If it comes to the odds where NHL team will win the Central Division from the 2018-19 effort, it is strictly a two-team race in sportsbooks.
The Nashville Predators are the slight +150 favorites to claim the bragging rights in BetOnline, with the Winnipeg Jets directly behind them at +160. The St. Louis Blues (+850), Dallas Stars (+850), Minnesota Wild (+850), Colorado Avalanche (+1800) and Chicago Blackhawks (+2000) around things out at the shop.
Who has the advantage: Jets or Preds?
While the Predators are a perennial contender at the Central for quite some time, the Jets burst onto the scene in a huge way in 2017-18 by submitting a 52-20-10 album — a significant leap 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 team arrived in Manitoba in 2011. As a result, the Jets signed up the Vezina Trophy runner-up to a 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 led to a reduction to the Vegas Golden Knights has convinced even the biggest non-believers that Winnipeg will be the actual thing. While the Predators stay an elite group, longtime goaltender Pekka Rinne is beginning to show his age at 35, and I believe 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 point in 2017-18, have been in need of a shakeup, and general manager Doug Armstrong did exactly that in a stunning roster overhaul which has his team poised to vastly improve on its 44-32-6 record.
Ryan O’Reilly, David Perron, Patrick Maroon and Tyler Bozak were brought in to jumpstart a crime that boasted Brayden Schenn, Jaden Schwartz and Vladimir Tarasenko. The goaltending stays a small question mark, but when Jake Allen can return to form for the full season, expect St. Louis to contact the postseason next spring.
What happened to the Blackhawks?
Considering the Blackhawks have won three Stanley Cups since 2010, their fall from grace is hard to think, yet 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 the team being competitive. What followed was a 33-39-10 document along with a last-place showing from the Central.
It’s no secret Chicago has had its fair share of salary cap issues, however general director Stan Bowman has started to make some moves to free up some space that is badly needed. Barring a miracle, the Blackhawks won’t be in the conversation of Central contenders for the near future.
Click here. OddsShark’s NHL page has all the betting information you will need to put a little extra money in your pocket on the ice this year.

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