The Central Division stands out as one of the NHL’s most balanced groups — blending powerhouse contenders, steady playoff regulars, and rebuilding teams led by elite young talent. Colorado Winnipeg and Dallas headline as Cup threats, Minnesota, St. Louis and Utah provide reliable structure sitting in the middle ground while Nashville and Chicago remain focused on developing their young cores, but both could be tougher outs than expected.
Colorado Avalanche
Status: Cup Contender
2024–25 Record: 49-29-4
Head Coach: Jared Bednar
Offseason Recap
The Avalanche maintained their status as one of the league’s most dangerous teams. With Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar in their primes, with Mackenzie Blackwood looking solid in net. Colorado focused on bolstering depth scoring and adding stability on defense. Management brought in Victor Olofsson, Joel Kiviranta, and Josh Manson, key depth pieces to keep their aggressive and high-tempo system intact. They also managed to re-sign Brock Nelson to a three year extension after trading for him last season. The Avs formula remains elite skill, speed, and relentless transition hockey.
Strengths
- Superstar core with MacKinnon, Makar, Necas, Toews and Landeskog
- Elite speed and transition game that overwhelms opponents
- Playoff-tested depth and structure
Concerns
- Injury history among top players
- Goaltending consistency in a long playoff run
- Heavy reliance on top-four defensemen
Breakout Candidate: Ivan Ivan – Expected to take on more minutes and offensive responsibility, Ivan could cement himself as a reliable bottom-six forward with his skating and shot from outside, he has the potential to drive production and become a key two-way contributor.
Storyline to Watch: Can Colorado’s core stay healthy enough for another Cup push?
Winnipeg Jets
Status: Cup Contender
2024–25 Record: 56-22-4
Head Coach: Rick Bowness
Offseason Recap
The Jets remain defined by Connor Hellebuyck’s brilliance. Management added depth to the bottom six and looked to strengthen their special teams units. With Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele producing up front, Winnipeg’s identity continues to be structure, grit, and elite goaltending. They did lose some talent up front with Nikolaj Ehlers and Mason Appleton, they also lost Brandon Tanev on the blue line. These moves made it possible for the Jets to re-sign Gabriel Vilardi to a 6 year deal and pick up Winnipeg Native Jonathan Toews, Gustav Nyquist and Tanner Pearson in free agency to strengthen their lineup.
Strengths
- Best-in-division goaltending with Hellebuyck
- Reliable scoring from Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele
- Defensive commitment and structure that rivals any team in the league
Concerns
- Heavy reliance on Hellebuyck
- Secondary scoring beyond top-six forwards
- Defensive lapses against high-speed teams with good transition game
Breakout Candidate: Haydn Fleury – Could solidify himself as an NHL defenseman if he continues with his steady positioning and puck-moving ability. His ability to log heavier minutes will be a test against tough competition. He will be crucial for Winnipeg’s defensive stability.
Storyline to Watch: Can Winnipeg’s defensive depth and goaltending carry them through another playoff run?
Dallas Stars
Status: Cup Contender
2024–25 Record: 50-26-6
Head Coach: Glen Gulutzan
Offseason Recap
Dallas enters the season with arguably the deepest forward group in the NHL. Wyatt Johnston, and Jason Robertson will look to take the next step to give them a lethal mix of scoring and two-way reliability. Their defensive core, anchored by Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley, continues to grow, and Jake Oettinger is a stabilizing presence in net. The Stars did lose key forwards Mason Marchment, Evgenii Dadonov and Mikael Granlund making them less flexible this season and more reliant on players already in the system to step up and play a bigger role. The main offseason move was moving on from Pete Deboer to Glen Gulutzan behind the bench.
Strengths
- Balanced forward group with some emerging young elite talent
- Strong, mobile defense anchored by Heiskanen and Harley
- Reliable goaltending from Oettinger
Concerns
- Can Oettinger sustain elite form through long stretches?
- Integrating youth into key defensive roles
- Depth scoring in tight playoff games
Breakout Candidate: Lian Bichsel – Already impactful, Bichsel is poised to contribute significantly to the Dallas blue line while handling tough matchups. His physical presence and calmness under pressure could help the Stars dominate in high pressure situations.
Storyline to Watch: Is this the Dallas Stars best chance at a Cup? Is the window closing?
Minnesota Wild
Status: Wild Card Threat
2024–25 Record: 45-30-7
Head Coach: John Hynes
Offseason Recap
The Wild doubled down on their offensive identity, adding secondary scoring around Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Matt Boldy with Vladimir Tarasenko, Nico Sturm, and prospect Danila Yurov to support the attack. Minnesota hopes to grind down opponents with structure and timely offense. Goaltending remains steady with Filip Gustavsson. The additions also bring valuable experience and younger depth, giving head coach John Hynes more flexibility in line combinations and special teams. With a mix of young talent and seasoned veterans, the Wild aim to be a more balanced and resilient team heading into the 2025–26 season.
Strengths
- Elite two-way star in Kaprizov
- Structured, physical defensive system
- Depth across middle-six forwards
Concerns
- Limited high-end scoring beyond the top line
- Power play and penalty kill inconsistency
- Difficulty generating offense in tight playoff series
Breakout Candidate: Danila Yurov – The young forward has the skill set to become a key scoring option alongside Kaprizov and Boldy. If he adapts quickly to the NHL pace, Yurov could provide timely secondary scoring and energize the Wild’s top-six.
Storyline to Watch: Can the Wild find enough scoring depth to push beyond just a fringe playoff role?
St. Louis Blues
Status: Fringe Playoff/Rebuilding
2024–25 Record: 44-30-8
Head Coach: Drew Bannister
Offseason Recap
The Blues remain caught between retooling and competing. They added veteran presence in the bottom six while focusing on the growth of Robert Thomas, Pavel Buchnevich and Jordan Kyrou. Management is patient, but fan expectations demand progress. The offseason seen the Blues add Pius Suter, Nick Bjugstad, Vincent Desharnais, Jimmy Snuggerud to the lineup but they did lose Radek Faksa, Mackenzie MacEachern, Brandon Saad, Zack Bolduc proving that it’s been a busy offseason for the Blue who look to be playoff hopeful for the 2025-26 season.
Strengths
- Young offensive cornerstones in Thomas and Kyrou
- Experience in veterans like Brayden Schenn and Cam Fowler
- Solid special teams structure
Concerns
- Inconsistent defensive system that needs to be revamped
- Goaltending stability behind Binnington, Joel Hofer will fight to start as many as he can.
- Lack of clear long-term direction
Breakout Candidate: Jimmy Snuggerud – Could carve out a permanent top-six role with his scoring touch and physicality. His ability to drive play in the offensive zone could make him a key contributor on both even-strength and special teams if he earns the coaching staff’s trust.
Storyline to Watch: Will the Blues commit to a rebuild or continue to push for the playoffs?
Utah Mammoth
Status: Rebuilding
2024–25 Record: 38-31-13
Head Coach: André Tourigny
Offseason Recap
Relocating to Utah has energized the franchise and now they have the true identity with an all new logo and jersey to enter the season. The team focused on building around Logan Cooley, Dylan Guenther and Clayton Keller, while adding physicality and veteran presence to ease the transition. This year is more about results than progress, a nice change of pace for this organization. They used up some cap space on forwards JJ Peterka, Samuel Walker, Kailer Yamamoto, Jack McBain, Michael Carcone and went out and acquired John Marino and Nate Schmidt to help strengthen the blueline.
Strengths
- Promising young core led by Cooley
- Fresh market energy and fan excitement
- Skilled wingers with offensive upside
Concerns
- Thin defensive depth
- Goaltending inconsistency
- Inexperience in late-season pushes
Breakout Candidate: Logan Cooley – Already showing star potential, Cooley could explode into a top-line center and cornerstone piece of this Utah franchise. His vision and playmaking could elevate the surrounding forwards and accelerate the Mammoth’s chances of making the playoffs.
Storyline to Watch: How quickly can Utah build credibility and consistency this season?
Nashville Predators
Status: Wild Card Threat
2024–25 Record: 30-44-8
Head Coach: Andrew Brunette
Offseason Recap
Nashville has an unclear direction but it seems to be focused on developing their younger forwards while keeping Roman Josi and Filip Forsberg as leaders. Juuse Saros remains the backbone of their playoff hopes. The Preds are competitive but may still be one piece away from true contention after coming off a disappointing season. They went out and added Nicolas Hague, Erik Haula and goaltenders Magnus Chrona and Matthew Murray. This season will be determined based on how much gas is left in the tank for some of these veterans.
Strengths
- Elite goaltending from Saros
- Balanced mix of youth and veteran leadership
- Strong defensive play led by Josi
Concerns
- Lack of elite secondary scoring
- Over-reliance on Saros in net
- Young players adjusting to heavy minutes
Breakout Candidate: Fedor Svechkov – Talented winger with offensive upside who could add a much needed scoring punch for the Predators. His ability to create chances off the rush could make him a dangerous weapon in Nashville’s top-six and powerplay.
Storyline to Watch: Will Nashville’s young players take enough steps to make the playoffs? Or will the Predators become sellers at the deadline?
Chicago Blackhawks
Status: Rebuilding
2024–25 Record: 25-46-11
Head Coach: Luke Richardson
Offseason Recap
Chicago continues its long-term rebuild around Connor Bedard. Management added veteran mentorship while staying patient with young players. Development and progress remain the key words for the Blackhawks. This was a busy offseason for the Blackhawks they lost Joe Veleno, Philipp Kurashev, Patrick Maroon, Seth Jones and Alec Martinez but added some key forward pieces in Andre Burakovsky, Sam Lafferty, Aku Raty and re-signed Ryan Donato.
Strengths
- Franchise centerpiece in 2023 1st overall pick Connor Bedard
- Growing pool of young talent in the system
- Management patience with rebuild timeline
Concerns
- Defensive weaknesses across the lineup
- Lack of reliable depth scoring after the top line
- Goaltending uncertainty
Breakout Candidate: Artyom Levshunov – Young defenseman with offensive upside who could take on a bigger role in Chicago’s rebuild. If he continues to develop his skating and decision making, he could emerge as a key contributor on both the power play/penalty kill and at even strength.
Storyline to Watch: How quickly can Chicago build a capable supporting cast for Bedard?
Updated Projected Atlantic Division Standings (2025–26)
| Rank | Team | Tier |
| 1 | Colorado Avalanche | Cup Contender |
| 2 | Winnipeg Jets | Cup Contender |
| 3 | Dallas Stars | Cup Contender |
| 4 | Minnesota Wild | Wild Card Threat |
| 5 | St. Louis Blues | Wild Card Threat |
| 6 | Utah Hockey Club | Wild Card Threat |
| 7 | Nashville Predators | Rebuilding/Finding Identity |
| 8 | Chicago Blackhawks | Rebuilding |
Key Matchups to Watch
- Colorado vs. Dallas — The heavyweights of the Central over the past 5 years show signs of a potential Western Conference Final preview. New level of spice now after the 1st round of the 2025 playoffs that went to game 7
- Minnesota vs. Winnipeg — Grit and structure clash in games with major playoff implications. Nothing else to do but watch hockey up north
- Utah vs. Chicago — The young guns showcase as both franchises aim to develop their prospects who will be NHL regulars in no time
Final Thoughts
The Central Division is led by an elite top three: Colorado, Winnipeg, and Dallas, all Cup-ready teams with top line scoring backed up by elite goaltending. Just below them, Minnesota, St. Louis, and Utah form the next tier, carrying strong playoff aspirations, while Nashville and Chicago focus on building for the future. While the division may lack depth from top to bottom, the top teams remain among the NHL’s most dangerous, and any slip-up could shake the standings and threaten the playoff hopes of any team.
This division stands out for its mix of proven stars, emerging talent, and teams in transition. Colorado and Dallas have elite top lines and goaltending capable of dominating a playoff series, though injuries and depth could become factors. Winnipeg and Minnesota pair solid structure with goaltending and some secondary scoring, giving them the ability to challenge the top teams if their young players step up. St. Louis sits in the middle of these tiers, because their goaltending is less consistent and it will be a test whether their mix of veterans and prospects can push them into contention. Rebuilding sides Nashville and Chicago could surprise with dynamic young cores, adding unpredictability and excitement to this division. Overall, the Central Division promises high-stakes matchups, breakout players, and storylines that could define the 2025–26 season.
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