If it comes to the odds on which NHL team will win the Central Division from the 2018-19 campaign, it is strictly a two-team race in sportsbooks.
The Nashville Predators are the little +150 favorites to claim the bragging rights at BetOnline, with the Winnipeg Jets directly behind them at +160. Even the St. Louis Blues (+850), Dallas Stars (+850), Minnesota Wild (+850), Colorado Avalanche (+1800) and Chicago Blackhawks (+2000) around things out at the store.
Who has the advantage: Preds or Jets?
While the Predators are a perennial contender in the Central for quite a while, the Jets burst onto the scene in a huge way in 2017-18 by submitting a 52-20-10 album — a substantial jump from their 40-35-7 showing two decades back. The emergence of goaltender Connor Hellebuyck provided Winnipeg with the franchise netminder it’s been missing since the group arrived in Manitoba in 2011. As a result, the Jets signed the Vezina Trophy runner-up into some six-year, $37-million deal in the offseason.
It’s hard to find many weak places on the Jets roster, and a run to the Western Conference finals that resulted in a loss to the Vegas Golden Knights has convinced the biggest non-believers that Winnipeg will be the real thing. While the Predators stay an elite group, longtime goaltender Pekka Rinne is starting to show his era at 35, and I think Winnipeg is the better pick here to win the Central.
Blues spent the summer making motions The Blues, who missed the playoffs by a single stage in 2017-18, were in need of a shakeup, also general manager Doug Armstrong did exactly that in a stunning roster overhaul that has his club poised to vastly improve on its 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 bit of a question mark, but when Jake Allen can return to form for the full season, expect St. Louis to contact the postseason following spring.
What happened to the Blackhawks?
Contemplating that the Blackhawks have won three Stanley Cups since 2010, their fall from grace is difficult to think, yet the +2000 price on them to acquire the Central speaks volumes. Last season was a nightmare for the’Hawks, as an injury to starting goaltender Corey Crawford in December effectively ended any hope Chicago lovers had of the team being competitive. What followed was a 33-39-10 document along with a last-place showing in the Central.
It’s no secret Chicago has had its own fair share of salary cap problems, however general director Stan Bowman has begun to make some moves to free up some badly needed space. Barring a miracle, the Blackhawks won’t be in the dialogue of Central contenders for the foreseeable future.
Click here. OddsShark’s NHL page has all the betting information you will have to place a little extra cash in your pocket on the ice this year.

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