2024-25 NHL Divisional Rankings: Central Division

The NHL is formally again, and so are divisional previews right here on NHLRumors.com. After issues bought going abroad, we dropped the Metro and Atlantic Divisional rankings.

With the puck formally dropped on the 2024-25 NHL Season, it’s time to head out West and provide the Central and Pacific Division rankings.

NHL Rumors: The Latest on Jake McCabe and Toronto Maple Leafs

First up is the Central Division, the place one workforce from Music Metropolis improved and have become a Cup Contender, whereas one other workforce from Windy Metropolis additionally enhanced as they tried to reclaim their ‘Glory Days.’

Let’s see what the Central Division has in retailer for this season.

NHL Central Division Rankings

1. Dallas Stars (Final 12 months completed First)

Expectations are the Dallas Stars will end first within the NHL Central Division once more. Whereas they misplaced Joe Pavelski to retirement, this Stars workforce is loaded. Search for and down the lineup with Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston, Roope Hintz, Logan Stankoven, Mason Marchment, Miro Heiskanen, and Jake Oettinger.

NHL Rumors: Dallas Stars, and the Toronto Maple Leafs

Stars GM Jim Nill signed Matt Duchene to a brand new deal as a result of he appreciated what he dropped at the membership. Esa Lindell bought a brand new contract extension on the backend because the Stars purchased out Ryan Suter. Thomas Harley is again, and Matt Dumba was signed as effectively.

The Stars are a gifted workforce that misplaced within the Western Convention Remaining final season. It isn’t the Jamie Benn or Tyler Seguin present anymore. Each gamers are nonetheless influential, however now they are often function gamers. Everybody thinks that is Dallas’s 12 months. The actual query is that if they don’t get to a closing, how for much longer will Pete DeBoer be the pinnacle coach?

2. Nashville Predators (Final 12 months Completed Fourth) 

You must assume the Nashville Predators is not going to be battling for a Wild Card spot this 12 months within the Central Division. Their enhancements this low season make you consider they’re the highest three groups within the NHL Central Division.

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Predators GM Barry Trotz made some huge strikes on Day 1, signing Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, Brady Skjei, and Scott Wedgewood. Trotz needs winners in his group, so he determined to roll with Juuse Saros and commerce away Yaroslav Askarov.

This season, the Nashville Predators are a workforce to look at within the Central Division. To not point out, they nonetheless have Filip Forsberg, Roman Josi, and Ryan O’Reilly. So, this Predators workforce continues to be very harmful and deep. Some might imagine that is too excessive for this membership, however who is healthier within the division?

3.  Colorado Avalanche (Final 12 months completed Third)

The Colorado Avalanche are a very good workforce. You’ll all the time be aggressive with Nathan MacKinnon, Mikko Rantanen, and Cale Makar. Add in Devon Toews and Josh Manson, and the Avalanche protection is stable. That has all the time been their power.

NHL Rumors: Colorado Still Looking To Address Second Line Center

We all know what MacKinnon and Rantanen can do up entrance, however they need assistance. Valeri Nichushkin and Artturi Lehkonen is not going to begin the season, in order that they’ll want extra from Casey Mittlestadt, Ross Colton, Ivan Ivan, and Jonathan Drouin. Let’s see if Mittlestadt will be that second-line second the Avalanche have been in search of.

This workforce has not been the identical since shedding Gabriel Landeskog. There isn’t any phrase as to when or if he will probably be again. Whereas some thought he may come again at first of this season, his knee damage is a tricky one to come back again from. Plus, the Avs haven’t been in a position to exchange him or Nazem Kadri.

Alexandar Georgiev‘s goaltending will probably be a problem. Can he be the man they traded for? His playoffs haven’t been nice. By no means underestimate the Avalanche.

4.  Utah Hockey Membership (Final 12 months completed Seventh) 

Let’s have some enjoyable right here. There’s a whole lot of hype behind the Utah Hockey Membership this season. And why not? New possession, new facility. All the pieces is lastly falling into place for the gamers who had been previously part of the now-defunct Arizona Coyotes.

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You’ll be able to inform the gamers are completely satisfied to be in an NHL facility. There’s an air of confidence surrounding them. Anticipate some good issues from the Utah HC this 12 months. Simply have a look at the low season strikes. They acquired Mikhail Sergachev from Tampa Bay and John Marino from New Jersey.

Utah nonetheless has a very good crop of Arizona gamers, together with Logan Cooley, Clayton Keller, Dylan Guenther, Lawson Crouse, Sean Durzi, Matias Maccelli, Barrett Hayton, and Sean Durzi. Their goaltending is nice with Connor Ingram and Karel Vejmelka.

Anticipate so many good issues from Utah HC this season.

5.  St. Louis Blues (Final 12 months completed Fifth) 

The St. Louis Blues have the potential to be a greater workforce this season than final 12 months. St. Louis made a daring provide sheeting Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway this offseason. GM Doug Armstrong appreciated what he noticed in these two gamers and determined so as to add them to a very good younger workforce.

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Jordan Binnington continues to be a wonderful goalie within the league and has the potential to take the Blues far. Throw in Jordan Kyrou, Robert Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich, Jake Neighbours, Brandon Saad, Brayden Schenn, Colton Parayko, Justin Faulk, and the Blues have a wonderful workforce.

Look, will they compete for the highest spot? No, they won’t, however they’re higher than certainly one of their rivals this season within the division and will problem for a playoff spot.

6.  Winnipeg Jets (Final 12 months completed Second) 

The Winnipeg Jets are a workforce that might make or miss the playoffs this season. Whereas they nonetheless have Kyle Connor, Mark Scheifele, Connor Hellebuyck, and Josh Morrissey, what else is there to love concerning the Winnipeg Jets?

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They’re nonetheless a very good workforce. Scott Arneil is the brand new head coach, however they misplaced many items this offseason and didn’t exchange them. Winnipeg expects huge issues from Cole Perfetti this season and for him to take the following step.

And what about Nikolaj Ehlers? There’s nonetheless a whole lot of commerce chatter surrounding his title. Will he have an enormous season and be used as commerce bait if the Jets are out of it across the commerce deadline? Once more, they’ve expertise, however some groups are higher than they’re.

7.  Minnesota Wild (Final 12 months completed Sith) 

The Minnesota Wild are an fascinating workforce. They’re nonetheless coping with the consequences of the Ryan Suter and Zach Parise buyouts. GM Bill Guerin made a daring choice with many penalties, and a kind of penalties was the workforce may not be nearly as good after he purchased these gamers out.

NHL Rumors: Minnesota Wild and Kirill Kaprizov

They’ve Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek, Matt Boldy, Mats Zuccarello, Yakov Trenin, Brock Faber, and Marco Rossi. To not point out Filip Gustavsson, Marc-Andre Fleury, and Jesper Wallstedt.

Nonetheless, they really feel like they’re caught within the murky center. They don’t seem to be dangerous sufficient for a high choose, however they’re simply adequate to make the playoffs, and which may now occur in a stacked NHL Central Division.

8.  Chicago Blackhawks (Final 12 months completed Eighth) 

One other workforce that improved this season was the Chicago Blackhawks. Now, will they get out of the cellar? In all probability not, however you by no means know. They’ve Connor Bedard and introduced in Tyler Bertuzzi, Pat Maroon, Ilya Mikheyev, Craig Smith, Alec Martinez, T.J. Brodie, and Teuvo Teravainen.

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Should you have a look at the younger gamers on the workforce who go together with Bedard, you will notice Frank Nazar and Phillip Kurashev. Chicago goes to get good actual quickly. They’ve stable management with Nick Foligno.

Once more, it should come right down to goaltending for this workforce. Since Laurent Brossoit is not going to begin the season, they’ll go together with Petr Mrazek and Arvid Soderblom. This workforce will probably be improved, however there are nonetheless methods to return to the playoffs.