Professional hockey teams try to get as many good players as possible, but they value depth at some positions more than others. Centre position is the clearest example, and many NHL teams like to stash a couple extra guys capable of playing it on the bottom half of their rosters. Exact philosophies of individual teams may vary in this regard, but there is general consensus that every line needs a good center to shore it up.
For anyone looking to understand the importance of this position in professional hockey and how it affects NHL hockey odds, we break down this topic from multiple angles.
How Many Centres Is Enough?
The main restriction preventing teams from signing a whole bunch of centres is that the active roster for NHL teams is limited to 23 spots. That means every extra centre must come at the expense of depth at another position. Since hockey teams generally use four different lines in a game, they need at least that many players capable of suiting up at centre. No team is satisfied to stay at just 4, and virtually all of them enter a season with 5-6 centres, occasionally even 7 although some of them may stay inactive for the game. While there is widespread agreement that depth at this position is absolutely necessary, the exact number depends on the available personnel, salary issues, and other factors specific to each team.
Why Are Centres So Susceptible to Attrition?
In a nutshell, centres move around the ice quite a bit and they have to engage in a lot of physical duels as they serve an important function on both sides. They are highly valuable on offense where they control the middle and act as connectors between wingers. Centres also have an active role on defense as they get back to support the primary defensemen and protect the net. Because of this, they frequently find themselves in harm’s way and they suffer from extreme fatigue or injury more than players with straightforward duties. Since losing a centre could put a team in a dangerous spot, it’s paramount to have a capable reserve ready to step up when called upon.
Multi-positional Value of Centres
Not every player listed as centre is limited strictly to that position. Many have the skills to switch to the wing and would be better described as general-purpose forwards. This versatility makes it more viable to stack the deck with nominal centres who can play wherever needed in case of emergency. Of course, it’s perfectly fine to have a few specialists who always line up at centre in the first or second offensive line, and to prioritize flexibility further down the pecking order. This approach helps the team handle periods of adversity where a lot of primary contributors could be out with injuries without a noticeable drop in quality or tactical changes.
Should Teams Go Top-Heavy or Deep at This Position?
NHL teams face another limitation that has nothing to do with roster space and everything to do with money. In addition to deciding how many centres to bring into a season, they also need to figure out how much to pay each of them. The best centres draw some of the largest salaries in the league, reaching over $15 million annually. If a team pays up for a couple of high-end players at this position, it might have to deploy less accomplished players behind them. Depth is worth very little if there is a huge drop-off between top guys and those that have to replace them, so spreading the available money over 4-5 solid guys might be preferable than splurging for expensive, elite talent and having little behind it.
