The NHL’s Central Division was arguably the most competitive in the 2025-26 season. In a season with more competitive rosters than usual, the Central led the charge in many ways.
It featured the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Colorado Avalanche, followed by the Dallas Stars, who would have sat atop the Atlantic and Pacific Divisions with their point total. The Minnesota Wild and Utah Mammoth rounded out the playoff teams, and that’s without even mentioning their success. The Wild defeated the Stars in their first playoff series win since 2015 before the Avalanche dropped them.
The Mammoth quietly proved themselves as a future force in the West. They took the Vegas Golden Knights to six games in the first round. Although they fell short against the eventual Stanley Cup runner-ups, the Mammoth proved themselves as a threat now and in the future.
The non-playoff teams were unimpressive compared to other divisions, but still had their share of opportunity.
The St. Louis Blues continued their struggle to return to the playoffs. There is still reason to believe in their future, as some of their youngsters like Dylan Holloway and Jimmy Snuggerud posted very respectable totals. The Nashville Predators are in a similar position, but with less hopeful youth to back it up.
The Winnipeg Jets had a brutal start to their season that even a late-season heater couldn’t have reconciled. Mark Scheifele was lights out and, assuming they can retain Connor Hellebuyck amid a trade request, the team still has star pieces. The Chicago Blackhawks sat in a playoff spot through the first 25 games. But after injuries to the top of their lineup, the team fell out of the race.
With that said, it’s time for each of these teams to turn the page. No matter how last season went, each of them has a new set of games to prove itself. The following ranking predicts how the 5-8 positions in the Central Division standings will shake up in the NHL’s 109th season. In part two, 1-4 will follow.
8. Winnipeg Jets
From a Cup contender to a bottom feeder, last season is hopefully the exception for the Jets.
Hellebuyck wants out, and the team recently suspended him for failing to report to camp. Scheifele had a career season, Kyle Connor is as lethal as ever, and Josh Morrissey stays a reliable defensive anchor. The Jets’ main weakness is depth. Their scoring down the lineup was far from impressive, and their wing play was the root of their issues.
Despite this glaring need, the Jets didn’t make a splash in the offseason.
Mario Ferraro was a solid signing and should slot in quite well as a bottom-four defenseman. Signing Stuart Skinner at least gives them a backup to Eric Comrie amid the Hellebuyck situation. Signing Viggo Björck, the recent eighth overall pick, is aggressive but smart. He’s possibly the most skilled player in the draft and could make an immediate impact if he makes the NHL roster.
Some would argue that the Jets staying conservative is a good look into the front office’s mindset. This roster was lethal at one point, and last year was an outlier. Instead of flipping the chessboard, they stayed calm. Trusting their players could galvanize the group and help them bounce back. At the same time, however, doing little to address their lack of production is concerning.
In a division with high volatility, the Jets did not do enough to address their needs and keep up. With an aging roster and plenty of question marks, expectations in Winnipeg seem murkier than they were before the offseason. They will need players like Adam Lowry, Vladislav Namestnikov, and Neal Pionk to return to form if they want to compete.
Until they prove that, it seems like a bleak year ahead for Winnipeg.
7. Nashville Predators
In the 2024 offseason, the Predators came out looking not only competitive but as a contender. Steven Stamkos, Brady Skjei and Jonathan Marchessault were all brought in to lead a struggling roster to the playoffs. Unfortunately for them, the opposite was true.
The team finished seventh in the division with a 30-44-8 record. The following season, they improved to above .500 but still finished sixth and well out of a playoff spot. Already, it feels like their window is closing, if it ever existed, because those once-big additions are aging on large deals.
The Preds were incredibly active this offseason. Mavrik Bourque and Ilya Lyubushkin came in via trade. Alexander Kerfoot was signed to a two-year deal. Ross Colton, Jack Drury and Nils Hoglander were also brought in and are all projected in the bottom-six.
These moves certainly improve the middle-to-bottom pieces of the lineup, and their depth should take a step up. Looking at the potential line combinations, the forward group shows clear competency.
That said, the high end just isn’t high enough.
Filip Forsberg is still playing very productive hockey, but he isn’t exactly a superstar. His running mate, Ryan O’Reilly, is only getting older and is unlikely to replicate his best season since 2018-19. Roman Josi is a shell of his former self, and the defensive depth beyond him is still weak. Juuse Saros had a down year, but that is more on the roster in front of him than on the quality of the netminder.
Even so, the Predators still have one of the most interesting outlooks. If Saros returns to form and their aging vets turn back the clock, then don’t be shocked if Nashville makes a playoff push. Improving their depth was necessary, but it’s unlikely to push them to the playoff line on its own.
There are simply too many unlikely ‘ifs’ to place the Predators higher than they were last year, and with other teams ascending, it seems they’re more likely to fall in the standings, if anything.
6. St. Louis Blues
The Blues have long tried to recapture the glory of their 2019 Stanley Cup.
After making one of the most memorable runs in recent NHL history, the team has struggled to find its footing as a consistent playoff contender. With a roster of young, growing contributors, the Blues have a bright future ahead on top of a decent core.
The offseason was busy, but it doesn’t feel as though they improved or got worse. Acquiring Mason McTavish via trade, who will likely slot in as their second-line center, was a huge addition. Connor McMichael is a nice addition as well, but they had to give up Jordan Kyrou to accomplish it. Brandon Carlo was also a solid depth signing.
At best, the Blues stayed about the same as last year in terms of quality, just with a younger group.
Trading away a career-long Blue in Kyrou will take some adjusting. After a down year, the writing was on the wall for that trade. Even so, the Blues will miss his production, and more pressure will fall on players like Robert Thomas and Pavel Buchnevich to lead the younger group. A step from Snuggerud would also be huge in replacing Kyrou’s impact.
Naming Thomas the captain was an excellent move by the Blues. It gives the team direction through one of their most electrifying talents in the last 10 years. But with an unstable goaltending situation and mediocre defensive pairings, it seems like they’ll stay fairly consistent with last year.
Youth brings inconsistency, and even though the team didn’t regress, they didn’t make meaningful enough offseason additions to lock up a playoff spot.
5. Chicago Blackhawks
The ghost of dynasty past still looms over the United Center.
Now more than a decade removed from its last Stanley Cup run, a return to the playoffs would energize the fanbase beyond belief. Plenty of reasons suggest the Blackhawks are close. They’ve steadily improved in points year over year during the rebuild, and their roster is headlined by a group of growing players who were once “magic beans.”
The Blackhawks got notably better this offseason. Bowen Byram will get 1D responsibilities, which could be huge for the Blackhawks’ transition game. Patrick Kane and Roman Kantserov slot into a previously weak top-six, while Cole Smith brings veteran playoff presence to the depth of a young, hungry group. Ian Cole can also filter in and out with Kevin Korchinski for that last spot in the defense.
Even still, a lot needs to happen for the Blackhawks to flirt with a Wild Card spot. After what they traded to get him, Byram needs to be legit. If he can build on his success from a lesser role, then he should be just that.
Kantserov needs to be the Kirill Kaprizov type he’s proven to be in the KHL, or at least close. Artyom Levshunov and/or Sam Rinzel need to take a step on the blueline. A step from Frank Nazar or Anton Frondell to start the season in place of Connor Bedard would be huge. It may seem like a lot, but all are very feasible.
Projecting them just outside the playoffs may seem aggressive. The Blackhawks are quietly the most promising boom candidate, based on their growing youth alone. Factor in some of the established vets they’ve brought in, and they have the tools to be competitive in the division.
Plenty of youth, sure, but many already have plenty of NHL experience under their belts. More than ever, these young Hawks are primed to take their biggest stride in the rebuild. With a reliable goaltender in Spencer Knight, too, the foundation is set.
The Central Division Playoff Picture Remains Tough to Crack
There’s a lot to like about the non-playoff teams in the Central. There is a genuine case for any of these teams to make the playoffs, some more convincing than others.
For the Predators and Jets, it’s about returning to form. For the Blackhawks and Blues, they’re looking for their youth to shine and push their teams over the edge. In any case, it seems more likely than not that last year’s Central Division playoff teams will remain in place.
Be on the lookout for part two of this preview on the NHL’s Central Division.
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