The start of the 2009-2010 NHL season is fast approaching, so it’s time to start prepping for your fantasy hockey drafts. Here are the top 60 NHL centres if you were taking part in a draft today.

1. Evgeni Malkin, PIT – Last year’s playoff MVP looks to pick up right where he left off, putting up impressive numbers in every fantasy category. A viable first overall pick in all drafts.
2. Sidney Crosby, PIT – With the top two centres on the same team, the outlook is overwhelmingly positive for the defending champs. Crosby could finally reach the 40 goal mark if he can suit up for all 82.
3. Ryan Getzlaf, ANA – An all around fantasy stud at 25, Getzlaf is just coming into his own. Hopefully, the offseason abdominal surgery doesn’t hinder his performance early on.
4. Pavel Datsyuk, DET – A lock for 90 points every year, Datsyuk’s hands are probably the league’s best.
5. Jeff Carter, PHI – A fantasy mid-rounder last year, Carter broke out this past season as a true goal scorer. He could see a small dip in production as his numbers tailed off at the end of the season.
6. Vincent Lecavalier, TB – Look for a return to form from Lecavalier in 2009-10, as his shoulder should be at or near 100% by now.
7. Joe Thornton, SJ – Thornton’s point totals have been on the decline for the past 3 years, and while he may no longer be worthy of an early to mid-first round pick, he rarely misses a game and is a safe option.
8. Eric Staal, CAR – The oldest Staal brother is a clutch scorer and a serious threat on the power play.
9. Marc Savard, BOS – Snubbed again by Canada for the Olympic team, Savard may have some added incentive to post some big numbers.
10. Nicklas Backstrom, WAS – Backstrom’s assist totals will soar again as he tees them up for the league’s purest scorer.
11. Jason Spezza, OTT – A prime candidate for a bounce back year, Spezza has all the tools to hit 100 points, but will the drive be there?
12. Mike Richards, PHI – In leagues that value shorthanded goals, this two-way stud could go as early as the second round.
13. Jonathan Toews, CHI – The youngest captain in the league will vie for a return to the conference finals. Toews had an impressive 21 goals in 37 games after the All-Star break.
14. Anze Kopitar, LA – After a disappointing campaign last year, Kopitar will centre the top line on a young Kings’ squad that could make the playoffs for the first time since 2002. He could flirt with 80 points.
15. Henrik Sedin, VAN – A true playmaker, let’s hope the new contract doesn’t hurt his production.
16. Derek Roy, BUF – A model of consistency, Roy is always a safe pick and is usually still available in the middle rounds.
17. Mike Ribeiro, DAL – Not spectacular all around, but puts up strong assist and point totals every year.
18. Patrick Marleau, SJ – Mr. Inconsistent put up just 5 goals and 3 assists in his final 20 games last year. Don’t reach for him.
19. Mikko Koivu, MIN – No longer just Saku’s little brother, he and Martin Havlat could team up for some fantastic lamp-lighters.
20. Olli Jokinen, CGY – A bit of a disappointment last year, Jokinen will centre Jarome Iginla from day one this season, which raises his fantasy stock.
21. Ryan Kesler, VAN – A complete player at 24, Kesler will look to improve on a career year. He will get a lot of his points on the power play.
22. Steven Stamkos, TB – Last year’s first overall pick may have the most upside this season of any centre, and could feasibly average a point per game this year after finishing last season on a tear.
23. Johan Franzen, DET – If he can stay healthy, a career year is likely, especially with Marian Hossa gone. For a power forward, he has phenomenal hands and is a force on the power play.
24. Paul Stastny, COL – After being plagued by a broken wrist for most of last season, Stastny is one of only a few offensive weapons the Avs have left in the post-Sakic era.
25. Nathan Horton, FLA – A high risk that could reap high rewards for drafters that like to gamble, but don’t reach too high for this former 3rd overall pick.
26. Brad Richards, DAL – If he can stay healthy, the former playoff MVP could return to 70 point form, though 60 is more likely.
27. David Krejci, BOS – One of the game’s budding stars, Krejci is coming off hip surgery this offseason and could miss the Bruin’s first few games. Beware.
28. Jason Arnott, NAS – Year in and year out, Arnott puts up decent numbers in most fantasy categories.
29. Daniel Briere, PHI – Briere may be largely forgotten on draft day as your competitors run down the list of point leaders from last season. He had an injury-riddled season, suiting up for only 29 games, and could be a mid-round steal.
30. Andy McDonald, STL – This undersized centre showed he could still play at a point per game pace last season, though he only suited up for 46 games. He is less valuable in pools that reward plus/minus.
31. Travis Zajac, NJ – Zajac and Zach Parise developed some outstanding chemistry last season and look to continue the Devils’ goal parade this season.
32. Brooks Laich, WAS – Life is good when you centre either Alexander Ovechkin on the Capitals’ top line, or the nearly as dangerous Alexander Semin on their second line. He finished the season with 11 points in 7 games, and could be primed for a 65 point year.
33. Scott Gomez, MTL – No longer a true first line centre, but that’s where he’ll line up for the Habs.
34. T.J. Oshie, STL – A perfect sleeper pick, the 22 year old Oshie closed out the season with 14 points in 15 games. Beware though – at least a couple of your competitors probably already know about him.
35. Derick Brassard, CBJ – Brassard was quietly making a run at rookie of the year honours last season when he dislocated his shoulder in a fight with James Neal, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season. He might play on the Blue Jackets’ top line this year with Rick Nash, and would make a terrific sleeper pick.
36. Nik Antropov, ATL – Playing with one of the flashiest scorers in the game bodes well for Antropov’s numbers this year, as he comes off a career best 59 point season.
37. Sam Gagner, EDM – This shootout machine started slow last season but finished on fire with 21 points in his final 20 games. He’s loaded with breakout potential.
38. Stephen Weiss, FLA – He became the top centre when Nathan Horton got injured, and never looked back. Weiss is finally starting to display the offensive production you would expect from a 4th overall pick.
39. Mikhail Grabovski, TOR – Flashy, but not spectacular, he’s the best option the Leafs have right now at centre. He had 16 points in his last 13 games in 2008-09.
40. Steve Ott, DAL – Especially valuable in pools with PIMs, this former first rounder was a star after the All-Star break, posting 14 goals and 19 assists for 34 points with 70 PIM in only 35 games.
41. Tim Connolly, BUF – If only this guy could show off his wealth of talent for a full season. Connolly is a point per game guy, but the trouble is he’s missed a total of 148 games the past 3 seasons. He’s an enormous risk.
42. Joe Pavelski, SJ – He improves every year and is a safe bet for 55 points. He’s definitely worthy of a late-round selection.
43. Jordan Staal, PIT – At only 20, he’s the best third line centre in the league. Unfortunately, that doesn’t translate into huge fantasy numbers.
44. Patrik Berglund, STL – The 21 year old slowed down towards the end of the season and was a non-factor in the Blues modest playoff run, but 47 points in your rookie year is nothing to laugh at.
45. Todd White, ATL – Will he have another career year at 34? I’m not sold, and Nik Antropov will probably take over top line duties centering Ilya Kovalchuk. Point total could drop by 20 or more.
46. Saku Koivu, ANA – Koivu could see some favourable matchups centering the second line in Anaheim.
47. Shawn Horcoff, EDM – As many Oilers tend to do, Horcoff left fantasy owners disappointed last season. He will still be their top line centre to start the season.
48. John Tavares, NYI – This year’s first overall selection will step right into first line duty with the Islanders, and though he may end up on the wing, Tavares will pot his share of goals.
49. Chris Drury, NYR – At 33 now, his numbers are starting to decline. He’s a late round option.
50. Patrice Bergeron, BOS – The fragile Bergeron would be a risky selection, but he’s only 24 years old and already has a pair of 70 point seasons under his belt.
51. Peter Mueller, PHO – Fantasy owners expected big things from Mueller in 2008-09, but he came down with a bad case of the sophomore jinx. Take a late round chance on him.
52. Antoine Vermette, CBJ – No longer stuck behind the “big three” in Ottawa, Vermette looks to post career numbers for the Blue Jackets this season.
53. Dave Bolland, CHI – After a solid playoff performance, the ‘Hawks will likely increase Bolland’s ice-time, which could give his totals a boost.
54. Daymond Langkow, CGY – No longer Jarome Iginla’s linemate, Langkow’s fantasy value has plummeted.
55. Phil Kessel, BOS – Kessel developed into a true sniper last season, but had rotator cuff and labrum surgery this offseason which could keep him out for the first month or two of the regular season.
56. Tomas Plekanec, MTL – After a strong 2007-08 campaign, his point total dropped by 30 last year. He’ll centre the Habs’ second line.
57. Rod Brind’Amour, CAR – At 39, is the Canes’ captain still a fantasy-relevant player? Only in pools that don’t value plus/minus – he was -23 last season.
58. Josh Bailey, NYI – A super sleeper, the 19 year old could put up some decent totals in his sophomore season if he plays with Tavares and Kyle Okposo on the power play.
59. Matt Stajan, TOR – He probably won’t match his 55 point total from last season, but the Leafs don’t have many options at centre, giving him the opportunity to chip in on the power play.
60. Matt Duchene, COL – This year’s third overall pick may need a bit more refining in junior, but Duchene has slick hands and a wealth of speed to boot.