from Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe,

The low-and-slow approach has its place, and not just on the grill with a hunk of pork shoulder.

It’s one of the guidelines that centers have to keep in mind in the defensive zone. Today’s game encourages go-go pace. But the men in the middle require alternative thinking if they are to perform their jobs correctly. ...

Centers are best known for being playmakers. Pivots such as Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, John Tavares, Nicklas Backstrom, and Evgeni Malkin excel on the attack by driving play, controlling the puck, and amplifying the skills of their wingers. They earn their paychecks for how they put numbers on the scoreboard and dollars in their teammates’ accounts.

But the hardest part about playing the position takes place at the other end of the rink when they’re chasing pucks instead of handling them. Centers, more than any other players, have to master the art of spacing to shadow opponents, support teammates, and initiate the defense-to-offense transition.

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