Slightly similar to the Metropolitan Division, the Central Division is hard to predict because most teams are in pretty equal standings, but I’m expecting some surprises where the Central Division can hold a fight, and the wildcard spot can come down to the last games. This is probably the most changed Division in terms of where they finished the regular season last year, and I’m expecting some of these teams to give us a show.
- Dallas Stars
It’s really funny to me how the teams based in hot places are the ones that can’t stop winning. That claim very much includes the Dallas Stars, who have been so consistent in making the playoffs, they’ve only missed them three times since the 2016 season. And Dallas truly does have a lot of stars, no pun intended, having Jamie Benn, Roope Hintz, Mikko Rantanen, Wyatt Johnston, Jason Robertson, Tyler Seguin, Miro Heiskanen, and Jake Oettinger carrying their team. If the Dallas Stars got any more super-talented players, it would simply be unfair to everyone else; they’d be almost unstoppable. I can really see the Stars as being Stanley Cup contenders; they’re among the best.
- Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche are going to be a huge story this year, as their captain, Gabe Landeskog, is finally back after a terrible knee injury, and I think that they’ll be really fun to watch this year because of that. Having Landeskog back on the roster just adds to their list of incredible players, Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar being at the forefront of their talent, and it could definitely help their playoff chances. The only reason I have the Avalanche behind the Stars is that I can see them needing a little bit of adjustment to having their captain back. He played in the playoffs last season, but it was only five games. The Colorado Avalanche are a very talented team, and I can see them being contenders for the cup, but, for whatever reason, my gut is telling me that the Avs aren’t going to win it this season. They may make a fool out of me, but I don’t see them taking the cup home this year.
- Winnipeg Jets
The Winnipeg Jets are really interesting to me because they don’t really have any players that stand out to me, other than their goalie, Connor Hellebuyck. Hellebuyck holds a very strong argument as being the best current goalie in the league, and is certainly the best current American goalie in the league. Other than him, however, the only names on their roster that stand out to me are Kyle Connor and Jonathan Toews, who was the former captain of the Chicago Blackhawks. Interestingly enough; however, the Winnipeg Jets have undoubtedly been a team to beat; they have insane talent and constantly make the playoffs. I don’t think that the Jets will win the cup this year. In my opinion, they need to add some elite goal-scores, but I do think that they will put on a major show throughout the season and playoffs.
- Utah Mammoth (Wildcard)
The Utah Mammoth is a new team, being called the Utah Hockey Club last year and the Arizona Coyotes before that, but they shouldn’t be underestimated. They have some really good players, particularly Clayton Keller, Logan Cooley, and JJ Peterka, who have a big impact on the success of the team. I can see them lacking on the goalie front; neither Vejmelka nor Vanacek are amazing, but as long as they aren’t horrible, their forwards and defenders may be able to cancel that out. I really don’t think that the Mammoth will last in the playoffs. They’re good, but they’re not quite that good, especially with their goalie lineup being pretty weak.
- Minnesota Wild
I feel like the Minnesota Wild is a team that is either pretty good or pretty average; it changes from season to season. I’ve said this same thing with pretty much every team, other than the Florida Panthers, but the Wild have really minimal depth in talent. They have some great players, don’t get me wrong, with forwards Matt Boldy, Joel Eriksson Ek, and their most elite player, Kirill Kaprizov. I also really like the addition of defender Zeev Buium, from the University of Denver, I think that he can do a good job helping in developing this team. I would say that Minnesota needs a few more years and a few more talented players, then they can start fighting for playoff spots, but they’re not there yet.
- Nashville Predators
A few years ago, the Nashville Predators were on such a long winning streak that they were being called unbeatable, then last year they finished second-to-last in the Central Division. It’s something that confuses me a lot. They have a ton of crazy talented players, notably Filip Forsberg, Jonathan Marchessault, Steven Stamkos, and Roman Josi. That is way too many elite players to finish at the bottom, so I’m almost at a complete loss on what is going on with the Nashville Predators. I’d like to think that the Preds can pick it up this season, but, after their disappointing showing last season, I have no clue what to expect from the Nashville Predators.
- St. Louis Blues
I’d argue that the St. Louis Blues have no really elite players. Jordan Binnington in the net is pretty good, but I’d even argue that he’s not great. So it doesn’t make a lot of sense for the Blues to be in a great position by the end of the season, but who knows? Sometimes, a team without stars can succeed. I don’t really believe that this will be the case with the Blues; they may finish higher than seventh, but certainly not in playoff contention. If I were the GM of the Blues, I would look into playing with their cap space to work out getting at least one elite player, which could be the start of something good for the Blues.
- Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are the perfect example of why you shouldn’t rely on one single player to reshape your entire organization, as they’re expecting to do with Conor Bedard. Bedard could be great if he had people to play with, but a team is never going to achieve anything with only one player. To sum up my point, the Chicago Blackhawks are the worst team in the entire league; there’s really nothing more to say about them.
