Center(s) of attention

With the NHL set to return to the ice in under two weeks, it is time to start ranking players for your draft that should be coming up. Your Fantasy Sports Guy will crunch the numbers and list the top ten players per position. Let’s start out with the Centers.

1. Sidney Crosby – Pittsburgh Penguins

Sid the Kid had another great year in ’09 and with all the talent around him, he will have another in ’10.

2. Nicklas Backstom – Washington Capitals

Backstrom plays on a line with Alex Ovechkin…enough said.

3. Evgeni Malkin – Pittsburgh Penguins

The other phenomenal Penguins’ center. He may even play some wing this year so that could open up his eligibility and make him even an even more attractive pick.

4. Henrik Sedin – Vancouver Canucks

There is no reason to believe that the scoring champ from last year won’t have another killer season for the Canucks.

5. Steven Stamkos – Tampa Bay Lightning

If Stamkos was on a team that people actually paid attention to, he could be just as popular as Crosby…but he’s not. Still take Stamkos in the draft because he will follow up last year’s 95 points with another great output.

6. Ryan Getzlaf – Anaheim Ducks

Getzlaf missed a few games last season due to injuries but when he was in the lineup he produced. The Ducks’ stud averaged more than a point per game in his 66 starts. Don’t forget about him.

7. Pavel Datsyuk – Detroit Red Wings

Datsyuk had a bit of down year in 2009, but still had 70 points and was a +17 for the year. With some offensive help back this year, Pavel and the Wings should be scoring more goals.

8. Joe Thornton – San Jose Sharks

It seems like Thornton has been playing forever but he is only 31-years-old and still putting up nice numbers. He’ll get you goals, but he’ll get you a ton of assists.

9. Mike Richards – Philadelphia Flyers

Richards’ point totals dropped last season due to 19 less assists. He is still a top player at his position on a top team in the league.

10. Anze Kopitar – Los Angeles Kings

Kopitar had a career year in 2009. The Kings center set new personal highs in goals (31), assists (45) and points (76). Look for even higher numbers this season.