NHL mock draft: How all-time greats fit 2018 needs

The Colorado Avalanche are a team on the rise. They have a number of exciting young players, led by Hart Trophy finalist Nathan MacKinnon. The Avalanche have accomplished the hard part of building a contender by forming a core of players to build around. But they still need some help at center.

Alexander Kerfoot was a pleasant surprise, emerging as a quality third-line center. But in today’s NHL, you need more than two centers you can rely on. Stan Mikita would give the Avalanche a powerful one-two punch down the middle.

Mikita is one of the more unappreciated players of all-time. When people discuss the top centers ever, unless the person in question is a Chicago Blackhawks fan, Stan The Man is rarely mentioned. From the 1963-64 season to the 1967-68 season, Mikita led the NHL in points four times. In the one season he didn’t lead in points, he finished second.

During this span, Mikita also won two Hart Trophies. In his career, he made it to eight NHL All-Star teams (six first-teams and two second-teams). Mikita would make the Avalanche a much more dangerous team. They’d still have some flaws, but having two top centers is a great blueprint for success.