LOS ANGELES – The Central Division has two teams on the short list of Stanley Cup favorites. The Chicago Blackhawks for the first time in years is not one of them. Time and a salary cap casualty have crippled the once mighty franchise. The Winnipeg Jets are now on top of the division. The Nashville Predators are hoping they haven’t seen their best chance to win the Cup pass them by.
The Winnipeg Jets (1) are a better team than the Nashville Predators (2). Everyone is enamored with the Predators top defensemen. Roman Josi, PK Subban, Ryan Ellis are elite. Their offense is unparallel, but they wear down under a heavy forecheck. 
Winnipeg’s blueline behemoths Dustin Byfuglien, Jacob Trouba and Tyler Myers punish forecheckers. Big Buff is a game changer. He brings high quality offense as long as he plays under 25 minutes. Over 25 minutes and Buff makes mistakes. Nashville has a true number center Ryan Johansen but only three top scoring forwards Filip Forsberg, Viktor Arvidsson and Kevin Fiala. Winnipeg’s number one center, Mark Scheifele is an MYP candidate. Four Winnipeg wingers Blake Wheeler, Patrik Laine, Nikolaj Ehlers and Kyle Connor are stone cold assassins. If Jack Roslovic can handle the number two center duties opposing goaltenders will get sunburned from the red light. Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck won more games last season than any American goalie ever. He was a Vezina finalist. Nashville’s Pekka Rinne won the Vezina than melted in the Winnipeg playoff sun. The Juuse Saros era in Nashville’s net will happen before the playoffs this year.
The St. Louis Blues (3) made changes in the offseason but are still relying on unreliable goaltending. Jake Allen is more up and down than the elevator in the St. Louis Arch. Chad Johnson is a professional backup. He cannot be relied on in long stretches. Alex Pietrangelo and Colton Parayko are exceptional defensemen. They excel in every situation in the ice. The other blueliners are steady but aging veterans. St. Louis added Ryan O’Reilly and Tyler Bozak to Brayden Schenn giving the Blues strength down the middle at the center position. Jaden Schwartz and Alexander Steen are better than average wingers. If Blues All Star Vlad Tarasenko and youngster Robby Fabbri return to form from injury to the Blues are a playoff team.
The Dallas Stars (4) might have the best top line in the NHL. Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn are a dynamic duo. Alexander Radulov is a perfect 3rd wheel. Scoring is thin after the top line. The Stars hope Valeri Nichushkin’s return from Russia and Jason Spezza’s return from former coach Ken Hitchcock’s dog house will give the Stars some secondary scoring. John Klingberg matured into a true number one defenseman. The Stars need Julius Honka to mature into top four defensemen. Ben Bishop and Anton Khudobin give the Stars a solid goaltending tandem for the first time in years.
The Colorado Avalanche (5) had a remarkable 2017-18. Their season was more remarkable than the Vegas Knights. Vegas started from scratch or sea level. Colorado started from the Grand Canyon. Center Nathan MacKinnon became a superstar last season. Linemates Gabriel Landeskog and Mikko Rantanen make up a lethal top line. Alexander Kerfoot, J T Compher, Tyson Jost and Sven Andrighetto will need to maintain their upward trajectory to keep Colorado in the playoffs. Colorado’s blueline was bolstered over the summer by the signing of rugged veteran Ian Cole. Tyson Barrie and Samuel Girard bring offense from the backend. Avs goaltender Semyon Varlamov has never had a backup and heir apparent as capable as freshly signed Philipp Grubauer.
The Minnesota’s Wild (6) goaltender Devan Dubnyk is healthy. Minnesota’s defensemen Ryan Suter can play less minutes this year because of the emergence of Matt Dumba and Jared Spurgeon. Wild center Eric Staal made his case for the Hall of Fame after his remarkable comeback season. Zach Parise will be looking to do the same this year. Mikael Granlund, Nino Niederreiter, Jason Zucker and Charlie Coyle may never lead the Wild deep in the playoffs, but they should keep Head Coach BBQ Bruce Boudreau from the Central basement.
This year was supposed to be the Chicago Blackhawks (7) last stand. Unfortunately, goaltender Cory Crawford is not healthy. Their best option in net might be an accountant, Scott Foster. Blackhawks Hall of Famer forwards had a tough 2017-18. Patrick Kane had an off year. Jonathan Toews had an awful year. Marian Hossa retired. Youngsters Nick Schmaltz and Alex DeBrincat are being counted on to rebuild the empire. Chicago’s decorated defensemen Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook are past their prime. Brandon Manning’s acquisition will only make them worse on the blueline. Chicago’s big triumph this season will be if legendary coach Joel Quenneville survives it.
You must be logged in to post a comment.