Detroit Red Wings: Analyzing Every Center in the Organization
By Chris Giles
![Apr 29, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Joe Veleno (90) skates before the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports Apr 29, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Detroit Red Wings center Joe Veleno (90) skates before the game against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/4d4c0414608da467cd9735b6dcf7f0bed95b5dc27726b2e9f1290b256339bef3.jpg)
The best teams in the NHL are strong down the middle. When the Detroit Red Wings were winning Stanley Cups, they had Steve Yzerman, Sergei Ferdorov, Igor Larionov and Kris Draper as their top four centers. After the retirements of Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, the Red Wings have struggled to make the playoffs. Strength down the middle has disappeared in Hockeytown and a changing of the guard is currently reflected in the rebuild. What does Detroit have at center in the pipeline?
Here is a look at Detroit’s current situation at center.