There’s not a more fascinating division than the Central. There’s the old guard still built to win in Chicago, surrounded by teams loaded with talent.
But how many of these teams are truly capable of winning a Stanley Cup this season? Examining what made the Penguins successful last season helps provide the blueprint, with these five characteristics standing out:
1. Franchise center(s)
2. Big-minute franchise defenseman
3. Contributors on entry-level contracts
4. Three skilled scoring lines
5. Mobile puck-moving defense
Here’s how the Central stacks up (in order of last season's finish:
If you missed the earlier entries, here's a look at how the Metro teams stack up, where the Pacific teams stand and how Atlantic teams rate.
Dallas Stars
1. Franchise center(s): Check. Somehow GM Jim Nill went out and got both Tyler Seguin and Jason Spezza in a world where GMs go years trying to get one center.
2. Big-minute franchise defenseman: John Klingberg may one day become this kind of player, but he’s not quite there yet. There were times in the playoffs last spring against the Blues where he was a non-factor for long stretches. He finished the playoffs with four points in 13 games and a minus-5. He’s tracking the right way, but not quite the No. 1 franchise guy yet.
3. Contributors on entry-level contracts: Nill’s strength as an executive when he was brought in was drafting and developing. The Stars are now at the point where they’re going to reap the benefit of those skills. Dallas should get contributions from young players, especially on defense, where a guy like Esa Lindell enters this season with high expectations.
4. Three skilled scoring lines: The Stars' bottom six has players who are quietly really good. The playoffs were a bit of a coming-out party for Radek Faksa, who is a fantastic two-way center. Cody Eakin filled in admirably for Tyler Seguin last season, and is a strong third-line player. The addition of Jiri Hudler builds out the depth even more.
5. Mobile puck-moving defense: This is a bit of a question mark this season. The hope from management is that the young defensemen in the organization seize the opportunity created by the departure of Kris Russell, Jason Demers and Alex Goligoski. Dan Hamhuis was a great signing as insurance, but this defense is going to need time to mesh and develop.
Total: Three out of five. The Stars have a rock solid three here, with the potential to grow into a five if Klingberg takes another step and the young defensemen are as good as the Stars hope.
St. Louis Blues
1. Franchise center(s): Paul Stastny played as well as he’s ever played since joining St. Louis during the 2016 postseason, especially in the series against the Blackhawks. But the Blues still don’t have the prototypical No. 1 center, and will miss having the option of putting David Backes in the middle to match up against some of the bigger centers in the West. Alexander Steen saw time at center last season, and it’ll be interesting to see how much of a look he’ll get there this season in St. Louis.
2. Big-minute franchise defenseman: Check. New captain Alex Pietrangelo gives the Blues the world-class defenseman needed to win in today’s NHL.
3. Contributors on entry-level contracts: The Blues don’t advance to the Western Conference finals without rookies Colton Parayko and Robby Fabbri. They should only get better while remaining a great value on the accounting books.
4. Three skilled scoring lines: The beauty of the Blues is in their depth at both forward and defense. They win because they keep coming, and having guys like Steen, Patrik Berglund (who was quite good at times in the postseason) and Fabbri as options on line three is a nice edge for St. Louis.
5. Mobile puck-moving defense: Check. Especially if the Blues keep Kevin Shattenkirk around. Pietrangelo can do it all. Jay Bouwmeester is a fantastic skater. At 6-foot-6, Parayko covers a lot of ground. This is a nice, deep defense that keeps the puck moving in the right direction.
Total: Four out of five. the Blues are a great case study as to whether or not depth across the board can counteract the lack of a true No. 1 center in the pursuit of a Stanley Cup. They haven’t been able to pull it off yet.
Chicago Blackhawks
1. Franchise center(s): Yup. Jonathan Toews is one of the first guys mentioned most by GMs when talking about franchise centers.
2. Big-minute franchise defenseman: Check. As long as Duncan Keith can skate like the wind and play half a game, the Blackhawks have a shot.
3. Contributors on entry-level contracts: The Blackhawks have one more season of Artemi Panarin on the cheap. They need to take advantage before they have to trade another high-priced player to keep him around. On defense, the signing of Michal Kempny to an entry-level deal could have a nice payoff.
4. Three skilled scoring lines: This is where it would have been really nice for the Blackhawks to land Jimmy Vesey, because right now their forward lines are a little top-heavy. It’s just the reality that comes when the roster is built around high-priced veterans and then filled in after that. In a perfect world, Marian Hossa is a third-line player, and one of the kids like Nick Schmaltz finds his way into the top six.
If a few young players emerge and Richard Panik plays well, Chicago may be okay. But the days of deploying a high-end third line of Kris Versteeg, Dave Bolland and Andrew Ladd suddenly seem like a long time ago.
5. Mobile puck-moving defense: Brian Campbell seals the deal for the Blackhawks here. Their top four of Keith, Brent Seabrook, Niklas Hjarmalsson and Campbell is as good as it’s been in Chicago in years. This puts less pressure on Trevor van Riemsdyk as he continues his development.
Total: Four out of five. Forward depth is a concern and it’s one of the reasons the Blues beat the Blackhawks last spring. But this is still a team that is very capable of winning it all.
Nashville Predators
1. Franchise center(s): Ryan Johansen has his flaws, but he’s also a bona fide No. 1 center. GM David Poile still doesn’t get enough credit for the guts it took to trade both Shea Weber and Seth Jones within months of each other to reshape his team. Amazing.
2. Big-minute franchise defenseman: How about two of them? P.K. Subban and Roman Josi on the same defense shouldn’t be allowed.
3. Contributors on entry-level contracts: The Predators are no longer getting Filip Forsberg on the cheap, and many of the other younger Predators have graduated to second and third contracts. This is a mature team that is going to need an infusion of young talent to offset Subban’s big contract -- and the big contract coming for Johansen. Nashville should enjoy Johansen at $4 million while it lasts.
4. Three skilled scoring lines: It starts to thin out on line No. 3 for the Predators, but Peter Laviolette still has the ability to construct a line with players like Mike Ribeiro, Colin Wilson and Calle Jarnkrok capable of playing at a high level.
5. Mobile puck-moving defense: Only the best in the league.
Total: Four out of five. The pieces are all there for the Predators to be a Stanley Cup threat, but there are definitely people in hockey who wonder whether or not you can win with Johansen and Subban as two key leaders and contributors. We’ll find out if that feeling is overblown soon enough.
Minnesota Wild
1. Franchise center(s): If you know of any available, please give GM Chuck Fletcher a call.
2. Big-minute franchise defenseman: Check. Just when you wonder if Ryan Suter will start to show his age, he turns in the best offensive season of his career. And now he’s playing in a Bruce Boudreau system.
3. Contributors on entry-level contracts: Minnesota’s young talent has been graduating to second and third contracts, with Matt Dumba the latest there. This team could use an infusion of youth.
4. Three skilled scoring lines: Check. Depth is a strength of the Wild, with Boudreau having plenty of options in a top nine that is essentially interchangeable. Minnesota will have to win games with a relentless attack that comes in waves. The Wild have the horses up front to do it.
5. Mobile puck-moving defense: Check. This is a well-constructed defense with Suter the No. 1, but plenty of other modern defensemen around him. Jared Spurgeon deserves more appreciation for his game than he receives. Jonas Brodin and Dumba are also loaded with skill.
Total: Three out of five. Eric Staal is a potential band aid at center, but it would be interesting to see what this team looked like if Minnesota was ever able to land a true franchise center.
Colorado Avalanche
1. Franchise center(s): Matt Duchene qualifies, and Nathan MacKinnon, who spends a lot of time on the wing, could, too.
2. Big-minute franchise defenseman: Erik Johnson flirts with this status at times, but isn’t quite there. As much as we love Tyson Barrie, he doesn’t qualify either.
3. Contributors on entry-level contracts: Mikko Rantanen is going to be really good for the Avalanche, probably this season. Colorado has Nikita Zadorov coming, too. There are candidates here for sure.
4. Three skilled scoring lines: There’s some nice depth at forward for new coach Jared Bednar to work with. A third line with Rantanen and Carl Soderberg would be effective.
5. Mobile puck-moving defense: The Avalanche have quietly worked to address this issue with low-profile moves like the addition of Eric Gelinas and Patrick Wiercioch. If Zadorov is polished enough to be ready to play consistent NHL minutes, this might be a better defense than people realize. There are still too many question marks, but enough to earn half a point.
Total: 3.5 out of five. This should be a playoff team, and there’s enough skill on this roster that they’ll be a tough out if they get there.
Winnipeg Jets
1. Franchise center(s): Remember when people criticized the Mark Scheifele pick? It’s looking great right now.
2. Big-minute franchise defenseman: Dustin Byfuglien isn’t your prototypical No. 1 defenseman, but he’s an absolute wrecking ball against whom opposing teams have to game plan.
3. Contributors on entry-level contracts: Future star Patrik Laine is more than enough to earn the Jets the check mark here. They have lots of other young talent coming, too.
4. Three skilled scoring lines: The Jets have patiently drafted and developed with the payoff coming right about now. You could do a heck of a lot worse than a third line composed of Kyle Connor, Mathieu Perreault and Nic Petan. If Connor and Petan are both ready, that’s a game-changer for the Jets. Since we’re not sure that’s the case at this point, we’ll go half a point.
5. Mobile puck-moving defense: As it stands right now the Jets qualify, although it thins out by the third pair. The problem is Jacob Trouba remains unsigned and it’s still possible he’s traded. That situation needs to be settled before you can truly project the Jets' chances. Another half.
Total: Four out of five. Looking for a Central division sleeper? The Jets have all the ingredients if they get the goaltending.