Edited Sep. 11, 2023 at 7:39 a.m.
Quoting: Ledge_And_Dairy
Quite a few interesting takes here.
1. This is a ranking of centers Stamkos has played very little center over the last 3 years. I would know I'm a Tampa fan counting him as a center is as accurate as counting Pavelski and Giroux as centers
2. Again Bedard has not played a single game yet. He could absolutely be a generational talent right out of the gates but that hasn't happened yet. I doubt it will happen but Lafreniere was getting insanely high levels of praise before his rookie season too. Bedard could also have a slow start just like Hughes did due to his size.
3. You vastly overrate Thompson. He's had 1 season at level of production and again he, Stutzle, Scheifele, and Malkin are defensive liabilities. The fact that you have Thompson above Barkov, Eichel, and Crosby is evident of how your list is full of recency bias and almost only values points. I find it ironic how Lindholm has "1 outlier season" yet Thompson doesn't.
4. What world do you live in where you think Tavares is still an elite center. Team leader or not he is far from elite at this point.
5. The age Hischier got 2nd in Selke voting is a dumb argument. Also Lindholm was 10th in Selke voting at age 24. He's gotten Selke votes in all but 1 year he's played in Calgary.
6. Potential? Dubois is 25, he's a window for growth is quite small at this point.
Lindholm's game is actually fairly consistent. in his previous 4 seasons as a Flames Lindholm had an average shooting percent of 16.3%. Even if we go with his lowest S% of 1 of those seasons (14.6% in 20/21) it was still 2.8% higher than his from this most recent season. if he had even scored at that lowest prior rate he would have had 27 goals this season putting him at 69 points in 80 games. If he shot at that average 16.3% he would have had 30 goals and 72 points. You didn't watch Flames hockey this year. Sutter was a menace with lines and his system was all about shot quantity not shot quality. You get the puck to the first guy who as an angle on the net (generally a defenseman), he shoots it and you hope to shovel the puck in from rebounds in front. Without a highly elusive player like Gaudreau to draw attention away from other players and still make passes the team could never do anything in Sutter's system besides play a sound defense and dump & chase. Huberdeau is a hell of a player but his game is far more similar to Tkachuk's than it is to Gaudreau's. And Tkachuk did not produce well in Sutter's system until he was on a line with Gaudreau
On another note Lindholm has been extremely consistent on his underlying numbers. Take Hintz and Aho for example. You have them both ranked way above Lindholm despite both players putting up consistently similar numbers across the board nearly every season. If you think Hintz wouldn't have had a similar drop in production had he gone from playing with Robertson and Pavelski to playing with Benn and Marchment you are on something

It's great to see such a thoughtful analysis, but there are a few points I'd like to respectfully address:
Stamkos: While it's true that Stamkos has played primarily as a winger recently, let's not forget that during his center years, he was a consistent offensive force. Over his career, he has averaged over a point per game (1.05 P/G). In contrast, Lindholm has averaged 0.69 P/G. Despite recently playing wing due to team need, he has shown that he can still play center and I believe that he is the better center because of how productive he has been over his career.
Bedard: You're absolutely right; Bedard has not played an NHL game yet. His potential is based on scouting and projections, and it's important to acknowledge the unpredictability of a player's transition to the NHL, like with Laf. But Laf was never labeled a generational talent, so a better comparison would be to look at players like Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby, who lived up to their "generational talent" labels immediately. It's about the individual's skill level, and Bedard's junior career statistics and intangible makeup support the hype.
Thompson: Comparing Thompson to Barkov, Eichel, and Crosby is indeed a subjective matter, but it's worth considering that Thompson has shown elite production without the same level of supporting talent around him of some of his contemporaries. His single season of high production is indeed a valid point; however, Lindholm's career average P/G is 0.69, and while he had one standout season, the rest of his career aligns with the profile of a second-line center. On the other hand, Thompson's potential for growth and future production outweighs Lindholm's consistency, especially considering his age.
Tavares: The assessment of Tavares as an elite center may vary from person to person, but he remains a highly capable player with a history of success. Leadership and experience can compensate for any perceived decline in individual performance. In 2022-23, Tavares (1.0 P/G) clearly outperformed Lindholm (0.8 P/G). Even if we account for Tavares' potential decline, he has been more consistently productive than Lindholm over the years.
Hischier: Age should not be a sole criterion, but it can be a factor in considering potential. While Lindholm and Hischier both received Selke votes, the debate about their comparative defensive abilities can be subjective. I feel Hischier's 2nd place Selke finish suggests he's already a formidable defensive center. However, you are correct that Lindholm's career defensive stats, such as his consistently high faceoff win percentage and takeaway numbers, should not be overlooked when discussing defensive abilities.
Dubois: Age doesn't necessarily correlate with a player's growth potential. Dubois may have room for improvement in certain aspects of his game, which, if realized, could elevate his status. His career P/G is also already just higher than Lindholm's at age 25, (.695 vs .690), and he certainly can still improve if his consistency issue is addressed. I believe that playing with a veteran leader like Kopitar will help him unlock that potential.
This ranking of players involved various factors, and different opinions are valid.
Hintz and Aho, for instance, were ranked higher for their perceived consistency and contributions in various aspects of the game. While Lindholm's consistency in underlying numbers is notable, it's crucial to consider the quality of his linemates and the impact of the system on his performance. Gaudreau and Tkachuk are elite players who have a significant influence on their linemates' production due to their playmaking abilities and the attention they draw from opponents. In contrast, players like Hintz and Aho may have similar consistency but play with less impactful linemates.
Ultimately, hockey discussions thrive on diverse perspectives. Your analysis adds depth to the conversation and is appreciated. Thank you.