Central Division Futures: Favorites, Contenders & Prediction
Updated September 24, 2026
Updated September 24, 2026
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Colorado enters the season as the clear Central Division favorite, followed by Minnesota and Dallas.
Utah occupies the next tier after reaching the playoffs last season, while there is a significant gap to Winnipeg, St. Louis, Nashville and Chicago.
That makes the Central an interesting futures market. The top three are established Stanley Cup contenders, but Utah continues to improve and several longer-priced teams have enough talent to remain competitive.
Colorado finished 55-16-11 last season, won the Presidents' Trophy and reached the Western Conference Final.
Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar remain the foundation of one of the NHL's strongest rosters. Colorado also allowed the fewest goals in the league last season, with Mackenzie Blackwood and Scott Wedgewood providing stability in goal.
There were offseason changes around the core, but the Avalanche still have elite talent at the positions that matter most.
Colorado enters 2026-27 as the team everyone else in the Central is chasing.
Minnesota took a significant step forward last season, finishing 46-24-12 and advancing beyond the first round for the first time since 2015.
The biggest reason for increased expectations is Quinn Hughes. The former Norris Trophy winner produced 53 points in 48 regular-season games after arriving in Minnesota and gives the Wild another elite player alongside Kirill Kaprizov and Matt Boldy.
Goaltending and depth remain important questions, but Minnesota now has enough star power to legitimately challenge Colorado for the division.
Dallas remains firmly in the Central Division race despite a disappointing first-round playoff exit last season.
Jason Robertson, Mikko Rantanen and Wyatt Johnston give the Stars a high-end offensive core, while Miro Heiskanen and Thomas Harley anchor the defense. Jake Oettinger remains one of the league's more established starting goalies.
Dallas has reached the playoffs consistently and advanced to three consecutive Western Conference Finals from 2023 through 2025.
The core is getting older in places, but the Stars remain deep enough to compete near the top of the division.
Utah reached the playoffs last season after finishing with 92 points and continues to build around one of the NHL's more interesting young cores.
Clayton Keller, Dylan Guenther and Logan Cooley provide the foundation, while Vincent Trocheck and Anders Lee add experience and depth.
Utah still has to prove it can compete consistently with Colorado, Minnesota and Dallas, but the Mammoth are much closer to that group than they were a year ago.
Winnipeg enters the season with considerably more uncertainty than usual.
Connor Hellebuyck requested a trade during the offseason, leaving the Jets without the goaltending stability that has defined the team for years. Stuart Skinner was added as Winnipeg prepares for the possibility of moving forward without its longtime No. 1 goalie.
Kyle Connor and Mark Scheifele still give the Jets established offensive talent, and much of the roster that finished first overall in 2024-25 remains in place.
Winnipeg could outperform its futures price if the team rallies around the uncertainty, but replacing Hellebuyck would be an enormous challenge.
St. Louis has undergone significant changes after moving on from several established veterans.
Jordan Kyrou, Brayden Schenn and Justin Faulk are gone, while Mason McTavish, Connor McMichael and Brandon Carlo were among the major additions.
Jimmy Snuggerud is also one of the more interesting breakout candidates on the roster and could take on a much larger offensive role this season.
The Blues may not have the high-end talent of Colorado or Minnesota, but a younger roster gives them some upside if the new pieces settle quickly.
Minnesota has closed the gap, Dallas remains dangerous and Utah continues to improve.
Colorado still has the strongest overall roster in the division.
MacKinnon and Makar give the Avalanche two legitimate game-breaking stars, while Colorado also finished last season with the NHL's best record and best defensive numbers.
The Central is too deep to expect another easy regular season, but Colorado remains the team I trust most over 84 games.
The Avalanche are my pick to win the Central Division in 2026-27.
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