<p>Two of the top five centers in the NHL are on the Edmonton Oilers as Connor McDavid finished first and Leon Draisaitl landed fourth on the NHL Network&#8217;s Top 20 Centers Right Now.</p>
<p></p>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2107" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="325"></div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Presenting the Top 20 Centers Right Now! Thoughts? 🧐<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHLTopPlayers?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NHLTopPlayers</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/NHL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NHL</a> <a href="https://t.co/r8GS5JFgp6">pic.twitter.com/r8GS5JFgp6</a></p>
<p>&mdash; NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) <a href="https://twitter.com/NHLNetwork/status/1826395104812433858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2024</a></p></blockquote>
<p><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>There is potentially an argument to be made about whether Draisaitl should have placed higher than Auston Matthews, but otherwise, there are no complaints about these rankings.</p>
<p>McDavid is the <a href="https://x.com/nhlnetwork/status/1826401396822081730?s=42" target="_blank" rel="noopener">undisputed best player</a> in the NHL right now and this list further highlights the obvious. Look no further than the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-connor-mcdavid-becomes-the-first-player-since-wayne-gretzky-to-record-three-straight-120-point-seasons" target="_blank" rel="noopener">incredible season</a> he is coming off of, which was capped off with <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-connor-mcdavid-takes-home-the-conn-smythe-trophy-as-playoff-mvp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">winning the Conn Smythe Trophy</a> to be the first recipient from the losing side since JS Giguere in 2003. Therefore, it should be no surprise that he was one of the first six players named to Team Canada&#8217;s roster at the upcoming <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-connor-mcdavid-among-the-first-players-selected-for-team-canada-at-the-four-nations-face-off" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Four Nations Face-Off</a>.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, Draisatil is also fresh off <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-leon-draisaitl-hits-the-100-point-mark-for-the-fifth-time-in-his-career" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a strong season of his own</a> where he finished second on the team in scoring during the regular season behind only McDavid and <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-leon-draisaitl-becomes-the-third-fastest-player-ever-to-reach-100-career-playoff-points" target="_blank" rel="noopener">third in the playoffs</a> behind McDavid and Evan Bouchard. Although he has mostly been the sidekick in this partnership, Drasaitl has had plenty of moments where took matters into his own hands as a critical component of the Oilers&#8217; success. When NHL players return to the Winter Olympics in 2026, it would not be a shock if he were to be named captain of Germany.</p>
<p>Both players have cemented themselves as the core of this team, so their impending extension is of paramount importance to tackle as soon as possible. Luckily for the Edmonton faithful, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/report-leon-draisaitl-interested-in-long-term-extension-with-the-oilers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Draisatil&#8217;s negotiations are well underway</a> and should that get done in earnest it will make McDavid&#8217;s extension that he will be eligible to sign next summer easy to manage.</p>
<p>So long as contract talks don&#8217;t hit a major snag in the months ahead, things seem to heading towards Draisaitl and McDavid staying put in the Blue and Orange indefinitely. Good thing too because both of them are two of the top five centers in the NHL right now.</p>
<h2><strong>SPONSORED BY bet365</strong></h2>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="325" data-promotion-id="19111"></div>

Two of the top five centers in the NHL are on the Edmonton Oilers as Connor McDavid finished first and Leon Draisaitl landed fourth on the NHL Network's Top 20 Centers Right Now.


<div class="bam-inline-promotion-block" data-max-length="2" data-placement-id="2107" data-context="web-content-promocard" data-property-id="325"></div>
https://twitter.com/nhlnetwork/status/1826395104812433858?s=42

There is potentially an argument to be made about whether Draisaitl should have placed higher than Auston Matthews, but otherwise, there are no complaints about these rankings.

McDavid is the <a href="https://x.com/nhlnetwork/status/1826401396822081730?s=42" target="_blank" rel="noopener">undisputed best player</a> in the NHL right now and this list further highlights the obvious. Look no further than the <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-connor-mcdavid-becomes-the-first-player-since-wayne-gretzky-to-record-three-straight-120-point-seasons" target="_blank" rel="noopener">incredible season</a> he is coming off of, which was capped off with <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-connor-mcdavid-takes-home-the-conn-smythe-trophy-as-playoff-mvp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">winning the Conn Smythe Trophy</a> to be the first recipient from the losing side since JS Giguere in 2003. Therefore, it should be no surprise that he was one of the first six players named to Team Canada's roster at the upcoming <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-connor-mcdavid-among-the-first-players-selected-for-team-canada-at-the-four-nations-face-off" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Four Nations Face-Off</a>.

Meanwhile, Draisatil is also fresh off <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-leon-draisaitl-hits-the-100-point-mark-for-the-fifth-time-in-his-career" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a strong season of his own</a> where he finished second on the team in scoring during the regular season behind only McDavid and <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/oilers-leon-draisaitl-becomes-the-third-fastest-player-ever-to-reach-100-career-playoff-points" target="_blank" rel="noopener">third in the playoffs</a> behind McDavid and Evan Bouchard. Although he has mostly been the sidekick in this partnership, Drasaitl has had plenty of moments where took matters into his own hands as a critical component of the Oilers' success. When NHL players return to the Winter Olympics in 2026, it would not be a shock if he were to be named captain of Germany.

Both players have cemented themselves as the core of this team, so their impending extension is of paramount importance to tackle as soon as possible. Luckily for the Edmonton faithful, <a href="https://oilersnation.com/news/report-leon-draisaitl-interested-in-long-term-extension-with-the-oilers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Draisatil's negotiations are well underway</a> and should that get done in earnest it will make McDavid's extension that he will be eligible to sign next summer easy to manage.

So long as contract talks don't hit a major snag in the months ahead, things seem to heading towards Draisaitl and McDavid staying put in the Blue and Orange indefinitely. Good thing too because both of them are two of the top five centers in the NHL right now.
<h2><strong>SPONSORED BY bet365</strong></h2>
<div class="bam-inline-promotion" data-property-id="325" data-promotion-id="19111"></div>

Oilers’ Connor McDavid ranked 1st and Leon Draisaitl ranked 4th among NHL Network’s top 20 centers

Real Life Podcast: Oilers need a big Game 4 win

GDB +10.0: Oilers Need a Good Response Against Golden Knights (CBC, 7:30 PM MT)

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Stuart Skinner

Recent articles from Michael Mazzei

Breaking News