But this article is not about next year, it is about the here and now. In 2003-04 Forsberg will still be centering the #1 line for Colorado, and will again be flanked by Milan Hejduk and Alex Tanguay who teamed up to produce hockey�s top line combo for the second half of last season. Making things better for Forsberg is the fact that should either Hejduk and/or Tanguay slump, there are a couple of guys named Kariya and Selanne that can jump in at a moment�s notice. Now that�s a backup plan. Take the leagues #1 center and add plenty of depth around him and you have a slam dunk choice nearly regardless of price. This year Forsberg carries a salary of 4780, making him the second highest number on the board. But don�t fret, there will be plenty of cheaper players available to pair Forsberg with. Whatever finagling you choose to do to meet the $60 million salary cap is best done without involving the Avalanche�s top two lines. The rundown on this years best centers is as follows�

Joe Thornton (BOS - 4850) - The one center ahead of Forsberg mainly due to getting a few more goals (36/65/101 to Forsberg�s 29/77/106). Thornton also gets a few more PIM�s along with shots on goal (categories that count in the CDM game). However Joe was only a +12 last year compared to Forsberg�s lofty +52. Still, Thornton is worth the salary and you can�t go wrong platooning Thornton and Forsberg based on who has the most games on any given week.

Sergei Fedorov (ANH � 4590) � There are two schools of thought on Sergei in Purple and Teal. One is that he will have a career year getting all the ice time he can handle, as opposed to the 20 minutes or so he was perennially limited to on the Wings. The other is that of his linemates, which will now be Petr Sykora and either Mike LeClerc or Vinny Prospal � which does not instantly strike fear into the hockey world. This one could go either way, but one plus on Fedorov�s side was scoring 36 goals last year, well above average for a center, that could easily be upped to over the 40 mark in SoCal.

Mike Modano (DAL � 4690) � I always get the heebie-jeebies when it comes to Modano. He�s been prone to concussions over his career, and then the EMS people drop him on the way to the ambulance (after Messier darn near killed him a few years back). Although Modano had his lowest goal total (28) in five years, he did have the most points (85) since 1993-94.

Joe Sakic (COL � 4510) - I doubt you will ever see a streak like his campaign three years ago (54 goals, 118 points, +45), for Sakic has been about a point a game since. Selanne and Kariya should be a nice boom to him though.

Brendan Morrison (VAN � 3700) � My feeling is anyone flanked by Todd Bertuzzi and Markus Naslund should have more than 71 points by accident, which is what Brendan wound up with last year. However Morrison does bring durability to the table, he has played in every game over the past three seasons.

Doug Weight (STL � 3630) � His salary is held down some due to injuries in recent years. Although assists are only 3 points in CDM (as opposed to five for goals) Weight should be considered since he is among the best at dishing the puck.

Jason Allison (LA � 3600) � For the most part forget about last year�s injury plagued campaign, although Jason did manage to score 28 points in 26 games at far less than 100 percent. Was a 95-point man as recently as two years ago. Should be in the prime of his career at age 28.

Vincent LeCavalier (TB � 3510) � Why you can�t give up on someone after a few false starts. The former #1 overall pick finally became an All-Star last year with 78 points while reaching even level in the +/- department after previously being well in the minuses. Also keep in mind that he�s still only 23.

Vaclav Prospal (ANH � 3150) � Parlayed a 79-point season with the Lightning (57 assists) into a free agent contract with Anaheim, where he could move back to a wing position and play alongside Sergei Federov.

Eric Lindros (NYR � 2950) � If you had told me that Eric would play in 81 games last year, I would had expected nearly double the 53 points he wound up with. At this price he will probably be worth your while, especially if he can find some rhythm with Pavel Bure. A trade away from New York (Toronto perhaps???) might not be a bad thing, since it appears to be bad karma to wear a Ranger sweater these days.

Olli Jokinen (FL � 2940) � No joke, there is actually a Panther worth considering. Is among the best goal scorers among centers, with 36 goals among his 65 points last year. But beware of a nasty +/- (-55 the past three years alone) along with the ever-present threat of landing in Coach Keenan�s doghouse.

Saku Koivu (MTL � 2930) � No doubt the feel good story of last year as he played every game for the first time since he was a rookie seven years earlier. Since then his high for games played was 69. Also scored a career high 71 points and I think he can do even better. Plus-minus tends to hover around the zero area, typical for Montreal.

Marc Savard (ATL � 2690) � Soon to become the Brendan Morrison of the South, and will center between phenoms Dany Heatley and Iyla Kovalchuk. Gave an early glimpse at the end of last season with 18 points in his final 18 games.

David Legwand (NSH � 2410) � One time #2 overall draft choice has developed slowly, but is now a top-liner who had 48 points in 64 games last year. At age 23, don�t be surprised if he finally blossoms to full potential on a rising team this year. Does not have the best of linemates though.

Pavel Datsyuk (DET � 2200) � My secret weapon from the end of last year, scoring 36 points in one 28 game stretch. Should get bumped up some in the pecking order with Sergei Fedorov gone, although there will always be a definite ceiling in the balanced Red Wing system.

Jason Spezza (OTT � 1880) � Can truly say he is a must have, and cannot possibly go wrong having him from the start. #2 overall pick in 2001 was brought along very slowly by the Sens last year, but 11 points in the final month indicates he should be here to stay and at least a second-liner.

Petr Cajanek (STL � 1800) � Despite missing two months with a broken leg, it was a very successful maiden NHL campaign for the one-time Czech League MVP, with 38 points in 51 games while pitching in a +16. Hockey News has Petr listed as a third line center behind Weight and DeMitra - if he moves up to one of the top two lines he becomes a tremendous value.

Mario Lemieux (PIT � 3700) � As recently as last Christmas, Mario was still the biggest point producer in the league, netting 68 points in just the first half of the season. But then the Penguins fire sale began and the back began acting up. In the month of March alone, Mario was a �19 in the plus-minus department. There will still be some production, but the end is near and it�s not going to be pretty.

Robert Lang (WSH � 3690) � Historically, Lang�s production is much predicated on playing with Jaromir Jagr. Jags is not long for Washington however, so look for Lang�s production to take a major hit.