Cup Winning Centers

[TheHighHat]

Yearly Update:

I decided to do some research about the top 2 line centers for each team that has won the Cup in the Salary Cap Era.
The Cap Era now has 20 years under its belt.

My research came up with some startling facts:

Only one #1 center (Backstrom) was 30 years old and an argument can be made that Kuznetsov was the Caps #1 center that playoff year because Backstrom missed time due to injury & Kuznetsov led the Caps in points. I still gave the nod to Backstrom because of ATOI

Only four #2 centers (Kadri, Malkin, B. Richards, & Brind' Amour) were 30(+) years old.

Average age of #1 centers: 25.85
Average age of #2 centers: 27.7

ZERO #1 centers were signed as an UFA.
Only one #2 center (B. Richards) was signed as an UFA and that was only a one year deal after he was bought out of his contract in NY. Not your typical July 1st UFA.

Only two #1 centers (Eichel & O'Reilly) were acquired via trade.
Seven #2 centers were acquired via trade.
Zero of those 9 centers acquired via trade were acquired at the trade deadline of their winning year.
Jeff Carter was acquired near the TDL in 2012 but played mostly RW that year. He also took some time as the Kings 3C as well.

Summary:
Don't expect to win the Cup if your 1C is 30+, signed as an UFA, or acquired at the TDL.
UFA & TDL also applies to your 2C
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Salary Cap Era Cup winning teams and their top two centers, age at Cup win, & how they were acquired:

2025
A. Barkov (29) Draft
S. Bennett (28) Trade (turned 29 three days after hoisting the Cup)

2024
A. Barkov (28) Draft
S. Bennett (28) Trade

2023
J. Eichel (26) Trade
C. Stephenson (29) Trade

2022
N. MacKinnon (26) Draft
N. Kadri (31) Trade

2021
B. Point (25) Draft
A. Cirelli (23) Draft

2020
B. Point (24) Draft
A. Cirelli (22) Draft

2019
R. O'Reilly (28) Trade
B. Schenn (27) Trade

2018
N. Backstrom (30) Draft
E. Kuznetsov (26) Draft

2017
S. Crosby (29) Draft
E. Malkin (30) Draft

2016
S. Crosby (28) Draft
E. Malkin (29) Draft

2015
J. Toews (27) Draft
B. Richards (35) UFA

2014
A. Kopitar (27) Draft
J. Carter (29) Trade

2013
J. Toews (25) Draft
D. Bolland (27) Draft

2012
A. Kopitar (25) Draft
M. Richards (27) Trade

2011
P. Bergeron (25) Draft
D. Krejci (25) Draft

2010
J. Toews (22) Draft
D. Bolland (24) Draft

2009
S. Crosby (21) Draft
E. Malkin (22) Draft

2008
P. Datsyuk (29) Draft
H. Zetterberg (28) Draft

2007
R. Getzlaf (22) Draft
A. McDonald (29) Undrafted FA

2006
E. Staal (21) Draft
R. Brind'Amour (35) Trade
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The moral of the story: Grow your own.
Draft centers and then ditch them if they're still your #1 or #2 center before they turn 30.
Don't sign UFA centers for your top 2 lines if you want to win a Cup.
Keep your 1st round picks at all costs unless the trade return is a no-brainer.

Other notes:
O'Reilly is the only #1 center that never scored 30 goals in a season.
O'Reilly and Bergeron are the only #1 centers that never reached 80 points in a season.

Obviously ROR has always been considered a #2 center type, but he carried the mail for us in the playoffs as our #1 center.
I gave him the #1 center slot over Schenn because ROR had more ice time & points than Schenn even though Brayden centered our 2 best wingers.

There are a few other years that are debatable as to whom the #1 & #2 centers (and in some cases #2 & #3) were, but it really doesn't change the facts presented here.

You can always say that past results are no guarantee of future results, but I would not try to buck this 20 year trend.
The trend is your friend until the end.

Recent Cup champs Barkov, MacKinnon, and Point are all turning 30 before the 26 playoffs.
History tells us no three-peat for the Panthers and that the Avs & Bolts won't win either in 26

McDavid will be 29 in next year's playoffs.

[netboy65]

I would think that’s mostly because any team with half a brain don’t let Cup winning 1C or 2C ever get to UFA. If they’re that good you keep them and if negotiations break down you trade them so you at least get something back.

[theograce]

Every situation needs assessment although there are templates.

ROR is easily among the worst #1’s to ever win the cup

In addition, he was absolutely carried through the first half of the Cup run. He was bad.

[Cahokanut]

R0R was only a first line center. Because of the team he played on.

I'd bet if you looked further you'd notice that most top teams throughout that period had at least three of there top five point getters under 26.

[DawgDad]

Every situation needs assessment although there are templates.

ROR is easily among the worst #1’s to ever win the cup

In addition, he was absolutely carried through the first half of the Cup run. He was bad.

BBQ sauce for those [cracked] ribs?

[theograce]

Every situation needs assessment although there are templates.

ROR is easily among the worst #1’s to ever win the cup

In addition, he was absolutely carried through the first half of the Cup run. He was bad.

BBQ sauce for those [cracked] ribs?

That magically healed in time for round 3? Ribs … fingers … toes … whatever you like, but he was absolutely carried the first half of the run. He was bad.

ROR is bad lots … and has been that way throughout his career

[DawgDad]

Every situation needs assessment although there are templates.

ROR is easily among the worst #1’s to ever win the cup

In addition, he was absolutely carried through the first half of the Cup run. He was bad.

BBQ sauce for those [cracked] ribs?

That magically healed in time for round 3? Ribs … fingers … toes … whatever you like, but he was absolutely carried the first half of the run. He was bad.

ROR is bad lots … and has been that way throughout his career

Some people seem to want to bring him back. I salute him for his past service but after watching him in Nashville that ship has sailed.

[seattleblue]

Thank you for this exercise. Thomas is 26 in a couple weeks. Four more seasons in his 20s. Dvorsky turned 20 last weekend. Obviously he will need most if not all of that 4 years to ramp up to being a Stanley Cup caliber 2C. This was why I coveted Desnoyers when the Blues were in range and he was still being mock drafted at 7 or 8. I've been consistently insistent that the top 4 is Schaefer Misa Desnoyers and Frondell, sometimes swapping Desnoyers and Frondell.

The precise reason I ranked Desnoyers and Frondell ahead of Hagens is that the final run of prospect rankings always occurs in the heads of men who are also watching the final two rounds of the Cup playoffs and they start thinking more about application of the player to that specific situation. When that occurs, Desnoyers goes up and Hagens goes down. Hagens isn't this caliber of center, he is too small to defend. Desnoyers is a player who will be playing in those final games.

[BalotelliMassive]

In 2013 the second line center was Handzus.

[kimzey59]

In 2013 the second line center was Handzus.

But he was 35.
That doesn't fit the narrative so the facts have to change.

[Old_Goat]

Very interesting. Thank you for posting.
It just goes to show that those high priced long-term contracts are rarely a good move. I realize there are cap implications, but it seems front-end and/or performance bonuses are a good way to get/keep talent. And along those lines I respected Bouwmeister for going year-to-year on 1-year contracts.
I've said it since 2006...since Turgeon until Thomas, we have not had a true #1 Center...we blew it by not picking Jordan Stahl, Toews, or Backstrom.
Finally, for Theograce: O'Reilly won a Cup PERIOD...best, worst, whatever he won a cup and was recognized independently as the MVP for that. YOU really need to control yourself and try to think before you post.

[theograce]

Finally, for Theograce: O'Reilly won a Cup PERIOD...best, worst, whatever he won a cup and was recognized independently as the MVP for that. YOU really need to control yourself and try to think before you post.

None of that changes the facts I presented. They seem too irritate you to the point of deflection

[seattleblue]

In 2013 the second line center was Handzus.

But he was 35.
That doesn't fit the narrative so the facts have to change.

The OP clearly stated

There are a few other years that are debatable as to whom the #1 & #2 centers (and in some cases #2 & #3) were, but it really doesn't change the facts presented here.

But sure, sarcasm him up

[Army's Mom]

In 2013 the second line center was Handzus.

But he was 35.
That doesn't fit the narrative so the facts have to change.

OP listed Richards, who was also 35. Doesn't change the outcome - that your #1 needs to be under 30 and homegrown, and that while the same is generally true for yiur #2, there are more exceptions to the rule.

I would be curious to see if there are similar conclusions to be drawn when this exercise is repeated for #1D, RHD, #1G.

[Old_Goat]

Finally, for Theograce: O'Reilly won a Cup PERIOD...best, worst, whatever he won a cup and was recognized independently as the MVP for that. YOU really need to control yourself and try to think before you post.

None of that changes the facts I presented. They seem too irritate you to the point of deflection

You presented NO facts. You simply stated your opinion of O'Reilly's relative performance, which is not supported by those whom award the Conn Smythe. I am not irritated by facts...but I will admit that I have a low tolerance for idiots' opinions that are not based upon facts.
Titus 3:9-11

[TheHighHat]

In 2013 the second line center was Handzus.

You're correct. Thank you.
I'll update that next year. It will just up the average age of the 2C's a tick. Still doesn't change the 1C age or trend.
I think Handzus was traded near the TDL so that does change that idea of not winning the Cup by acquiring a 1C or 2C at the TDL.