Ottawa Senators: Making the Case for the top Line Centre

With no legitimate number one centre, the Senators have a decision to make

While the Ottawa Senators rebuild takes shape, they’re still without a legitimate top-line centre for the upcoming season. While they did draft Tim Stuetzle to be their future number one centre, it doesn’t appear he will be playing that position as he starts his NHL career.

They have a veteran, proven depth centreman in Chris Tierney, an inconsistent young pivot Colin White and top prospects Josh Norris and Logan Brown, it’s tough to pick the best option out of that crop. While Artem Anisimov and Tim Stuetzle both have the versatility to play centre, it’s unlikely either of them will take the responsibility at the top, as both most likely will settle on the wing.

D.J. Smith and staff will have a decision to make, but it likely won’t have many ramifications if their pick doesn’t play well, they use a heavy three-line rotation. The top-line centre likely won’t have too much on his plate, especially if it’s Brown or Norris.

Chris Tierney

The oldest, most proven option is Chris Tierney who has been solid in his two-years since being acquired in the Erik Karlsson trade. Accumulating 85 points over that stretch, along with an impressive 65 assists during that stretch. While Tierney doesn’t wow you with anything he does, he relies on his smarts to create offence which contributes to his underrated playmaking.

Last season Tierney had 11 goals and 37 points and was one of the teams better penalty-killers with 4 shorthanded goals, good enough for a tie for the league lead.

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Tierney wasn’t used much on the man-advantage though, only producing 2 power-play points on the season. A number one centre with limited power-play usage is really rare, and while the Senators are in a unique position with their centre depth they will likely lean to a player with more upside.

Analytically, Tierney grades out pretty average as he boasts a CF% (Corsi-For) of 47.81% to go along with a relative CF% of -0.61%, he doesn’t exactly drive play for his line. His defensive impact however is felt, his GF% Relative was 0.67% which was second on the team to the traded Vladislav Namestnikov.

Tierney ideally projects as a bottom-six centreman who contributes on the penalty-kill, but with Ottawa’s lack of depth and experience down the middle he might be forced to play up the lineup.

Colin White

Colin White is a very interesting case, enjoying a breakout season in 2018-19 (partially due to Mark Stone) but then bouncing back with a porous showing last year.

White had 41 points in 71 games during his official rookie season and earned himself a shiny new contract extension in the 2019 offseason which has been under scrutiny due to his play last year. Following up his stellar rookie season with a 7 goal, 23 point performance in a year he was expected to be a staple in the top-6. While White’s production can be attested to his lack of quality teammates, it has left some to doubt his ability to produce without relying on his linemates- as he did with Mark Stone.

Analytically, White holds his own, posting a CF% of 49.12% which ranked 3rd on the Senators and had a relative rate (CF% Relative) of 1.65%, he carried play better than the majority of his teammates.

The Senators first-round pick from 2015 has never been a player who’s touted for his octane offensive game, he’s always been a dependable two-way centre who can produce solid numbers. Expecting point totals upward of 60+ points especially this early into his career is unrealistic. However, 20-point seasons have to be rectified if he wants to be a top-six player in the future. White is one of the more likely options to patrol the top line but has to show the staff he’s regained his confidence.

Logan Brown

The Senators’ 11th overall selection in the 2016 draft has yet to solidify himself as an NHL player but the offensive talent that Logan Brown possesses makes him an enticing option.

Brown finally broke into the NHL for a significant stint this past season, despite just producing meagre totals with just a 1 goal, 8 point performance in 23 games, he looked like he belonged. He was a dominant force in the AHL with 28 points in just 25 games and has nothing left to prove in the minors anymore. At 22-years-old Brown doesn’t have anything left to prove in Belleville and has to graduate to the NHL full-time.

With Tierney and the White, they have some reliable, middling upside players while Brown has some intriguing offensive upside and could add significant offence to a lineup with not much of it. Brown is also great on the power-play, in his stint in Ottawa, Brown produced 3 power-play points and was effective moving the puck from the half-wall.

Josh Norris

The AHL Rookie of the Year had a sensational first season in professional hockey and seemingly slotted himself ahead of Logan Brown by the end of the season. Josh Norris even appeared in 3 games last season for the big club and despite going pointless looked great centring the top line with Brady Tkachuk and Bobby Ryan.

If Norris continues to display good chemistry with Tkachuk there’s definitely a possibility he finds himself on the top line. They won’t want to keep the 21-year-old Norris in a bottom-six role, so if he makes the NHL at the start of next season, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him attached to Tkachuk on the first line.

With 31 goals in just 56 games in the AHL, Norris showed significant offensive upside that most thought he didn’t prior to the season. Norris is widely regarded as the team’s best centre prospect (still don’t know if Stuetzle will play centre) and likely has the best chance to become that marquee centre.

While his brief stint to conclude the 2019-2020 season was only 3 games, he was featured as a top-line centre and D.J. Smith didn’t hesitate marching him out with their top offensive options.