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Thanks to Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, center was always the glory position in the NHL through the 1980s and early 90s. But now Lemieux is kicking it in retirement and Gretzky is, well, cashed. The middle still has its share of talent, but it no longer commands the attention it once did. There isn't a Lemieux in sight. Although one guy is pretty close...

Peter Forsberg by Meredith Martini

1. Peter Forsberg, Colorado Avalanche: With Eric Lindros playing uninspired hockey and teammate Joe Sakic derailed for a second straight season because of injury, Peter Forsberg has emerged as the best center in hockey.

Forsberg is the most complete player in the NHL. That's both a blessing and a curse. Unless he goes out and racks up three or four points every night people think he isn't doing all he should. But even when Forsberg doesn't score he can still dictate the outcome of a game with his physical play and vigilant defense.

As was the case with the entire NHL, Forsberg's numbers were down a bit last season. He bagged 25 goals and 91 points in 72 contests, good for 1.26 points per game. That's slightly off the 1.32 and 1.41 marks he posted the previous two years, but hardly an embarrassment considering the sad state of the sport. The 91 points were still good enough for second place in the league and his 66 assists clocked third, one behind co-leaders Jaromir Jagr and Wayne Gretzky.

While Forsberg's magical hands and brilliant playmaking instincts grab most of the attention, the true base of his offensive game is his skating. He's such a powerful skater that defensemen simply can't handle him one-on-one. Forsberg can barge wide or use his marvelous stickhandling to undress a defender and then muscle his way into open ice. This rare combination of strength and skill makes it virtually impossible to pry the puck from Forsberg once he gets rolling. He just protects it so well, creating the extra time needed to allow a teammate to slip free or to get a defender out of position. This sturdiness on his blades also enables him to punish the opposition with some serious checks. Don't kid yourself, Petey can hit.

If Forsberg's game has a weakness it's that he's not a great goal-scorer. That's not to say he doesn't have the tools to score, because he does. He owns a heavy, accurate wrist shot and his slap is a cannon. He also loves to work in traffic and isn't scared to get the ugly goals around the net. The only problem is that he's not a natural shooter. He always thinks pass first and shot second. This can lead to him taking a hair too long to pull the trigger. The difference between a talented 25-goal-scorer and a 50-goal-scorer is very small... probably about a half a second in shot release. This is definitely something Forsberg could work on, but if it takes away from his playmaking is it really worth it? Maybe instead of worrying about what Forsberg isn't, we should just admire him for what he is... the best center in hockey.

Eric Lindros by Meredith Martini

2. Eric Lindros, Philadelphia Flyers: Another season, another lengthy injury for Lindros. This time it wasn't a knee woe that put him on the shelf but a devastating open-ice check from Darius Kasparaitis. Aw, you have to keep your head up when skating against Kaspar.

The late season run-in with the wacky Lithuanian left Lindros seeing stars and cost him 17 games. He returned to play the final four contests of the regular season but never seemed quite right and was little more than a passenger in Philadelphia's first-round playoff loss to the Buffalo Sabres, showing little emotion and recording a mere goal and two assists in the five- game debacle.

The pitiful performance wasn't lost on Flyer fans or management. GM Bobby Clarke went on record as saying that Lindros needs to elevate his game this coming season and many around the league are questioning whether or not number 88 has what it takes to lead a team to a championship. After all, he doesn't exactly have a history of coming through big in the clutch. He was a non-factor at the World Cup, played even worse at the Olympics when he wore Canada's "C", allowed the Flyers to be swept in his lone Stanley Cup Finals appearance, bowed out in five games last postseason, and misses an average of 17 games a year due to injury. Maybe the critics have a point? I know that's why he's no longer our top-rated center.

Rumors circulated this summer that Lindros could be on his way out of town, with Phoenix and Toronto offered as possible destinations. Barring a complete meltdown in contract talks with the Flyers, a trade is rather unlikely. It's just tough to get equal value in return, considering Eric's enormous potential would likely get marred in any talks by his recent disappointments. Philly should stand by its captain and weather the storm. A player like Lindros doesn't come along every day, or every lifetime for that matter. If someone is to be blamed for the club's grief it should be Clarke. It wasn't Lindros that refused to trade for a legitimate number one goaltender. It wasn't Lindros that signed Chris Gratton, creating a logjam at center and robbing the team of its only scoring threat on right wing. It wasn't Lindros that traded away Janne Niinimaa in order to add even more unnecessary size to the roster.

Sure, he has his problems, but few players can dominate a game like a healthy Eric Lindros. He's just a force. He may not be the most agile of skaters, but once the big train gets rumbling it's awfully hard to keep up. And Don Knotts help anyone that gets in its way. Lindros is, without doubt, the most destructive hitter in hockey. He doesn't just hit, he intimidates. Even though he can't shoulder them into the wall, goaltenders don't get off any easier than their teammates. Every thing Lindros shoots is lethal. He has a compact snap shot that could stop a tank. No one shoots a snapper harder than Big E. It's amazing he hasn't killed somebody yet. But his game's not all power. Though his stickhandling can be a bit choppy at times, he has excellent hands for someone his size and knows how to move the puck. Passing is not a problem. Neither are faceoffs. Lindros led the league in that category last season, winning about 60% of his draws. Lindros can also drop the gloves and beat the hell out of most everybody in the league, so that certainly helps cement his status as the number two center.

1998-99 could be the make or break year for Lindros. Will he finally take charge of the Flyers and lead them to glory or will he simply continue to wander through another lifeless season of disappointment? Tough call. But my guess is stick with him. It's only a matter of time.

3. Joe Sakic, Colorado Avalanche: Sakic used to be one of the most durable players in the NHL. He missed only one game from 1993-94 to 1995-96, and that was to attend a funeral. But his luck has changed the past two seasons. He missed 17 games in 1996-97 courtesy of a freak accident that had a skate blade slice his calf. Then this past season he fell victim to a knee injury at the Olympics, costing him another 18 games.

Even when he's healthy Sakic doesn't exactly skate with all-star talent in Colorado. While Peter Forsberg has the honor of centering Claude Lemieux and Valeri Kamensky every night, Sakic usually rolls with the underachieving Adam Deadmarsh and a plethora of left wingers ranging from Keith Jones to Shean Donovan. Combine the injuries with the quality of linemates and it's no wonder Sakic's scoring numbers have been down the past two years. His 63 points in 64 games last season marked the first time he failed to average at least a point per game since his rookie campaign of 1988-89.

So why is Sakic still our number three center? Simple. He's the best clutch scorer in hockey. No one can deliver more big goals in crunch time than the Colorado captain. The owner of the best wrist shot in hockey, Sakic can lace a puck behind a goaltender from anywhere in the offensive zone. His release is so quick that most netminders don't even have a chance to move until after the shot rips the twine. It's really a beautiful thing to behold.

In fact, quickness may be the one word that describes Sakic's game best. Not only does it illustrate his shot release, but also his skating. He may not have the wheels to outrace the likes of Pavel Bure or Sergei Fedorov over the long haul, but Joe can go zero to 60 in one stride. With the possible exceptions of Paul Kariya and Peter Bondra, no one gets of the mark faster than Sakic. He's just explosive. And once he races into open ice Sakic can either flay the goaltender with his wrister or use his remarkable playmaking skills to wreck the defense with a pinpoint pass to an open teammate. People usually classify Forsberg as the playmaker and Sakic as the shooter, but Joe is every bit as good, if not better, than Forsberg when it comes to orchestrating the offense.

Which once again brings up the question of who is better, Forsberg or Sakic? Well, we'll call playmaking and stickhandling a wash. Forsberg is better defensively, but Sakic is hardly a liability in his own zone. Forsberg is bigger, but Sakic's faster. Sakic is the better goal-scorer. Sakic is superior on faceoffs. Sakic is the captain. Hmm, so why is Forsberg ranked first and Sakic third? It's just Petey's time, that's all. The Swede is younger, stronger, and on the verge of entering the most productive years of his career. Yet still, with that having been said, you better believe when the Avalanche need a big play all eyes turn to Sakic. And no doubt, he'll deliver.

4. Mike Modano, Dallas Stars: Mikey Mo almost made it into the number three hole, but he just couldn't climb over Sakic's Stanley Cup ring and Conn Smythe Trophy.

Modano had another great year in Dallas. If not for injuries that limited him to just 52 games, Modano may have garnered some serious Hart Trophy consideration. He's really developed into a tremendous all-around player the past two seasons under the guidance of Ken Hitchcock. Modano can do it all. He has game- breaking speed, a frightening shot, and the awareness to read and create plays. And he's just as comfortable when the puck is going the other way, using hard work and dedication to emerge as one of the game's premier defensive forwards. There really are no obvious flaws in Modano's game. Now, in order to move up the list, he just has to keep on trucking and win some big games for his club. It's tough to get ahead of the first three guys on the list without some hardware.

5. Sergei Fedorov, Detroit Red Wings: If the rankings were just on sheer talent, Fedorov might very well be number one. He's got so many skills they're falling out of his pockets. He's the best skater in hockey, a dazzling playmaker, can score goals, excels on defense, and has two Stanley Cups. What more do you want? Well, how about an honest effort every night? It's not that Fedorov does it intentionally, but there are games when he just doesn't show up. With his talent and speed he should be an impact player every time he takes the ice. That's just not the case. But when he's ready to play, look out. Stuff's gettin' messed up. Sergei also loses some points for that lengthy contract holdout that strained his relationship with some of his teammates. And then there's that whole dating-a-teenager thing that's neither here nor there. But hey, at least she's a world famous tennis star and not an intern...

6. Steve Yzerman, Detroit Red Wings: How can you not like Stevie Y? Heroic, unselfish, intelligent, he's what hockey's all about. At 33, Yzerman has definitely lost a step, but so what? It's no big thing. He's no longer the flashy scorer that used to humiliate the opposition with magnificent individual efforts on a nightly basis. Instead he's matured gracefully into the grizzled veteran captain that puts the team ahead of himself and accepts responsibility for all situations on the ice. He's one of the two best leaders in hockey.

Yzerman brings more to the table than just intangibles. Stevie Y may not be able to motor like he once did, but he can still quarterback an offense. Watch him carry the puck through center. Soak in all the subtle shifts and movements he makes in order to position the defensemen where he wants them so he can weave his magic. And once the moment is at hand, Yzerman moves the puck to the open man or, if needed, fires his own deadly accurate shot on net. It's a lesson for those interested in becoming great. Few players can even read such situations let alone make them their own. Yzerman is as good as there is at breaking down a defense.

The younger, more dynamic players claimed the first five spots on the list, but that's not a slam on Detroit's favorite son. Yzerman may not be able to match the speed and individual dominance of the players above him, but that's no call for shame. While no longer a premier scorer in the league, Yzerman remains a perfect example of what every hockey player should strive to become.

7. Ron Francis, Carolina Hurricanes: Remember when I said Yzerman is one of the two best leaders in hockey? Francis is the other one. This guy is just amazing. Even at 35 years old, Francis never takes a shift off, let alone a game. He's the very definition of the term "consistent excellence." A sterling role model on an off the ice, Francis is a true LCS hero.

Aside from their shared leadership roles, Francis and Yzerman also play similar games. Both are steady playmakers that chip in key goals, take important faceoffs, and control the defensive zone. But unlike Yzerman who has been slowed by the passage of time, Francis hasn't lost a step. That's mainly because he never really had one. He was playing like a 30-year-old vet even when he was a rookie. Francis' game was never about speed or power. He relies on intelligence and hard work to score his points, not just raw ability. And Francis can score some points. He had 25 goals and 87 points last year and has accumulated 296 over the past three seasons, making him the highest scoring NHL center over that time. One of the keys to Francis' success has been his durability. He has missed only two games over the past two seasons. He's just there every night.

It's hard to imagine Francis playing for anyone other than the Penguins, but he'll be a proud member of the Carolina Hurricanes this season. A lot of critics like to dismiss Francis' outstanding point totals as just a byproduct of playing with Jaromir Jagr. While that argument deserves some merit, their relationship was hardly a one-way street. To be honest, Francis had more to do with Jagr's success than the Czech Wonder Kid had to do with his classy centerman's. If you don't believe it just wait until you see the Penguins play this season. It's going to be ugly. The Pittsburgh franchise was scrap before Francis arrived and it will be scrap now that he's gone.

Mats Sundin by Meredith Martini

8. Mats Sundin, Toronto Maple Leafs: The Big Swede got off to an awful start last season. I don't think he even scored a point in like his first seven games. That's harsh. Despite the tragic beginning and the lack of a supporting cast, Sundin rebounded enough to salvage a somewhat respectable season with 33 goals and 74 points in 82 games. The most important of those numbers may be the games played. With so many other centers around the league coming up lame, Sundin has appeared in all 164 contests over the past two regular seasons.

Sundin's biggest asset remains his size. At 6'4", 215 pounds, he can use his massive frame to hold off defenders while his lengthy reach often leaves goaltenders swimming. That size also translates into incredible leverage on his wrist shot, which he can power through most netminders without effort. Combine his smooth skating stride with his quick hands and impressive stature, and few players are more awe-inspiring in full flight than Toronto's 27-year-old captain. While not in the same class as the likes of Forsberg and Sakic when it comes to making plays, Sundin is still an extremely talented passer that can find the open man with the best of them. And when the situation calls for it, Sundin isn't scared to play mean, although a bit more physical play on a consistent basis would be appreciated.

Sundin is an amazingly talented player, but he still hasn't secured his place in the realm of superstardom. To do that he's going to have to get the Leafs back into the playoffs. The Doug Gilmour era of Maple Leaf hockey has been mourned, but it's time to move on. It's time for Sundin to carve his own place in the history of the storied franchise.

9. Keith Primeau, Carolina Hurricanes: For most of the past five or six years, people have been waiting for Keith Primeau to develop into a dominating presence in the middle. The wait is over.

Primeau had a superb first year in Carolina, leading the Hurricanes in scoring with 26 goals and 63 points in 81 games. Okay, so those numbers don't sound like much. And granted, Primeau did have a few painful slumps throughout the year. But all in all, Primeau established himself. He was at his best down the stretch when the Canes were making a desperate run for the playoffs. The bid fell short, but Primeau showed he was capable of carrying the team.

Primeau's the complete package. At 6'5", 225 pounds, he's an unparalleled mix of power and speed. Lindros is really the only comparable player in the league, and Primeau's probably a bit faster. And once he gets rolling his favorite way to stop is to bury the opposition into the boards. If anyone takes offense to the pounding, Primeau's always eager to drop the gloves and beat out an apology on their skull. This guy can throw. A go with Lindros would be one for the ages.

Not really a natural goal-scorer, Primeau does have a nose for the net. He gets a lot of goals from in front on rebounds and whatnot. And even though he lives on garbage, he's capable of the individual effort. Primeau can score some sweet goals. If he asserts himself like he did at the end of last season for an entire 82-game schedule, the league could find a new 40-goal man.

The rest of Primeau's game has really matured. He's a standout on faceoffs and led the Hurricanes in plus-minus with a +19. That number is made all the more impressive when it's realized that Carolina had only four plus players on its roster and that the next highest total was Sami Kapanen's +9. Considering how much ice time Primeau received, finishing at a +19 on a club like Carolina is quite the feat.

And things are only going to get better for the 26-year-old pivot. The signing of Francis should pay huge dividends for both the Hurricanes and Primeau. Now the club has a one-two punch in the middle that can compete with league powers like Colorado, Detroit, and Philadelphia, while Primeau has the perfect role model after which to pattern his career. Francis will make Primeau a better player. That's a scary thought for the opposition.

Alexei Yashin by Meredith Martini

10. Alexei Yashin, Ottawa Senators: It's always nice to see some new blood on the charts. Like Primeau, Yashin is making his first appearance on our top ten. And like the Carolina centerman, Yashin owes his debut to increased maturity. Gone are the days of squabbling over contracts. Now the 24-year-old Russian is only concerned with leading the Senators deep into the postseason.

Yashin has all the skills needed to be a dominant scorer well into the next century. Playing in all 82 games last year for the second consecutive season, Yashin led Ottawa with 33 goals and 72 points. Those numbers are just a hint of things to come. Listed at 6'3", 216 pounds, Yashin can seem to tower over opponents on the ice, almost as if taking on an air of royalty. One look at him out there and you just sense he's special. Once you see him handle the puck all doubt is removed.

Yashin has put up better numbers in his brief career then he did last year, but he earned our respect with his performance against New Jersey in the playoffs. The Devils tried to go after him and Yashin responded. He didn't bail. He shrugged off the punishment, scored some big points, and led his club to the upset win. He led by example. That's what true stars do. His performance wasn't lost on Ottawa management, either. Expect to see Alexei wearing the "C" on a permanent basis now that Randy Cunneyworth was let go.

It also deserves mentioning that Yashin is doing his part off the ice, as well. Back in March he donated $1 million to the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. That's good stuff.

It's official. Yashin's a somebody.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Adam Oates, Washington Capitals: Oates never makes our list. He's just too old, slow, and goal-scoring impaired. But he's still a swell guy. One of the league's best playmakers and face-off men, Oates probably isn't appreciated as much as he should be by the youth of today. Unless you really understand the game, you really won't understand Oates.

Doug Weight, Edmonton Oilers: Weight's another guy that never quite makes the cut. He's one of the five best passers in the league, has decent speed, and takes the body. He had kind of a disappointing season last year, posting 26 goals and a mere 44 assists. While that goal total is about right for him, the assist number was down. But he really seemed to enjoy playing with Billy Guerin towards the end of the season and into the playoffs, so that could be a tandem to watch in the future.

Michael Peca, Buffalo Sabres: Peca doesn't have the tools of the other headliners, but he has to be mentioned. No one can neutralize the opposition's best player better than Peca. Without him in the lineup, the Sabres are a completely different team. He's an impact player.

Rod Brind'Amour, Philadelphia Flyers: Brind'Amour gets no respect. He shows up every night, works hard, keeps his mouth shut, and puts up points. But how do the Flyers reward him? By signing Chris Gratton and making Brind'Amour play left wing. Who says life ain't fair? Brind'Amour could very well be the most unappreciated player in the league. Now move him back to center where he belongs.

MOVIN' ON UP

Jason Allison by Meredith Martini

Jason Allison, Boston Bruins: Allison deserved to be a Hart finalist after what he did for the Bruins last season. The 23-year-old exploded on the scene in Beantown with 33 goals and 83 points while finishing at a +33. A big, powerful skater that protects the puck well, Allison seems to be the genuine item. But it'll take at least one more season like the last to break into the top ten.

DOWNSVILLE

Mark Messier, Vancouver Canucks: Once considered the best leader in sports, Messier betrayed his image and many of his fans when he skipped on his New York teammates and chased coin all the way to Vancouver. Talk about him wanting to finish his career in Canada all you want, the bottom line is he sold out. He grabbed his 30 pieces of silver and split. It was only fitting that Messier had a miserable season, scoring just 60 points in 82 games. His arrival was supposed to spark a renaissance of Canuck hockey. It didn't happen. Not only did his presence lead to the trading of longtime captain and local hero Trevor Linden, the Canucks finished dead last in the Western Conference and now Pavel Bure is saying that he no longer wants to play in Vancouver. Hey, Mark, thanks for coming. Don't spend the money all in one place.

CONFUSION

Joey Nieuwendyk, Dallas Stars: Nieuwendyk had a marvelous regular season with the Stars, leading the team with 39 goals and 69 points in 73 games. He was his old self, wheeling off the boards and blistering shots past netminders at a steady clip. He also worked out of his office in front of the net, deflecting shots and sweeping home rebounds as sure as when he was a rookie with the Calgary Flames. That's the good news. The bad news is that he got macked by Bryan Marchment in the postseason, injuring both of his knees. A veteran of knee surgery, the last time Nieuwendyk suffered such a serious setback it took him nearly a full year to regain his old form. At 32, a similar comeback is going to be even more difficult this time around. Dallas might want to wait to plan its Stanley Cup parade.

Chris Gratton, Philadelphia Flyers: After a breakthrough season with the Lightning Bolts in 1996-97, Gratton fell back to Earth with Philly last year, posting just 22 goals and 62 points in 82 games. That's actually the same number of points he had the previous year with Tampa, although the goal total did drop by eight. But the Flyers gave him the $9 million up front to improve on those numbers, not stay the course. The only thing Gratton led the Flyers in was stupid penalties. He needs a big effort this season.

Saku Koivu, Montreal Canadiens: Koivu is as cool as they come. A brilliant skater and stickhandler, Saku is something to behold as he works his mojo on the ice. I don't even know what that means. Anyway, the reason he gets listed in the Confusion section is that the jury is still out as to whether or not he can be Montreal's number one center. Critics have always said that he's too small and wouldn't be able to carry the load. Sure enough, he's missed 45 games over the past two years and had just 14 goals and 57 points in 69 games this past season. He needs to be more durable if he wants to be taken seriously as a legitimate star.

WHAT ABOUT GRETZKY?

You may have noticed that Wayne Gretzky was nowhere to be seen on the top ten or in the honorable mentions. He did have a tremendous finish to last season and ended up tied for third in league scoring with 90 points, but they were a soft 90. Of his 23 goals I'd say 18 inadvertently hit something around the net and bounced in or found the twine in some other freakish manner. When was the last time you actually saw Gretzky beat a goaltender clean? It just doesn't happen. He can still fire a pretty good slapper, but any trace of a wrist shot is just a rumor.

While he still reads plays at an elite level, he doesn't always protect the puck the way he should. Just count the number of turnovers he makes in any given game. Long as he has time he can complete a play, but the slightest sense of pressure is usually enough to force him into a mistake. He just isn't strong enough to fight off a check to make a play. Basically he's a reactionary player. As long as the defense gives him something Gretzky is able to take it. But he's no longer capable of seizing a game by the throat all on his own. And as always, he's a defensive liability whenever he's on the ice. If you can find an NHL GM that would rather have Gretzky than any of the ten guys on our list, that man is either drunk on Hornsby's Draft Cider or a complete idiot... or, you know, Mike Keenan.

And don't think this is just some anti-Gretzky sentiment on our part. Believe me, I respect the guy. Hell, whenever I play the ol' All-Star Hockey '98 on the Sega Saturn I always use the Rangers. It makes the loss all the more humiliating for my opponent knowing that they were beaten by an old man. Plus it gives me the chance to yell "Yeehaw! I'm Wayne Gretzky! Yeehaw!" every time he scores.

But while we're on the subject of why he didn't make our list, what was up with Gretzky finishing the game after his wife was hit in the head with that pane of glass? C'mon, games are important, but your teammates aren't going to make you sleep on the couch. Wayne, next time leave with the wife. It'll save you a lot of grief.

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