Friday's Center Value Rankings
Here are theScore's center value rankings for Sunday, April 3:
Top Options
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Tyler Johnson (TB) | vs. DET | 9 |
| Aleksander Barkov (FLA) | vs. NYI | 8 |
| John Tavares (NYI) | at FLA | 8 |
Lightning W Nikita Kucherov is fresh-off two goals and with Johnson's absurdly low cost and first-line real estate, he's a must play in every format.
Barkov was riding a nine-game point streak into the playoffs. He is still a necessity in cash games, despite being held off the score sheet in game one. It's unlikely that will happen again.
Tavares is a terrific contrarian play with 11 points in 13 career playoff games. If the Islanders have any chance to win this series, it's on Tavares' stick.
Best of the Rest
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Toews (CHI) | at STL | 7 |
| Ryan Getzlaf (ANA) | vs. NAS | 6 |
| Pavel Datsyuk (DET) | at TB | 6 |
When the going get's tough, look no further than Captain Serious. At a modest cost, Toews is definitely worth a flier with his 102 points in 117 career playoff games.
Predators' goalie Pekka Rinne had one of his worst statistical seasons of his career. Look for Getzlaf and his linemates to score often at home.
Datsyuk is the most skilled center on the Red Wings roster and has multi-point upside.
Nothing to See Here
| NAME | OPPONENT | VALUE |
|---|---|---|
| Artem Anisimov (CHI) | at STL | 5 |
| Jori Lehtera (STL) | vs. CHI | 4 |
| Ryan Johansen (NAS) | at ANA | 3 |
Johansen was hot to end the season, registering 15 points in 15 games, but his matchup against a daunting Ducks defense leaves him with limited value.
Lehtera and Anisimov lack the elite scoring upside and of the other centers. Leave them alone.