NHL's Central Division remains a
gauntlet through the season and playoffs
[October 03, 2025]
By STEPHEN WHYNO
Mikko Rantanen was a staple for Colorado, helping the Avalanche win
the Stanley Cup as part of his dominant decade in Denver. Then, all
of a sudden last winter he was gone, traded to Carolina and by
spring back in the division with bitter rival Dallas.
“Someone was like, ‘Yeah, we might be like getting Rantanen,’ and
we’re like: ‘What are you talking about? Like, there’s no way,’”
Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger recalled. “Then all of a sudden the
guy you hate is walking into the dressing room and you’re all like,
‘Oh.’ And then he’s just a great guy and a great teammate.”
Rantanen now plays deep in the heart of Texas for the Stars, who
have made three consecutive trips to the Western Conference Final.
His former team has Gabriel Landeskog back healthy after the
long-term captain missed three years with a chronic knee injury. And
Winnipeg hasn't changed much from the group that was the best in the
NHL last season, making the Central an unending gantlet from October
through the playoffs, with at least three Stanley Cup contenders at
the top.
“Unless you win the Cup, it’s a failure,” said Jets goaltender
Connor Hellebuyck, who won the Vezina Trophy as well as the Hart as
MVP. “It doesn’t matter how far you make it. You’re always looking
for what’s going to get you to the next step, and that’s where we
are now.”
On the rise
Colorado's point total has declined from 119 points during the
championship season to 109, 107 and 102, but two-time Norris
Trophy-winning defenseman and 2022 playoff MVP Cale Makar isn't
bothered. Landeskog is back, Nathan MacKinnon and Makar remain two
of the top five players in the league and the Avalanche believe
they've found their goalie in Mackenzie Blackwood.
“We’re going into this year with — as of right now, knock on wood —
fully healthy,” Makar said. “There’s no question marks with
anything. ... Just as a collective whole, I think it’s a completely
different feel with our organization and the excitement that’s
around us.”
Dallas has a new coach, Glen Gulutzan, after firing Peter DeBoer
following a rough end to the most recent trip to the West final when
he abruptly pulled Oettinger and seemed to pin outsized blame on the
franchise netminder. Oettinger says the Stars are full of confidence
about getting over the hump.
Just getting to the playoffs would be momentous for the Utah Mammoth
in their first season with that name and second in Salt Lake City
since relocating from Arizona. The young core of captain Clayton
Keller, fellow forward Logan Cooley and defenseman Mikhail Sergachev
got a boost with an offseason acquisition of two-time 25-goal-scorer
JJ Peterka and the Mammoth look capable of taking a big step
forward.
“Each year, we’ve kind of gotten a bit better and realized how hard
it is to win and how just tough it is make it, year in and year
out,” Keller said. “It’s an exciting time, and I think we’re all
ready for that challenge and I really think JJ is going to help us
out.”
[to top of second column] |
Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard (98) controls the puck as
Minnesota Wild defenseman Zach Bogosian (24) challenges during the
second period of an NHL hockey preseason game, Sunday, Sept. 28,
2025, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
On the decline
Winnipeg has nowhere to go but down in the regular season after
winning the Presidents' Trophy with 116 points on 56 wins. The Jets
should still be one of the NHL's best.
Chicago is expected to struggle in 2023 No. 1 pick Connor Bedard's
third season. The good news: There are some exciting young players
around him, from forward Frank Nazar to defenseman Artyom Levshunov
and the Blackhawks hope Spencer Knight is their solution in net. It
will take more time — especially with the salary cap rising — to
improve.
Nashville general manager Barry Trotz joked at the start of training
camp he was hoping the Predators would prove preseason expectations
wrong a third time in a row. Two years ago that was a good thing
when they made the playoffs and not so much in 2024-25 when they
were a massive bust following a free agent spending spree.
“We started gelling and started playing more team hockey by the end
of the season, so we once last season ended, I think everyone was
just hitching to get a clean slate,” said Brady Skjei, who was one
of those additions on a seven-year, $49 million contract. “We really
got to start off on the right foot this year and have a great start
— kind of get that swagger back that we’ve known a lot of us have
had in the past.”
On the hot seat
Predators coach Andrew Brunette's job could be on the line if his
team does not get off to a good start. Then again, so could Trotz's
if ownership decides he should be back behind the bench instead of
running the front office.
Likewise, if Utah does not show growth, André Tourigny's seat could
be getting warmer. For now, he is safe.
Predicted order of finish
Colorado, Dallas, Winnipeg, St. Louis, Utah, Minnesota, Nashville,
Chicago.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
