St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas has been fulfilling his obligations as the top center for the team, and the 26-year-old is also earning every bit of the eight-year, $65-million contract he signed July 13, 2022.

NHL Network is also recognizing the Blues' No. 1 center on their list of top 20 in the league, checking in at No. 12 just ahead of Carolina Hurricanes' Sebastian Aho and behind New Jersey Devils' Jack Hughes.

NHL Network’s Jamison Coyle, Brian Boyle and Mike Rupp counted down the best centers based on player performance over the past several seasons, with an emphasis on the 2024-2025 regular season and 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, while also considering future upside. The Top 20 centers right now list collectively features 51 All-Star Game appearances, 12 Stanley Cups, 10 Ted Lindsay Awards, eight Hart Trophies, eight Art Ross Trophies, seven Maurice Richard Trophies, six All-Rookie Team honors, five Conn Smythe Trophies, three Frank J. Selke Trophies, two Calder Trophies, two Lady Byng Memorial Trophies, one King Clancy Memorial Trophy, one Mark Messier Leadership Award and one NHL’s 100 Greatest Players Award.   

Thomas set career highs in goals (26), assists (60) and points (86) in 2023-24 playing in all 82 regular-season games and followed it up last season with 81 points (21 goals, 60 assists) but playing in 70 games after missing 12 games with a fractured right ankle blocking a shot Oct. 22, 2024 against the Winnipeg Jets.

Thomas finished last season with 25 points (four goals, 21 assists) in a 12-game point streak that fueled the Blues into the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in three seasons. They would lose to the Jets in seven games of the Western Conference First Round.

On his strong finish to the season, Thomas said, "Yeah, with team success comes some individual and I was very fortunate the way our team was playing to be able to produce like that. It takes the whole team for that kind of part of it. I think for myself, I talked a little bit about it last year where you see where you can get and you continue to believe it more and more every year and try and get better. For me, I think I took another step this year and looking to do the same again next year. Olympics is obviously a dream since a kid. You watch it, you have memories of whether it's Sidney Crosby's golden goal or what not. It's definitely a goal of mine. I need to really prepare this summer to have a really good chance at it."

Do you agree with this list and were Thomas is at on it? Comment below and let us know what you feel.

Our Top 20 Centers Right Now list has a total of:
• 12 Stanley Cups
• 5 Conn Smythe Trophies
• 10 Ted Lindsay Awards
• 8 Hart Trophies
• 8 Art Ross Trophies
• 7 Maurice Richard Trophies
• 3 Selke Trophies

What do you think of our list?@NHL | #NHLTopPlayerspic.twitter.com/7xSsx0hpuh

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 20, 2025

Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin named to NHL Network's top 20 centres list for 2025

As the NHL offseason winds through its quietest stretch, the league’s media cycle finds new life with the annual release of NHL Network’s position-by-position rankings. 

This year, Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin has once again earned a spot among the game’s top centres, landing at No. 15 on the network’s Top 20 list.

NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) on XThe captain of the @DetroitRedWings is #⃣1⃣5⃣ on our Top 20 Centers Right Now list! #NHLTopPlayers

The rankings, unveiled each August in anticipation of training camp, offer a snapshot of the league’s elite talent at each position, often sparking league-wide discussion and debate among fans and analysts. The league's top 20 best wingers, defenceman and goaltenders have all be released with the centre's rounding out the media rollout. 

Bookmark The Hockey News Detroit Red Wings team site to stay connected to the latest news, game-day coverage, and player features. 

Larkin’s placement inside the top 15 follows yet another steady campaign, where the 29-year-old appeared in all 82 games and recorded 70 points. It marked his fourth consecutive season reaching at least 69 points and his fourth straight year topping the 30-goal mark.

Red Wings' Larkin, Kane Named to Team USA's Olympic Camp RosterDetroit Red Wings Dylan Larkin and Patrick Kane among the 44 named players attending Team USA's Olympic Orientation Camp in Plymouth, Michigan.

Larkin isn't just an offensive weapon but a Swiss Army knife that can be relied upon as the team's best defensive forward as well as leader on the top power play and penalty kill units. Not to mention his leadership in the locker room, and ability to drive play continue to earn him league-wide respect.

The Waterford, Michigan native has been a cornerstone for Detroit since being drafted 15th overall in 2014 and over nine seasons with the Red Wings has totaled 411 points (162 goals, 249 assists) in 734 career games. His role as Detroit’s captain and first-line centre has remained steady through a transitional period for the franchise as it continues to develop into a playoff contender.

NHL Network’s ranking places Larkin ahead of young stars like Tim Stützle and Roope Hintz, while also placing him just behind former No. 1 picks like Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes. The top of the list, unsurprisingly, features perennial MVP candidates like Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Sidney Crosby. 

“My Heart Beat Faster”: Sergei Fedorov Recaps Finding Out Of Jersey Retirement NewsThe iconic No. 91 jersey of former Detroit Red Wings forward Sergei Fedorov will soon be taking its rightful place in the rafters of Little Caesars Arena, and will be displayed alongside the eight previously retired numbers that include his teammates Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom.

NHL Network’s Top 20 Centres – 2025

1. Connor McDavid
2. Nathan MacKinnon
3. Leon Draisaitl
4. Aleksander Barkov
5. Sidney Crosby
6. Jack Eichel
7. Auston Matthews
8. Brayden Point
9. Mark Scheifele
10. Nick Suzuki
11. Jack Hughes
12. Robert Thomas
13. Sebastian Aho
14. Nico Hischier
15. Dylan Larkin
16. Tim Stützle
17. Roope Hintz
18. Tage Thompson
19. Macklin Celebrini
20. Sam Bennett

Never miss a story by adding us to your Google News favorites. 

The Buffalo Sabres need to play well against just about every opponent next season in order to get back into the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in a decade-and-a-half. And one team that could stand in their way against Buffalo is a team needing a rebound year -- the Vancouver Canucks.

in our continuing series on THN.com's Sabres site, we're looking at each of the Sabres' 31 opponents next year. And in this file, we're focused on the Canucks, whom Buffalo didn't lose to in regulation time last season. Vancouver made a notable addition in former Edmonton Oilers winger Evander Kane, but otherwise, the Canucks are mostly the same team as they were last season.

That said, we want to know your opinion on the Sabres' rivalry against Vancouver. Do you think Buffalo will play at least as well against the Canucs as they did last year? Be sure to make your opinion known in the comment section below. And feel free to register as a community member on THN.com. Your opinion matters, and we want to hear it.

The Buffalo Sabres are going to face significant difficulty next season trying to end their Stanley Cup playoff drought at 14 years. To be sure, the Sabres will need every standings point they can get, and that means playing well against even the NHL's top teams.

To that end, THN.com's Sabres site has been producing a series in which we examine every one of Buffalo's 31 opponents next season. We've made our way through teams from the league's Atlantic, Metropolitan and Central divisions, and more recently, we've been focusing on the eight Pacific Division franchises.

We're nearly done looking at the Pacific teams, but in today's file, we're looking at a team looking to rebound after a disappointing 2024-25 season -- the Vancouver Canucks.

The Canucks missed the playoffs last season after being one of the league's stronger teams in 2023-24. And Vancouver has made an important addition (and a former Sabre) this summer, making them into a team the Sabres will have a tough time against next season.

With that said, let's look at Buffalo's performance against Vancouver last year, and what that may say about the Sabres' chances against them in 2025-26.

BUFFALO SABRES VS. VANCOUVER CANUCKS

NEW CANUCKS PLAYERS: Evander Kane, LW; Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D

2024-25 SERIES: Sabres 1-0-1, Canucks 1-1-0

2025-26 GAMES AGAINST EACH OTHER:  December 11 at Vancouver; January 6 at Buffalo 

CAN THE SABRES BEAT THIS TEAM?  The Canucks were facing the loss of star winger Brock Boeser in free-agency this summer, but Vancouver GM Patrik Allvin re-signed Boeser, assuring the Canucks of a strong offensive presence. 

Then, Vancouver traded with the Edmonton Oilers for Vancouver native Evander Kane, giving the Canucks more snarl and experience up front. And the re-signing of Boeser and addition of Kane make Vancouver a deeper and stronger team.

The good news for the Sabres is they didn't lose to the Canucks in regulation time last season, dropping an overtime game in their first game in late November before beating Vancouver in the second game in late January. But this coming season, Buffalo and the Canucks will be squaring off twice in less than a one-month span. 

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: Kraken Swept Buffalo Last Year -- Will This Season Be A Different Story?The Buffalo Sabres' 2025-26 schedule has been out for some time now, and in this ongoing THN.com Sabres site series, we're breaking down Buffalo's chances against every team in the league.

Playing former Sabre Kane may give Buffalo some added inspiration to play well against the Canucks, but like the Sabres, Vancouver wants nothing more than to get back into the playoff mix next year. So the Sabres will have their hands full with the Canucks.

Another factor that could change things for Vancouver is new Canucks coach Adam Foote. The former star defenseman has been Vancouver's assistant coach, but when Rick Tocchet left for the Philadelphia Flyers this summer, Canucks management went in-house to replace him. And Foote inherits a Vancouver team that was a letdown on many fronts this year.

That includes the injury-absence of star Vancouver goalie Thatcher Demko, who was limited to only 23 appearances last season. But Demko also signed a contract extension this summer, giving the Canucks one of the strongest goalie tandems (including veteran Kevin Lankinen) in the league. The Sabres will have to be at their best to get pucks past either Demko and Lankinen, because if they can't, Vancouver's above-average offense will put all the pressure on Buffalo's goalies next year.

Know Your Enemy, Sabres Pacific Edition: Sweeping Rebuilding Sharks Should Be No Problem For BuffaloThe Buffalo Sabres' 2025-26 schedule has been out for a while now. And although Sabres fans have known when and where their team will be playing at any given time, it's still worthwhile to examine each Buffalo opponent next year -- and specifically, how the Sabres should fare against team NHL team in 2025-26.

The Sabres and Canucks don't have a natural rivalry that's stood the test of time, but Buffalo needs to play at least as well as it did against Vancouver last year. Failure to do so could impact the Sabres' bottom line -- and potentially be the difference between Buffalo missing and making the post-season next season.

The Sabres will face many teams at least as good as the Canucks next year, and they can't afford to let up on any opponent. Any more disappointment will lead to major change in Buffalo -- but if the Sabres do handle their business against Vancouver and other above-average teams, Buffalo's playoff drought will come to an end.

The Los Angeles Kings have made several interesting moves this offseason, including trading Jordan Spence to the Ottawa Senators and signing Cody Ceci as a Vladislav Gavrikov replacement. However, it sounds like another move was being considered.

In recent days, it was revealed that the Kings considered trading Brandt Clarke, but management chose not to do that, at least not yet.

Michael Russo: Re Brandt Clarke: There were points this offseason where it feel like they were even gonna consider moving Clarke; I think Ken Holland wants to get his eyes on him before he makes such a major move like that - DFO Rundown (8/19)

— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) August 20, 2025

Clarke, who is 22 years old, has 41 points through 103 games in his career. Last season, when he had 33 points, was his first full season in the NHL, and while he looked solid, it seems as though he may still be someone the team is considering moving for different assets.

At this point, it seems as though the Kings are willing to give him a strong look out of camp next season, but his name continues to be floated as a potential trade piece.

Former New Jersey Devils forward Tyce Thompson is taking his talent overseas. 

Barys Astana of the KHL have announced that they have signed Thompson to a one-year contract.

Thompson hit the market as a Group 6 unrestricted free agent (UFA) this summer after not being re-signed by the New York Islanders. This is after the 6-foot-1 winger posted eight goals, 13 assists, and 21 points in 65 AHL games with the Bridgeport Islanders in 2024-25. He did not make an appearance in an NHL game this past season with New York. 

Thompson was selected by the Devils with the 96th overall pick of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. In 11 games over three seasons with the Devils from 2020-21 to 2022-23, he recorded one assist, seven hits, and a minus-4 rating. His time with the Devils organization ended during the 2023-24 season when he was traded to the Islanders in exchange for Arnaud Durandeau. 

2 Devils Who Could Be Nice Surprises The New Jersey Devils will be looking to take another step in the right direction in 2025-26 after getting back into the playoffs this past spring. They certainly have a good-looking roster on paper, as they have big-time stars in Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Jesper Bratt leading the charge.

Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

With more talent in the system than Pittsburgh has had in years - and 13 picks in the 2025 NHL Draft - top prospects lists are becoming more competitive and more difficult to discern. Since the prospect pool is deepening, The Hockey News - Pittsburgh Penguins takes a look at the top-20 prospects in the organization. 

Next on our list is No. 14, and this is where we cover one of the Penguins' three first-round picks this year in forward Bill Zonnon.

#14: F Bill Zonnon

Zonnon was selected 22nd overall by the Penguins in this year's draft, and he had a great year for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL. He registered 28 goals and 83 points in 64 regular season games as well as eight goals and 16 points in 13 playoff games. 

There's no doubt that Zonnon, 18, can produce, but where his value really shines is in his all-around game. The 6-foot-2, 187-pound center has a power forward-like toolset and a ton of versatility to boot, playing in all situations and capable of filling many different roles in a lineup.

He can skate and has great edgework, he is a high-IQ playmaker, he's an elite forechecker, he's deceptive, and he works relentlessly to stay on the puck and keep plays alive. He has a physical edge to his game as well, and he has a shot with some pop.

🍎 Dyllan Gill (#10 in white) picks up the primary assist on this goal. He gets the puck from Daniil Bourosh (‘04), takes the shot and the rebound is put home by Bill Zonnon (‘06).
-@HuskiesRnpic.twitter.com/4hSDtcKYdp

— Future Bolts (@LightningProsp1) November 27, 2022

One of the most intriguing things about Zonnon is that he's a high-floor player. If he can maximize his offensive skillset and continue to grow and round out his overall game, he has the potential to be an effective top-six player who can rotate between center and the wing. Even if he doesn't, he's more than likely going to be a higher-profile bottom-six player who can play some tough minutes and produce enough to be an important piece on a third line.

There isn't much Zonnon can't do, and Penguins fans - as well as the organization - should be excited by his upside. And, honestly, he probably should be higher in this ranking, but as is the case with some others in this range, the Penguins simply have a lot more talent in their system than they have in recent years, making some of these decisions tough.

It's very possible that at this time next year, he will be sniffing the top-five. For now, we Zonnon him at 14, and there is a ton of room for him to continue to develop into a future impact NHL forward.

The list so far:

- No. 15: F Melvin Fernstrom
- No. 16: D Emil Pieniniemi
- No. 17: F Avery Hayes
- No. 18: F Cruz Lucius
- No. 19: D Finn Harding
- No. 20: D Peyton Kettles

Top-20 Penguins' Prospects 2025: Young Swedish Forward Has IntrigueHeading into the 2025-26 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have shifted the focus to youth and development.

---

Bookmark THN - Pittsburgh Penguins on your Google News tab  to follow the latest Penguins news, roster moves, player features, and more!