With the puck set to drop on the 2024-25 NHL and fantasy seasons in just over a month, we're ramping up our draft preparation by breaking down the top-10 players at each position over the coming weeks. Starting up-the-middle at centre, we'll take a look at each player and rank them in order so fantasy GMs know who they should be drafting and what's in store for the upcoming campaign. Here are the top-10 fantasy centremen in the NHL as we head into October. It should be noted that of all positions, this one is likely the most obvious of lists, but it can't hurt to have a firm handle across the board when it comes to the best options at each position.

Honourable mention: Elias Pettersson, J.T. Miller, Connor Bedard.

10) Sebastian Aho

The Carolina Hurricanes enter the 2024-25 season in a precarious position. There's no denying the defensive quality of the Canes, a group that led the NHL last campaign in the shots-against department at 25.6, but they're thin up front and lack in scoring punch, especially now with Jake Guentzel gone. This leaves a lot of pressure on a guy like Aho to generate a bulk of their offense. However, that's just how good Aho is, one of the smartest, most-complete pivots in the game today who really does a little bit of everything at an elite level: power-play production, penalty-kill efficiency, face-off percentage, and point production. If not for somewhat weak peripheral coverage in banger leagues, Aho deserves to be even higher up this list. With his wingman in Carolina Seth Jarvis now secured with a long-term deal, the sky’s the limit for the Canes' top duo who combined for 156 points last season. After that, Rod Brind'Amour will have to get creative to find some depth scoring, but Aho's all-round game and complete skill set have him as a mainstay in the conversation of top-10 fantasy centremen.

9) Jack Eichel

Entering the 10th season of his NHL career, Eichel is still yet to play a full 82-game campaign, with injuries clearly being a caveat that needs to be considered when drafting this player. Aside from that, Eichel is a superstar with game-changing offensive ability who has one of the most underrated releases in the league that gives goalies fits. Skating ability, size, excellent vision, when Eichel puts it all together he's a very hard player to defend. Thirty-one goals and 37 assists in 63 games for the Golden Knights last year feels like the floor of what should be expected from Eichel in terms of offensive output; if he can stay on the ice, 80-plus points is very much attainable. Put aside the 27-year-old's injury history and he would assuredly be higher up this list but until then, buyer beware. 

8) Jack Hughes

Speaking of injuries, much of the same can be said for Hughes, one of the best skaters in the NHL with head-turning speed and sensational edge work that seemingly cannot catch a break in terms of his health. If not for a number of somewhat flukey ailments, Hughes could be knocking on the door as a top-five centre in the near future with triple-digit-point potential. Factor in how good his New Jersey Devils are looking heading into the season with a beefed-up blue-line and new number one netminder, Hughes makes for a very attractive target over the coming weeks of fantasy drafts as a player who could explode. Hits, blocks, and penalty minutes are clearly not part of Hughes' game and definitely not categories you draft him to cover, but when it comes to elite offensive production the speedy young American pivot is one of the best options out there.

7) Brayden Point

Steven Stamkos out, Jake Guentzel in, and likely, business as usual once again for the Tampa Lightning with Point and reigning Art Ross Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov holding down one of the deadliest top lines in hockey. From third-round obscurity to top-10 limelight, the former 79th-overall pick has elevated his all-round game to the level where Point must be considered one of the most effective play-drivers in the NHL. With Guentzel now entrenched on his left and Kucherov as dangerous as ever, Point should be considered as a top fantasy target who could touch triple-digit output this season for a very good Bolts group.

6) Aleksander Barkov

From Tampa to Sunrise, Barkov is fresh off a special run along with his Panthers teammates that's seen Florida's "other" team establish itself as a perennial Cup threat. Banners are banners and these Panthers are definitely the deserved champions, but in terms of Barkov and upcoming fantasy drafts, don't let the past two years of success inflate his value. Injury history and a lack of peripheral categorical coverage are two angles that need to be considered when targeting Barkov, even if he's the best two-way centre in the league, takeaway numbers and metrics don't mean fantasy output. With all of that said and taking absolutely nothing away from one of the most complete hockey players out there, Barkov has to be on this list and should be looked at as an excellent option in the late second or even third round with 75-80-point potential.

5) Sidney Crosby

What else needs to be said about the best player of this generation that hasn't been already. Sid is aging like a fine wine and seemingly getting better with age. Questions abound about the Pittsburgh Penguins and their ability to knock on the door once again for a wild-card playoff spot, but none of them are pointed at their captain. This Pittsburgh group will go as far as Crosby carries it, as indicated by his staggeringly good season from a year ago in which he was a categorical fantasy beast racking up 278 shots, 101 hits, and 40 penalty minutes to go along with a 94-piece in points. If Crosby is still available in the second round of fantasy drafts then the GMs in that league need to wake up. 87 can still bring it and will be a force to be reckoned with in the Metro once again with the window for winning in Pittsburgh about to slam shut.

4) Leon Draisaitl

The next four names on this list are almost interchangeable, that's how good they all are and how much their fantasy production can be counted on. When it comes to Draisaitl, get ready for another gear as the big German heads into the final season of his current contract with a major pay day looming. Even though he was mostly unheard from in the Stanley Cup Final, don't let that play into any hesitation when it comes to drafting Draisaitl. He was clearly dealing with multiple ailments and should be completely back to health and ready to tear the league up once again, with a reloaded Edmonton Oilers group that got even more dangerous upfront with the additions of veterans Jeff Skinner and Viktor Arvidsson. Anything less than 100 points will be considered a disappointment for Draisaitl, especially considering he's eclipsed that mark in five of the last six seasons and would have done it in all six if not for the shortened COVID season of 2020-21. Getting a piece of basically any Oiler in the top-nine forward group is a pretty safe approach, but if you can land Leon, bombs away.

3) Auston Matthews

Papi's got the "C" and it's his team in Toronto now. What will that mean for fantasy production? Hard to expect it will do anything at all, especially given how amazing Matthews has become while rounding out his 200-foot game to the point that he is now regularly in the mix for top-25 Selke Trophy voting. This is the best shooter in the NHL and no one fires the puck better than Matthews, as the American sniper set the league on fire last year with 69 goals, the third time in four seasons he led the NHL in tallies. Much like Crosby for the Pens, the Maple Leafs go as Matthews does, he will need to be just as good as last season if not better if Toronto wants to make any noise in the east. 

2) Nathan MacKinnon

Few players to lace 'em up have ever played the game with the ferocity and elite skill set that MacKinnon does. A tenacious competitor who leaves it all on the ice every single night, MacKinnon's high motor and relentless approach have also led to injuries and time off the ice. However, when he's on it, only one player at this position should be considered as a better fantasy option. MacKinnon's 2024-25 was one for the books: career-high totals in goals (51), assists (89), shots (league-leading 405), blocked shots (69) and even plus-minus (+35), MacK Daddy is a top-three fantasy selection in all formats and wouldn't look out of place as the number one.

1) Connor McDavid

If last year's body of work wasn't enough to cement McDavid as the best centremen in the sport, then nothing will. Carrying the Oilers all the way back in the Stanley Cup Final to push the series to seven games while shattering multiple historic league records on top of an already record-breaking year has McJesus locked in at the top of this list and all draft boards. Seemingly just scratching the surface of his Hall-of-fame potential, 97 is going to be nothing short of must-see TV this season with fans and fantasy forecasters trying to catch a glimpse of greatness in the making. It feels like McDavid is about to take it to the next level, a scary thought for NHL goalies and defensemen and prosperous one for fantasy GMs lucky to own the best player of the next generation. He might not hit 100 apples again, but with some more goal output and a juiced Oilers club ready to pop off, McDavid can be counted on for 130-or-more points this season.