2025-26 Central Division Rankings

No division has as many questions going into 2025-26 as the Central Division.

Between young teams looking to take a step, bad teams looking to improve, good teams trying to stay atop the division and the Nashville Predators, almost nothing seems certain in this division.

This division will have some positions go down to the wire. Let’s see how they stack up.

1. Colorado Avalanche

You can make a case for at least three teams to top the Central. I went with the Avalanche solely because I think their goaltending situation is miles better than last year. The Avalanche’s high end talent is unmatched in this division, as Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar are absolute game breakers. This team isn’t the juggernaut they were in 2022, but they’re solid everywhere. Brock Nelson got overpaid, but he should continue to help the team’s center depth. They bought low on Victor Olofsson and Brent Burns, both of whom should fill some holes the team had. As mentioned, Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood are a massive upgrade from Alexander Georgiev and Kaapo Kahkonen. Whether they’ll be good enough in the playoffs is to be determined.

2. Dallas Stars

Aside from a team we will get to in this piece, no team is as big a mystery as the Dallas Stars. You would think a team fresh off of three straight Western Conference Final appearances would be knocking on the door. However, vibes are not high after last year. The team’s cap situation is a mess of their own doing, leading to Mason Marchment’s trade to Seattle and Mikael Granlund walking in free agency. There are also questions about Jason Robertson’s future, a player who hasn’t exactly improved the last couple years. Ultimately, this season will be about one man- Jake Oettinger. After the disaster that was their Western Conference Final elimination, the Stars backed their goalie and fired Peter DeBoer. Their new coach is Glen Gulutzan, who doesn’t share DeBoer’s sparkling regular-season record, to put it lightly. There’s a non-0% chance things tailspin in Dallas. Oettinger has had some dazzling moments. If he puts up a Vezina-caliber season like he’s capable of, they could win the division. If he craters, look out.

3. Winnipeg Jets

Yes, they won the President’s Trophy last year. Yes, they won a series last year. However, does anyone else feel like time is running out for the Jets? Connor Hellebuyck is a dynamo in the regular season. Mark Scheifele and Josh Morrissey are studs. Gabe Vilardi and Cole Perfetti have tremendous upside. However, something feels missing. They already lost Nikolaj Ehlers after years of rumors, and now Kyle Connor is in the last year of his deal. You can maybe replace one in the aggregate, but you aren’t replacing both. They have the horses to remain a force in the regular season, but I don’t see enough to get them over the hump come the Spring.

4. St. Louis Blues

There’s a lot to look forward to with the Blues. After a brutal end elimination last year, the team net-added in the offseason, turning Ryan Suter, Nick Leddy and Zack Bolduc into Pius Suter, Nick Bjugstad and Logan Mailloux. This offense should score a lot of goals, so long as guys like Robert Thomas and Dylan Holloway stay healthy all year long. Jimmy Snuggerud looked great in his small sample size last year, and is the team’s most exciting rookie since Vladimir Tarasenko. The work Doug Armstrong has done to retool the defense has been very impressive, turning two second-rounders and Jeremie Biakabutuka into Philip Broberg and Cam Fowler. It’s not a Cup-winning blueline yet, but it’s better. I also loved the move to bring in Jim Montgomery, and giving him a full training camp may do wonders. Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer need to get back to 2023-24 form however. If they’re a .902 duo like last year, they should still make it in. If they’re closer to a .913 like two years ago, the Blues will crack the top-three in the Central.

5. Minnesota Wild

Does anyone know what is happening to Kirill Kaprizov? No reason to bury the lede, number 97 is the story for this team right now. Kaprizov has been rumored to not want a short-term deal yet rejected an 8x$16m offer. As great as he is, and he is incredible, you have to strongly consider trading him. Bill Guerin has said he won’t be outbid, but at what point is it just too much for one player? Even with the cap going up, that’s too much money, especially on a roster going on a decade since their last playoff series win. At least they resigned Marco Rossi.

6. Utah Mammoth

One of these days the Mammoth are going to break out, and it still could be this year. That young talent in Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley are going to take the league by storm in short order. Aside from the J.J. Peterka trade, their offseason moves like Brandon Tanev and Nate Schmidt are quantity over quality additions. There are also rumors that the Mammoth will be interested in Carter Hart when he’s able to be signed come Oct. 15, and these rumors seem legit as Connor Ingram appears on the way out of Utah. They’re still very young, the honeymoon phase in Utah hasn’t worn off just yet.

7. Nashville Predators

Barry Trotz’s intentions were good enough last offseason, but what a disaster this team has become. Jonathan Marchessault was alright, Steven Stamkos was rough and Brady Skjei was ghastly. There’s a chance they regress to the mean in a good way, but Nic Hague at 4x$5.5m this offseason? Not good. This is why I don’t hold last year against Jusse Saros. The Preds’ superstar goalie didn’t look anything like himself with an .895 last year. Trotz was a great coach who got more out of less with his teams. As a GM, he’s gotten less out of more.

8. Chicago Blackhawks

Here’s to hoping Spencer Knight breaks out and Connor Bedard signs sooner rather than later. Maybe Jeff Blashill’s second run as a head coach will be better than his first.