Sporting News' hockey experts Brandon Schlager, Jim Cerny and Evan Sporer predicted the final standings for the 2017-18 NHL season. The figures below reflect the average finish for each team based on their combined projections.
Of the nine NHL teams with active playoffs streaks (two or more consecutive seasons), four reside in the Central Division.
Each of the last three postseasons have included Chicago (10 straight), St. Louis (six), Minnesota (five) and Nashville (three). That's impressive continuity within a division known as the toughest in the NHL for the better part of the last decade. And though there are signs if slippage, it doesn't look like this trend will change in 2017-18, with the aforementioned teams all well positioned once again to make noise in the springtime.
The Stars and Jets are openly threatening the order, though. If there's one thing for certain, the Central no longer features a clear-cut favorite, meaning every team (outside the Avalanche) has a shot at the division crown.
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Central Division: 2017-18 predictions
Chicago Blackhawks
The turnstyles in Chicago never cease, but as long as Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews are constant, so too are the Blackhawks' playoff chances. It's not going to be smooth sledding in 2017-18 for the defending division champs, but our projections have the Hawks making the playoffs for a 10th consecutive season.
Cerny: 94 points, sixth in Central
Schlager: 97 points, third in Central
Sporer: 95 points, tied fourth in Central
PREVIEW: Don't write off the Blackhawks yet
Colorado Avalanche
The best remedy for the Avalanche would be a prompt end to the Matt Duchene trade rumors. Barring a shocking development in the next few days, it doesn't seem like that's going to happen without consequence. Each day Duchene remains in an Avs sweater means we may not see him trades teams until the deadline.
Cenry: 51 points, seventh in Central
Schlager: 64 points, seventh in Central
Sporer: 60 points, seventh in Central
PREVIEW: Moving forward, with or without Matt Duchene
Dallas Stars
Winning the offseason doesn't amount to much when the games start to count. That's why, for all the positive headlines that showered Jim Nill this summer, it's prove-it time for a Stars team eager to move on from the utter disappointment of 2016-17. There's a lot to like on paper for this should-be force in the West.
Cerny: 103 points, first in Central
Schlager: 99 points, second in Central
Sporer: 95 points, tied fourth in Central
PREVIEW: Redemption on the line in cutthroat Central
Minnesota Wild
The Wild are looking to make it six straight seasons with a playoff berth, a streak only five other NHL teams can match. At some point, they're going to have to break through to the conference finals and beyond. If this isn't the year, it might be time to shake things up next summer.
Cerny: 97 points, fourth in Central
Schlager: 96 points, fourth in Central
Sporer: 98 points, third in Central
PREVIEW: Curing the Bruce Boudreau playoff blues
Nashville Predators
That Stanley Cup Final run sure was a fun time for hockey. Will the Predators feed off the momentum, or tire out? We're banking on the former, even if the loss of Ryan Ellis for half the season could set Nashville back in a division race where every win will count.
Cerny: 99 points, second in Central
Schlager: 100 points, first in Central
Sporer: 101 points, second in Central
PREVIEW: Getting by without Ryan Ellis
St. Louis Blues
Every team deals with injuries, to varying degrees. But the Blues already have to overcome a few big ones to key players. It's up to stars Vladimir Tarasenko and Alex Pietrangelo and newcomer Brayden Schenn to shoulder the load after an unfortunate preseason ravaged a Stanley Cup contender.
Cerny: 98 points, third in Central
Schlager: 94 points, fifth in Central
Sporer: 104 points, first in Central
PREVIEW: Boom-or-bust Blues set sights on Cup
Winnipeg Jets
Everything is on the line for the Jets, their coach Paul Maurice, and general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff, whose shiny contract extensions mean squat if they can't get the team to the playoffs once and for all. Expect sweeping changes come summertime if that doesn't happen.
Cerny: 95 points, sixth in Central
Schlager: 89 points, sixth in Central
Sporer: 91 points, sixth in Central
PREVIEW: Playoff-hopeful Jets staying the course
Central Division: 2017-18 picks
1. Nashville Predators (100 points)*
2. Dallas Stars (99 points)*
3. St. Louis Blues (98.6 points)*
4. Minnesota Wild (97 points)*
5. Chicago Blackhawks (95.3 points)*
6. Winnipeg Jets (91.6 points)
7. Colorado Avalanche (58.3 points)
*Qualify for playoffs
