In part one of The Lead’s division preview, the non-playoff teams were intriguing. Last season’s Central Division playoff teams seem likely to stick around in 2027.

Even so, plenty of questions remain. What will become of the Stars and Avalanche after a cap-crunched offseason? With the same center depth from last season, how can the Wild get over the hump? Did the Mammoth have a big enough offseason to become true Cup contenders? In part one, we predicted the following standings among the non-playoff teams.

8. Winnipeg Jets
7. Nashville Predators
6. St. Louis Blues
5. Chicago Blackhawks

With that group solidified, let’s rank the group that we expect to be playing playoff hockey come April.

4. Dallas Stars

The Stars have been a force in the Central for most of the last decade. Headlined by a Stanley Cup Final berth in 2020, they seem to be slowly reaching the end of their window. Last season, the team seemed more primed than ever to make a run. Unfortunately for them, the Minnesota Wild bounced them in the first round of the playoffs. 

Their offseason was active for the wrong reasons. They managed to extend Jason Robertson, but only for another season and with UFA expiry status. The Stars also had to trade important depth pieces, Mavrik Bourque and Ilya Lyubushkin, for draft picks and, in turn, cap relief. Joel Kiviranta brings a familiar face back to Dallas and potentially some depth minutes. Along with some smaller deals and extensions, they did not move the needle in their favor.

Regardless, the Stars are class. They’ve been to the big dance before, had several deep runs, and have vets hungry to win. It would be short-sighted to count them out, given the team’s experience and heart. When the puck drops in game 1 of the playoffs, few rosters have the moxie to handle the bright lights. Last season, that wasn’t as clear. The seasons leading up to last, they were as much a force as any other team in the West.

Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, Matt Duchene, Tyler Myers – the list goes on. Plenty of 10+ year vets that can lead a group to the playoffs and beyond. For the Stars, their sights should be set on making it out of the regular season and then working from there. A division win seems unlikely, but if the goal is to take home the Stanley Cup, that shouldn’t matter. All that matters for them is getting to April and letting their experience guide them.

3. Utah Mammoth

Although approaching their third season since their time as the Arizona Coyotes, the NHL’s newest franchise is primed to climb up the division. The Mammoth went from an intriguing group in their inaugural season to a clear force in the West. Their six-game series, though a convincing win for the Vegas Golden Knights, showed guts and swagger. Although the JJ Peterka experiment was a bust, they didn’t let that define their offseason.

The Mammoth have even more youth on the way to the NHL, with Tij Iginla and Caleb Desnoyers making strong cases to debut on opening night. Trading for Sebastian Cossa gives Utah a chance to find their groove in net. Adding Anders Lee is both a great move for their middle six and a veteran presence to guide some of the youth. They also brought in Vincent Trochek via trade, which gives them flexibility as he can play as a centerman or as a winger.

Some questions remain about their defensive depth and goaltending situation. A full year of Dmitri Simashev could prove advantageous. Signing Andrew Peeke could also help, but the defensive pairings leave a lot to be desired. The aforementioned Cossa trade could prove to be a high-reward move, and they still have Karel Vejmelka, who, with his .897 save percentage, is at least a consistent presence in the blue paint.

Regardless, the group that made an interesting playoff berth last year just got better. At worst, the Mammoth sit in the Wild Card spot and will have to face off with another one-seed like they did last year. At best, this group contends for the division title. Most likely, however, they make some calculated improvement from last year and solidify themselves as a fixture in the Central Division.

2. Minnesota Wild

Last season, the Wild were criticized for their center depth, or lack thereof. The group up the middle was simply not good enough, and it’s clear that was their biggest weakness. A playoff loss to the Colorado Avalanche exposed it. The good news is that it may be their only weakness. The team is great, and even elite, in other areas.

The marquee move of the offseason was trading for Blake Coleman and Olli Maatta from the Calgary Flames. Coleman provides a veteran and still quite productive presence along the boards. Maatta slots in as a bottom-four defenseman. Extending Michael McCarron drew criticism, but as a potential fourth-line center, he brings grit and energy between the Foligno brothers on the wings. 

Up the middle, projections have them running Joel Eriksson Ek, Ryan Hartman, Danila Yurov, and McCarron. Eriksson Ek’s return from injury is huge and could be the difference-maker come playoff time. Yurov is a growing stud and could easily take on second-line centerman responsibilities at some point next season. With the defensive group they have and a stud netminder like Jesper Wallstedt, there should be no doubting the Wild’s ability to both make the playoffs and make a deep run.

Ultimately, the Wild seem to have done enough to stay a similar team to last year. Losing Mats Zuccarello will hurt, but ideally Coleman can replicate some of his production. The team is as convincing as ever, but they still don’t seem to have the tools to eclipse one juggernaut in the West.

1. Colorado Avalanche

It’s hard to see a scenario where the Avs don’t repeat as kings of the Central. Last season, no team looked more convincing than the Avalanche. After reaching the Conference Finals, they were swept by the Vegas Golden Knights in a surprising fashion. Their goaltending tandem of Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood was lights out, and the offense was powerful.

The Avs had to do some cap dumping this offseason. Valeri Nichushkin was traded for picks, which will be an unfortunate blow to the top-six. The team also shipped Ross Colton to the Predators, freeing up even more cap space. Colton, as a depth piece, shouldn’t be as difficult to replace, but it’s still a hit to their forward group. However, in a trade that sent Jack Drury and Chase Bradley to the Preds, the Avs obtained Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L’Heureux. Both players project as bottom-six forwards, hopefully replacing what they dropped.

Whether the goaltending stays consistent is yet to be seen. Neither netminder has a stellar history, but both played unbelievable hockey last season. The Avs play such an aggressive, offense-first brand of hockey that all they need their goalies to do is be there when the offense isn’t rolling the way they want it to, and the going gets tough. They did exactly that last season, and the expectation is that they will do it again.

The bottom of the defensive depth chart is of slight concern, but it’s consistent from last season. After a devastating playoff loss, expect the team that stayed mostly on par with last year’s roster to come out swinging next year. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are still playing their best hockey, and the supporting cast fits the Avs’ personality and game like a glove. Expect another year atop the division for the Avalanche, and likely another playoff run.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the Central Division seems similar to last season. Clear playoff teams stand out, and some groups still need time. Regardless, the division is poised to be arguably the league’s most competitive for a second year in a row. With young teams rising and established teams looking to make the most of their window, the Central Division has another year of highly competitive hockey on the docket for 2026-27.

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