The NHL Central Division is home to the 2013 Stanley Cup champions, the Chicago Blackhawks. The champs of last spring are looking every bit the part of a team ready to make another run at glory. With 60 points in the bank, Chicago again has the best record in hockey and has a firm, though not infallible, grip on its division.
The NHL enters a new era for this season, with its alignment into four larger divisions (now 7-8 teams apiece as opposed to five). The Central Division might not be the toughest, but it’s home to the best team, as the Chicago Blackhawks are fresh off their 2013 Stanley Cup. Here’s a snapshot look at the Central Division’s seven teams. Each team’s betting odds to win the Western Conference and reach the Finals are in parentheses.
The race of the NHL’s Central Division title is red-hot, with St. Louis, Detroit and Chicago all within one point of each other. All three teams are right near the top of the conference overall, with only Vancouver joining them among the West’s leaders. With the Midwest trio likely to battle this all the way […]