NHL Network’s Top 20 centers is loaded with hardware and empty on NY Islanders

The NHL Network recently unveiled its list of the top 20 centers in hockey, and the numbers alone are staggering. Collectively, the players on the list account for 12 Stanley Cups, five Conn Smythe Trophies, 10 Ted Lindsay Awards, eight Hart Trophies, multiple Art Ross and Maurice Richard Trophies, and three Selke Trophies. It’s a showcase of elite talent, the kind of résumé that reflects the modern dominance of players like Connor McDavid, Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, and Auston Matthews.

But missing, once again, are the New York Islanders.

For a franchise that prides itself on center depth, the omission stings. The Islanders have invested heavily in the position, trading for Bo Horvat, locking up Mathew Barzal long-term, and leaning on veterans like Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Casey Cizikas to round out one of the deepest four-line center groups in the league. Yet, not one cracks the top 20 in the eyes of NHL Network analysts.

Barzal earned a spot (19th) on this very list in 2020 after the team's deep playoff run in the bubble. Since then, injuries and shifting roles have limited his chances to maintain consistent production. Last season, Barzal was limited to just 30 games after battling wrist and lower-body injuries, finishing with six goals and 14 assists for 20 points while still averaging over 20 minutes of ice time per night.

Horvat, meanwhile, put up respectable numbers last season, tallying 28 goals and 29 assists for 57 points in 81 games. He was strong on faceoffs and provided steady two-way play, but evidently not enough to crack a top-20 list dominated by more dynamic offensive centers.

It’s not that the Islanders lack depth at the position, but in the eyes of league analysts, depth and reliability don’t equate to elite. To re-enter the conversation, Barzal will need to stay healthy and recapture his early-career magic, while Horvat must prove he can be more than steady.