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Detroit Red Wings: Top 5 Centers of All Time

By Zach Roethlisberger |
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The center position is one of the most speculated, critiqued, and observed in hockey. Not only do you need to put up big numbers on the offensive end, but your defensive play on the back check is also highly observed. The Detroit Red Wings have seen many special players play at the centerfold of their lineup. Today, Octopus Thrower examines the top 5 centers of all time in Detroit Red Wings history.

5. Kris Draper

I don’t care what anybody says, there is not one player in Detroit Red Wings history who played with the tremendous amount of heart Kris Draper did every single night. Draper scored 155 goals and had 203 assists in his career as a Detroit Red Wing, but the thing that puts Draper on this list was his tremendous work ethic night in and night out.

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In terms of pure talent he was never the best player on the ice, but seemed to work the hardest.

If you want to talk stats, the biggest that plays into Kris Draper’s favor is the four Stanley Cup Championships he was able to win in Detroit. Draper’s play was not always captured on the score card as he was a vocal and visible leader for Detroit through his tenure here. It also should be noted that Draper was also able to capture Frank J. Selke trophy (best defensive forward) for the 2003-04 season.

Looking at the total package and what Draper was and is still able to bring to the Detroit Red Wings organization, as the current special assistant to the general manager, he exhibits what Detroit hockey is all about. There should be no thought in putting him on your all time list.

Next: #4: Pavel Datsyuk

4. Pavel Datsyuk

For many organizations around the National Hockey League, this guy would be your franchise’s number one all time center hands down no questions asked, so it’s tough to list him here at number four. In terms of pure skill and ability, Datsyuk is one of the most gifted players in all of Detroit Red Wings history.

Currently the teams alternate captain, Datsyuk has been with Detroit since the 2001-02 season which

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saw him help one of the best teams in Detroit Red Wing history capture a Stanley Cup Championship. Throughout the rest of his career Datsyuk has gone on to score 298 goals and record and astounding 869 points. He also has stacked up his fair share of hardware collecting two Stanley Cups, four Lady Byng trophies and three Frank J Selke trophies. He won another cup with the team in the 2007-08 season.

Datsyuk magic is seen which the outstanding plays he is able to set up and still at the age of 36, looks like he could play another 10 years. Datsyuk also provides a tremendous lift in the shootout aspect and has provided some of the prettiest goals in Red Wings history.

Next: #3: Alex Delvecchio

3. Alex Delvecchio

With the tremendous amount of history the Detroit Red Wings has had over their famed history of being one of the original six teams, its easy to go back in time and look for a special player at the center position.

Delvecchio fits the role perfectly.

Delvecchio started his career in Detroit for the 1950-51 season and played an amazing 24 years in a Detroit Red Wings uniform. Heading the famous production line with Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay, Delvecchio was a player that used tremendous speed and play making ability to make such line one of the most famous in all of hockey history.

Delvecchio scored 501 goals and added 926 with Detroit making him the third on the all time list behind Howe and the famous number 19. In route to winning three Stanley Cups with the team, Delvecchio also captured three Lady Byng trophies. He is the definition of Detroit hockey and his jersey still hangs above Joe Louis Arena today.

Next: #2: Sergei Fedorov

2. Sergei Fedorov

If you want to talk about pure talent and ability then this is your guy at number two.

Many people remember the huge role Sergei Fedorov played in Detroit’s historic dynasty throughout the late 1990’s and into the early 2000’s. Fedorov posses a pure goal scoring ability that can be argued as still the best in Detroit’s famed history today.

Players who played along side him found themselves in awe at times including former Detroit Red Wings Captain Steve Yzerman:

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“I’ve only seen two other players that can dominate a game like Sergei, and that’s Wayne and Mario… in my opinion, he’s the best player in the League. He is different than Wayne and Mario because he dominates with his speed, and unbelievable one-on-one moves.”

Fedorov famed history earned him a tremendous amount of accolades in a Detroit Red Wings uniform. His 400 career goals with Detroit and 554 assists complement his three Stanley Cup Champions. He also was able to become the first MVP for Detroit in 1993-94 since Gordie Howe held the award 30 years before. He was also able to collect the Ted Lindsay award that season as well as the first of his two Frank J. Selke trophies. He has also now been named to 2015 NHL Hall of Fame class as well.

Fedorov’s end in Detroit has brought up much controversy and even caused him to be booed whenever he stepped back on the ice at Joe Louis Arena for another team. Regardless, Sergei Fedorov is one of the absolute best to put a Red Wings jersey on and any true Red Wing fan can look back and appreciate what he did for the organization

Next: #1: Steve Yzerman

1. Steve Yzerman

The talent on this list is insurmountable, but in debating who is the number one greatest center in all time Detroit Red Wings history is, its not even close.

Coming to the team for the 1983-84 season, Steve Yzerman already proved he was very special scoring 39 goals and recording 48 assists in his rookie season, all of that at only the age of 18 years old.

The 1985-86 season saw Yzerman be named captain of the team at only 21 years old, a role he would make last until he retired in 2006. What he brought to Detroit as a whole really cannot be contained in this short segment, as he did so much for the organization, including turning the franchise around to where it still is today.

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Yzerman scored an oustanding 692 goals for the Red Wings while adding 1,063 assists. He sits just second to the famed Mr. Hockey but brought so much of an impact besides his tremendous numbers on the stat sheet.

You could deem Yzerman as one of the greatest captains in professional sports history. His famed leadership was exhibited during the 2002 playoffs which saw Yzerman have tremendous knee problems but refused to not play. He also was very vocal in the locker room, which players expressed numerous times throughout his playing career.

Yzerman helped turn Detroit hockey around and I guarentee you the franchise would not be anyway near as reputable if we did not have “Stevie Y” wearing the “C” on his chest. Detroit’s 24 consecuative playoff appearances sparks from Yzerman and what he was able to do which has laid the blue print for the franchise for generations to come.

There simply is no comparison, Steve Yzerman is Detroit Red Wings hockey.

Next: Best Draft Picks Since Yzerman: #1-4

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