Winning Play: Is Thornton the best third-line center in the Western Conference?

Is Joe Thornton the best third-line center in the Western Conference?

Peter DeBoer might say so: “He’s been, if not our best player, one of our best players the last month.”

Per Evolving-Hockey, Thornton has been the most productive third-line center at 5-on-5 in the West:

Thornton boasts the highest points and primary assists per 60 rates in this group.

(Realizing the third-line center role is fluid on most, if not all teams, these are best guesses from an outsider’s perspective at 3C based on recent lines, overall usage and ideal roles.