NHL 18: Top 10 highest-rated players at each position

Top 10 centers

The same six categories on which the rankings for defensemen and wings were compiled determined the rankings for the top 10 centers. There shouldn’t be any surprises on this list, though maybe some room for debate on which players should fall in which positions.

1. Connor McDavid, 93 – This year’s cover athlete has the highest overall rating in the game, and that is due to five-star ratings in four of the six categories. McDavid is unmatched in Puck Skills and Skating, making him a lethal combination when his line on the ice for the Edmonton Oilers.
2. Sidney Crosby, 93 – Matching McDavid’s game-high overall rating, if McDavid is 1, then Crosby is 1a. Crosby isn’t rated to be quite as athletic as McDavid, but more powerful and aware of what’s going on around him. When playing with the Pittsburgh Penguins, get the puck to Crosby as often as possible.
3. Evgeni Malkin, 92 – When Crosby in on the bench, there is almost zero drop-off if Malkin’s line is on the ice for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has control and speed that almost rival McDavid, and with more experience.
4. Steven Stamkos, 91 – Gamers don’t have to worry as much about his propensity to get injured as the Tampa Bay Lightning do, which means that they can let Stamkos run wild over defenses with his five-star puck skills, senses, shooting and skating.
5. John Tavares, 90 – Captain for the New York Islanders because of his five-star puck skills, senses and shooting, there are few better options for gamers looking to score goals than Tavares. He also is rated 4.5 stars in defense to boot.
6. Nicklas Backstrom, 89 – Creating a stellar line with Alexander Ovechkin for the Washington Capitals, Backstrom takes the electronic ice with five-star ratings in puck skills and senses as one of the team’s alternate captains.
7. Patrice Bergeron, 89 – One of the highest-rated players at any position in Faceoffs, this Boston Bruins star produces offense like Bruce Dickinson produces gold records. Five-star rated in Defense, Bergeron should be used to create turnovers and pass the puck to his teammates on the attack.
8. Ryan Getzlaf, 89 – One of the biggest and strongest centers in the game,
   Getzlaf makes life miserable for opponents facing the Anaheim Ducks regularly. As yet another captain appears on this list, it’s that leadership quality which makes him a great play.
9. Tyler Seguin, 89 – Seguin is a passing phenom for the Dallas Stars, but he isn’t too shabby at putting the puck in the net himself if the opportunity presents itself. He has five star ratings in Puck Skills, Senses and Shooting.
10. Jonathan Toews, 89 – Another part of the past decade of success for the Chicago Blackhawks, Toews has five-star ratings in puck skills and senses to make sure that the team stays a favorite for gamers to use for years to come.