If it comes to the odds where NHL team will win the Central Division in the 2018-19 effort, it is only a two-team race at sportsbooks.
The Nashville Predators are the little +150 favorites to claim the bragging rights in BetOnline, together with the Winnipeg Jets right behind them in +160. The St. Louis Blues (+850), Dallas Stars (+850), Minnesota Wild (+850), Colorado Avalanche (+1800) and Chicago Blackhawks (+2000) round things out at the shop.
Who has the advantage: Jets or Preds?
While the Predators have been a perennial contender at the Central for quite some time, the Jets burst onto the scene in a huge way in 2017-18 by posting a 52-20-10 album — a significant leap from their 40-35-7 showing two decades ago. The emergence of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck supplied Winnipeg with the franchise netminder it has been missing since the team arrived in Manitoba in 2011. Because of this, the Jets signed the Vezina Trophy runner-up to some six-year, $37-million deal in the offseason.
It is difficult to find many weak spots on the Jets roster, and a run to the Western Conference finals that resulted in a loss to the Vegas Golden Knights has convinced even the largest non-believers that Winnipeg is the real thing. While the Predators remain an elite group, longtime goaltender Pekka Rinne is starting to show his era at 35, and I think Winnipeg is the greater pick here to win the Central.
Blues spent the summer making moves The Blues, who missed the playoffs with a single stage in 2017-18, have been in need of a shakeup, also general manager Doug Armstrong did precisely that in a dramatic roster overhaul that has his club poised to greatly improve on its own 44-32-6 record.
Ryan O’Reilly, David Perron, Patrick Maroon and Tyler Bozak were brought into jumpstart an offense that boasted Brayden Schenn, Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko. The goaltending stays a small question mark, however if Jake Allen can return to form for the entire season, expect St. Louis to get back to the postseason next spring.
What happened to the Blackhawks?
Considering that the Blackhawks have won three Stanley Cups since 2010, their fall from grace is hard to think, however the +2000 cost on them to acquire the Central speaks volumes. Last year was a nightmare for the’Hawks, as an injury to starting goaltender Corey Crawford at December effectively ended any hope Chicago lovers had of their team becoming competitive. What followed was a 33-39-10 document along with a last-place showing in the Central.
It is no secret Chicago has had its own fair share of salary cap problems, however general manager Stan Bowman has started to make some moves to free up some badly needed space. Barring a miracle, the Blackhawks will not be in the conversation of Central contenders for the near future.
Click here. OddsShark’s NHL page has all of the betting information you’ll need to place some excess money in your pocket to the ice this season.

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