The Leafs actually have some pretty good players in the organization, but it is a very poorly assembled team and lacks quality depth. The strength of the team is on the wings with Kessel and JVR, and the key to winning in the NHL is strength down the middle. For perspective, here are the top centers of the Stanley Cup finalists over the past eight seasons.
- Jonathan Toews (3 times)
- Anze Kopitar (twice)
- Pavel Datsyuk (twice)
- Sidney Crosby (twice)
- Patrice Bergeron (twice)
- Tyler Johnson
- Derek Stepan
- Travis Zajac
- Henrik Sedin
- Mike Richards (when he was good)
Toews, Kopitar, Datsyuk and Bergeron are probably the best two-way centers of the past decade, while Sidney Crosby is a generational offensive talent.