The NHL Central Division features one of the most successful teams in the recent history of the NHL in the Colorado Avalanche. But there were plenty of other competitive teams to take part in the competition in this division as well in the 2022-23 season, setting up what should be an interesting upcoming season in this Western Conference division.
Central Division Betting Odds
There are no current odds available for this division. Be sure to check back before the start of the 2023-24 NHL season for updated odds.
Avalanche Win the Central Again
The Colorado Avalanche won one of the most competitive divisions in the NHL in the 2022-23 season, taking the NHL Central Division by just one point. They held off the Dallas Stars by a point, finishing the year with 109 points to just the 108 that Dallas earned over the course of the 82-game season.
Things got very tense down the stretch for the Avs, who had to sweat out a late-season winning streak of six games from the Stars, who nearly caught up to Colorado. Instead, the Avs won the division and that served as the highlight of their season after they were taken down in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the Western Conference.
Outlook For 2023-24
The NHL Central Division is in an interesting place going into next season, as the Dallas Stars could end up overtaking the Avalanche once and for all. Dallas did have a better goal differential than the Avs this past season, but Colorado’s superior road record helped them win the division last year. It is expected that these two teams will be at or near the top of the Central again next season.
There are a few other interesting teams that could be good for a surprise leap to the top of this division. The Minnesota Wild, Winnipeg Jets, and Nashville Predators, all of whom amassed at least 90 points in the 2022-23 season. This division will be incredibly competitive next season, with five teams that could conceivably win it.
