Nicolas Roy

We have a very interesting situation in the center position.

You've got Nazem Kadri, Parker Kelly, Nathan McKinnon, Georgy I. Merkulov, Martin Nikas, Brock Nelson, Nicholas Roy, Jaden Schwartz, and Fedor Svechkov.

That is nine centers on the roster.

How do you split that line?

We have a massive competition for centers.

Nazem MacKinnon is the guy, obviously, but we've got Martin Necas, Brock Nelson, Nicholas Roy, Jaden Schwartz, Fedor Svechkov, Zachary L'Heureux, and Georgi Merkulov all vying for spots.

That is crowded.

Derek, you predicted last week that Georgi Merkulov would see increased ice time if the top line struggled.

Martin Nikas has the skill, but Nazem Kadri has the experience and the face-off percentage.

Nicholas Roy is the gritty option.

Then you have Fedor Svechkov, who is young and hungry, and even guys like Gavin Brindley or Nikita Prishchapov pushing for spots.

My take, Nikas and Kadri are the top two, but neither is guaranteed unless they prove they can handle the physicality of the Central Division.

Kadri needs to be reliable.

Nicolas Roy is another option.

But if Winnipeg controls the face-off circle, they control the tempo.

That's a huge advantage for them.

We have a lot of bodies in center.

Gavin Brinley, Matt DiMarcico, Beckett Hamilton, Vinny Hino-Straza, Maros Jedlicka, Parker Kelly, Jason Megna, Georgie I. Merkulov, Nikita Prishchapov, Nicholas Roy, Jaden Schwartz, TJ Tynan, Jake Wise, and then the big names, Kadri McKinnon, Nikas Svechkov, who is actually going to be on the bench.

That's a crowded room.

Derek looking at the forwards, Nathan McKinnon is obviously the anchor.

We have a massive list of centers.

Nathan McKinnon, Nazem Kadri, Martin Nikas, Fedor Svechkov, Nicholas Roy, Jaden Schwartz, Brock Nelson, and then a bunch of prospects like Gavin Brinley, Matt DiMarcico, and Parker Kelly.

Who stands out as the primary contenders for those top six spots right now?

McKinnon is obviously the anchor, but the battle for the other spots is fierce.

Fair enough.

Next, at AVSLifer99 asks, With the number of centers listed, Kadri, Mikas, Svechkov, Roy, Brinley, who gets left out of the final 12 forwards?

This is tough.

Nicholas Roy is a solid two-way center, but if Svechkov is healthy and clicking, he takes one of those spots.

Gavin Brinley and Vinny Hinostraza are probably fighting for the third-line role.

I think the core four is McKinnon, Nikas, Kadri, and Svechkov.

Mitch Marner held out, and then they got...

What did Trig get? A Nicholas Roy kind of player.

But they didn't wanna-

Well, they didn't try to trade him within season though, right? Like-

The top line will score goals, but if the second and third lines turn the puck over in their own zone, you're going to get burned.

Nicholas Roy isn't listed here, but looking at the centers available, Dowd, Carlson, Pirtle, they are capable, but they aren't dominant scorers like Eichel.

The burden is on them to kill penalties and generate secondary scoring.

If they don't, the top line carries too heavy a load.

Chris McFarlane, their assistant GM, went to Nashville as their GM.

And Nassim Khadri and Nicholas Roy entered their first full seasons with the Avalanche.

I mean... 115 points? I mean, still the best team in the NHL, right?

Yeah, I mean, they're definitely not going to be as good as they were last season.