NHL Season Preview: Central Division Betting Odds

Odds Courtesy: Bet365.com

The division begins to open up after the top three, according to the oddsmakers, with the Dallas Stars and the Nashville Predators both coming in at +1400 to win the division, and Dallas at +3500 to win the Stanley Cup, with Nashville coming in at +5000 to win the Cup.

Both teams made the playoffs last season, with Nashville being swept by Colorado in the first round and Dallas losing in seven games to Calgary.

Long Shots

Last season was a real disappointment for the Winnipeg Jets, who missed out on the playoffs. This year, they still have a long road to climb if they want to regain some of the magic from previous years. But with Blake Wheeler already being stripped of his captaincy this off-season,, it appears that Winnipeg has turmoil.

The two teams bringing up the division s rear are the two biggest longshots to win the Stanley Cup this season. The Chicago Blackhawks are +12500 to win the division and +12500 to win the Stanley Cup. The Arizona Coyotes are +20000 to win the division and +30000 to win the Stanley Cup.

Both are staring rebuilds right in the eye. Arizona seems like they have been in rebuild mode for a decade, while the Blackhawks, no matter how long their rebuild takes, will always have the three titles (2010, 2013 and 2015) to make it worthwhile.

Reason Rewind

Last season, the Colorado Avalanche (119 pts) were the class of the NHL But they were only six points ahead of the Minnesota Wild (113 pts) and ten points ahead of the St. Louis Blues (109 pts).

Two other teams from the Central Division, the Dallas Stars (98 pts) and the Nashville Predators (97 pts), also made the playoffs. The Winnipeg Jets (89 pts) and Chicago Blackhawks (68 pts) followed by the Arizona Coyotes (57 pts), all find themselves on the outside looking in.