded with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in the top five. They too, at times, will play together, even outside the power play.

Again, for me, it’s the ‘Petey’ position at number-19 that comes into question, and again, it’s his 2022-’23 upside that will alter this list.

I’d see Pettersson ahead of Evgeni Malkin and Jack Eichel at least. Let’s just see what the line-up looks like come mid-October.