NHL Central Division Odds, Picks, Predictions 2022-23: Avalanche Heavy Favorites
The Colorado Avalanche won the Stanley Cup last season. They are heavily favored to win the Central Division in 2022-2023. The division is quite competitive. Minnesota Wild finished six points ahead of the Avalanche in 2021-22. Stars ranked 13th, Predators 16th and the Jets 17th. Blackhawks ranked 29th while Coyotes ranked 32nd.
The Avalanche are the favorites to win the Stanley Cup again. They are also heavily favored to take the Central Division title. The Avs have won two division titles in the past two seasons.
The Wild recorded a franchise-best 113 points in 2021-22. Kevin Fiala was traded during the offseason. Minnesota has some young players with potential, including Matt Boldy, Marco Rossi and Calen Addison.
The Blues are the third shortest odds in the Central Division. The team won the Stanley Cup in 2019 and the division title the season after. David Perron and Ville Husso left the team as free agents.
Predators finished with 97 points in 2021-22 and they've played to a .577 points percentage over the past three seasons. Nashville re-signed winger Filip Forsberg and acquired defenseman Ryan McDonagh from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Stars earned 98 points in 2021-22, their highest total since last winning the Central Division in 2015-2016. They added Mason Marchment in free agency, but they lost John Klingberg. The club is still trying to work out a new contract with leading scorer JasonRobertson.
The Winnipeg Jets didn't make any changes after missing the playoffs with 89 points. They replaced Paul Stastny with rookie Cole Perfetti. Connor Hellebuyck is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the NHL.
The last two teams are playing for the future. Chicago Blackhawks and Arizona Coyotes are fine with poor results in 2022-23. ArizonaCoyotes notched 57 points in 2021-22.
The Blackhawks are tanking for the top pick in the 2023 draft. Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are the only players left from the team's top-eight scorers in 2021-22. Chicago won't come close to a playoff spot.
