2025 NHL Preview: Central Division

Welcome to Caleb's 2025 NHL preview! Today we are focusing on the Central Division, let's dive in! 

 

  1. Chicago Blackhawks

Will there be any movement in this division? Not at the bottom end. Chicago is starting to build something, but it will need a big year from Bedard and Knight in net if they want to do anything. I won’t say Bedard has had the career people thought he would so far, but its two years in, and he has had NO ONE to play with. Yet he still has put up reasonable numbers. Unfortunately, not much has changed. Andre Burakovsky is really the only main addition here, and while he is decent, he won’t be that guy to help Bedard. Until that changes, this team sits near the bottom again. Is there a chance the distant relatives get to play together? Chicago fans can hope. A Bedard-McKenna connection would feed families in Chicago and maybe bring hope to a city longing for a good team again.

 

Chicago to Win Division: +40000

One Player Future: Connor Bedard 30+ goals +140

  1. Nashville Predators

Same goes for the Nashville Predators. All their main pieces are another year older, and another year closer to retirement. Not much was added, not much was taken away. Maybe one year of molding together will be the key for this group? That’s really the only hope this Preds team has. They actually might have gotten worse. But anyway. A bottom 5 team in the league right here, unless Saros has a Vezina season, Josi goes crazy, and Stamkos can turn back the clock. A lot of things would have to go VERY right for Nashville to make any kind of noise, and it just isn’t going too. If you look back over the last 3 years, and you let this team go to that U2 concert, they are in probably a similar spot, but at least with better prospects I think.

 

Nashville to Win Division: +4500

One Player Future: Roman Josi Norris +3500

  1. Utah Mammoth

Are they really going to be that team everyone thinks they can be? Almost every single prediction I read has the Mammoth making the playoffs, but why? The Peterka trade? Adding Nate Schmidt on the back end? I just really don't see it. This team will be 500 and you know what, that is pretty damn good for them. They will not be a playoff team. The Central is far too good of a division and there are too many good teams above them for them to shake up the division quite yet. Prove me wrong. Until I see Karel Vejmelka and Vanacek have the ability to consistently keep this team in games, they won’t be a playoff team. Up front, they have something brewing. Guenther, Cooley and Keller are all studs. Add in Peterka and Schmaltz they have the offence. Do they have the D and goaltending to compete? No, no they don't. 

 

Utah to Win Division: +1400

One Player Future: Logan Cooley 30+ Goals +190

  1. St Louis Blues

At least this team is trying. They made some moves, brought in some guys, one in particular, who I have no respect for, but at least they’re trying. After sneaking into the playoffs last year and almost providing us with one of the craziest upsets in recent memory, they are back again to try and do the same. But this year it won’t happen. I hate to say it cause this team actually has some really really good talent, but this division is so good I don't see them rising higher then 5th. It’s the same as last year. But they still could nab a wild card spot for sure. Trading away Bolduc was certainly a choice, and getting Mailloux was also a choice…. Not a great one I don’t think but hey, I just like good people. He is actually a pretty good hockey player. Binnington holds down the fort again, and maybe will for Canada as well. The best big game goalie going right now. 

 

St Louis to Win Division: +1300

One Player Future: Jimmy Snuggerudd 20+ Goals +115

  1. Minnesota Wild

Kaprizov is going to be around for a long time. That’s a very good thing. 17.6 million per year is NOT a very good thing. But hey, that’s what it took, and they kept their superstar. There are enough pieces here to be a really good team, but injuries always hold them back, along with inconsistent goaltending. The crease is now in a pair of Swedes hands, and it should be in a great place for years to come. Zeev Buium could get some Calder nods, and Brock Faber continues to be a force. Could this be the season they finally do it, and break through and go on a deep run? If they stay healthy, I don’t see why not. I think they battle for a division spot, but end up with a Wild Card and have another tough first round series. But like I said, if healthy, this team is really really good. And young.

 

Minnesota to Win Division: +1000

One Player Future: Kirill Kaprizov 50+ Goals +500

  1. Winnipeg Jets

A step back, but maybe a step forward. Losing Ehlers wont be great, but adding Toews is a move I love. Even if he is back anywhere close to what he was before, it really adds some depth to the center ice position and gives them another great two way forward. No doubt they will be a good team this year, but maybe not the Presidents trophy winners this time around. Until the day they don’t have Connor Hellebuyck they will make the playoffs and be competitive. He is just the best goalie in hockey right now, until big moments then it seems something happens to his head and he slips. But every year is a new opportunity. Bank on Kyle Connor leading the team in goals, and Morrisey being a top 10 NHL d man. There is a lot to like about this team, just not quite as much as last year. 

 

Winnipeg to Win Division: +550

One Player Future: Kyle Connor 40+ goals +120

  1. Colorado Avalanche

Still one of the best teams to watch on any given night, due to the fact you have 2 of the games biggest gamebreakers in Makar and Mackinnon. Now into a full year with Necas and no Rantanen, maybe things can settle and they can really find some chemistry. The goaltending seems to also be more solid with Blackwood and Wedgewood around full time now, they should be able to steal some more wins at the start of the season. I mean we forget, but this team was out of the playoffs for a while to start the season. Now there's no reason why they won’t be back to their true selves. Also, Captain Landeskog is back, and that can only be a good thing. The only thing I can really point to is Necas. Is this another saga where they trade him, or does he re-sign with the Avs and truly form a connection with Mack. We will have to see.

 

Colorado to Win Division: +220

One Player Future: Nathan Mackinnon 120+ points +125

1.  Dallas Stars

Here it is. The best team in the division. The Dallas Stars. Miro Heiskanen is back, healthy, and ready to prove he really is Norris worthy. And lets not forget, a full season of Mikko Rantanen with nothing holding him back. He committed to Dallas, had a decent playoffs, and now gets a full season on Roope Hintz wing, forming a Finnish duo that can translate right to the Olympics. Jason Robertson needs a bounce back season, not that he was terrible, but he can score 50 and didn’t even come close last year. Any sort of return to form and this team will be SO good. They might lead the league in goals. They also have Ottinger behind all this, to go with a good young d core. I love this team. It’s young, fast, and can score in bunches. If they can, again, stay healthy, there's no reason they won't be returning to another Western Conference final, and maybe this time, slay the dragon, and bring a cup to Texas!

 

Dallas to Win Division: +270

One Player Future: Jason Robertson 40+ goals +600