The 2025-26 NHL season kicks off this afternoon when the Florida Panthers raise their second Stanley Cup Championship banner in front of their fans. With another season upon us, it is time for Last Word On Hockey to make some predictions. Four writers have been given a division to write about and predict, so be sure to check out the Pacific, Atlantic, and Metropolitan, too. Today, we are making predictions for the 2025-26 Central Division.
2025-26 Central Division Predictions
Last Year’s Results
Playoff Teams
The Winnipeg Jets won the Central Division as well as the President’s Trophy last season. Connor Hellebuyck led the way for the Jets, winning the Vezina and Hart Trophy. After a miraculous win in Game 7 in the first round, the Jets were eliminated in the second round.
The Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche finished in the second and third spots, respectively. The two teams met in the first round, where the Stars won a thrilling Game 7 behind a hat trick by former Avalanche forward Mikko Rantanen. The Stars would reach the Western Conference Final, but they fell in five games.
Furthermore, both wild card spots in the Western Conference came from the Central Division. The Minnesota Wild took the first spot but lost in the first round of the playoffs. The St. Louis Blues, exceeding pre-season expectations, returned to the playoffs for the first time since the 2021-22 season. However, the Blues were on the losing side of the Jets’ Game 7 rally.
Non-Playoff Teams
The Utah Hockey Club, now the Mammoth, remained in contention for the majority of the season before tailing off towards the end. The Chicago Blackhawks finished last in the division, as expected for a rebuilding team.
The biggest surprise was the Nashville Predators, who finished under .500 despite an active off-season that led many to label them as Stanley Cup contenders.
Division Champion and Top-Three Teams
Central Division Champion- Dallas Stars
Glen Gulutzan should add a breath of positive fresh air as the new Stars’ head coach. Furthermore, a full season with Rantanen should only add points to the Stars in the standings. The team traded multiple depth pieces to afford Rantanen’s contract. However, the rest of the team has enough depth to keep the team near the top of the standings. It will not be an easy path, but the Stars come out as the division’s top team.
Second and Third Seed- Winnipeg Jets and Colorado Avalanche
We may not think the Jets will repeat as division champions, but that does not mean they won’t be better this season. Two question marks do loom over the team. Can Jonathan Toews be a serviceable forward? Can the team overcome the early injuries? When all is said and done, however, we expect the Jets to record another 100+ points.
For the Avs, they dealt with inconsistencies last season, especially between the pipes. However, a new season is upon them. The team bolstered their defence by signing Brett Burns. Furthermore, a full season with Gabriel Landeskog back on the ice will help the team. Is this the most impressive Avalanche team? On paper, no. However, the team still has Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar. Any team with those two should never be overlooked.
Wild Card Repeat?
Could both wild-card spots come out of the Western Conference again? It appears so. The Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues made additions and significant moves this summer. Vladimir Tarasenko joined the Wild while the Blues acquired Pius Suter.
While the Pacific Division has teams that will contend for the final playoff spots, the Wild and Blues should be considered the front-runners. Who should be picked to take the higher of the two seeds? The Blues do have a few question marks on their roster, mainly surrounding the impact of their young players. The Wild do not have as many question marks so that we will give them a slight edge. Do not sleep on the Blues, however.
Teams Who Will Contend
The Utah Mammoth will be in the hunt this year. The team made improvements in the off-season, trading for JJ Peterka and signing Brandon Tanev, Nate Schmidt, and Vitek Vanecek. Even if the Mammoth cannot reach the playoffs this year, their future is bright. Playoff hockey will come to Utah sooner rather than later.
Could Contend
The Nashville Predators’ disappointing season left many scratching their head. The team underperformed in many ways. With the same roster overall coming back, could these change in Nashville? It is possible. Sure. Is it likely? Hard to say. If the Predators want to be considered contenders, they will need to prove it on the ice.
Still Rebuilding
Hey, Chicago, what do you say? Well, they are saying the future is bright and how fun 2010-2015 was. As of 2025-26, the team is still in the process of rebuilding. Unlike last year, there is no Winter Classic to look forward to. However, watching Connor Bedard play is a fun experience, so at least there is that for the fan base.
Main Photo: Jerome Miron- Imagn Images
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