2021 NHL Central Division Odds, Predictions, and Point Totals

• The reigning Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning are the favorites to win the  Central Division
• The temporarily-revamped Central has teams from three different 2019-20 Divisions (Atlantic, Metropolitan and Central) 
• Our season preview covers complete season odds and win totals for all eight Central teams

The Tampa Bay Lightning are an easy pick to win the temporarily revamped Central Division. The Lightning have averaged just under 105 points per season for the past seven seasons.  Plus, their primary division rival, the Boston Bruins, has been shifted to the East Division.

When the division shuffling was completed, the Lightning were 10 points or more better last season than every other team in their division this season.

The Lightning are skilled enough, tight enough defensively, and boast goaltending necessary to believe they have a chance to repeat as Stanley Cup champions. But history is against them as the Detroit Red Wings (1997 and 1998) and Pittsburgh Penguins (2016 and 2017) are the only teams to repeat in the last quarter-century.

2021 NHL Central Division Odds

Odds taken Jan. 12 at DraftKings

Tampa Bay Lightning

• 2019-20 Season Record:  43-21-6
•  Goals For Per Game: 3.47 (1st)
• Goals Against Per Game: 2.77 (8th)
• Power Play Percentage: 23.1% (5th)
• Penalty Killing Percentage: 81.4%  (14th)
• Starting Goaltender: Andrei Vasilevskiy (35-14-3, 2.56 GAA, .917 SV%)

The Lightning have salary cap issues, but their more difficult decisions were delayed when Nikita Kucherov suffered a hip injury that will put him on the long-term injury list for most, if not all, of this regular season. The loss of high skilled Kucherov is noteworthy, but this buys Tampa Bay time. They were not forced to trade Tyler Johnson or Alex Killorn or someone else.

Key Offseason Moves

The strength of the Tampa Bay team is the depth of their talent. The Lightning have the NHL’s No. 1 goalie and one of the top three defensemen in Victor Hedman.

The @TBLightning own the NHL’s longest active win streak in season-opening games (6-0-0). A victory on Jan. 13 against Chicago would make Tampa Bay the ninth team in League history to win seven or more consecutive season openers.

More #NHLStats: https://t.co/TotkVbX5WA pic.twitter.com/747GdP3YXA

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 11, 2021

Prediction: 81 Points (1st)

Carolina Hurricanes

• 2019-20 Season Record: 38-25-5
•  Goals For Per Game: 3.19 (11th)
• Goals Against Per Game: 2.84 (11th)
• Power Play Percentage: 22.3% (8th)
• Penalty Killing Percentage: 84% (4th)
• Starting Goaltender: Petr Mrazek (21-16-2,  2.69 GAA, .905 SV%)

The Hurricanes didn’t feel like they needed to do much this off-season because they have young stars that are improving every day. Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Martin Necas are all players who could make a significant leap in their production levels.

Led by Jacobb Slavin, the Hurricanes also have one of the NHL’s most skilled defensive groups.

Key Offseason Moves

The only question about the Hurricanes is whether Mrazek is the right choice in net. The Hurricanes believe in him. They had a chance to acquire another goalie but decided Mrazek could do the job.

The Carolina Hurricanes are still very much interested in Patrik Laine, I'm told. The asking price remains an issue, though, as the Winnipeg Jets seem to want Pesce & Necas in a deal and so far Carolina has balked.

— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) January 6, 2021

Prediction: 74 Points (2nd)

Dallas Stars

• 2019-20 Season Record: 37-24-8
•  Goals For Per Game: 2.58 (26th)
• Goals Against Per Game: 2.52 (2nd)
• Power Play Percentage: 21.1% (13th)
• Penalty Killing Percentage: 79.7% (17th)
• Starting Goaltender: Anton Khudobin (16-8-4, 2.22 GAA, .930 SV%)

The Stars are hoping it wasn’t a bad omen when their season was delayed by COVID-19 issues. Even before that hit, the Stars were dealing with longer-term injuries for top center Tyler Seguin and No. 1 goalie Ben Bishop.

Anton Khudobin will step in for Bishop, just like he did during the playoffs. But he’s never been a No. 1 goalie during his career.

Key Offseason Moves

The Stars were among the NHL’s top defensive teams last season, and they will have to repeat that success to even make the playoffs this season. It certainly looks like they will struggle to score many goals.

NHL statement on the Dallas Stars. https://t.co/AsYqpL4XK3 pic.twitter.com/r2iT8vYWH0

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 8, 2021

Prediction: 70 Points (3rd)

Nashville Predators

• 2019-20 Season Record: 35-26-8
•  Goals For Per Game: 3.07 (16th)
• Goals Against Per Game: 3.10 (20th)
• Power Play Percentage: 17.3% (25th)
• Penalty Killing Percentage: 76.1% (29th)
• Starting Goaltender: Juuse Saros (17-12-4, 2.70 GAA, .914 SV%)

The Predators’ season will come down to whether the team’s top two centers Ryan Johansen and Matt Duchene have bounce-back seasons. Duchene netted 13 goals and Johansen had 14. That’s not good enough. To be more competitive, the Predators need 40+ goals from those two players.

Key Offseason Moves

The Predators, led by Roman Josi, still have one of the NHL’s best defensive groups. GM David Poile strengthened it with offseason acquisitions. Pekka Rinne is not the goaltender he once was, but Saros seems ready to be the No. 1.

Roster updates from Head Coach John Hynes:

– Philip Tomasino is in Nashville and quarantining. He should be back on the ice soon.

– Mikael Granlund hopes to travel to Nashville this week, but will likely miss the opening games of the 2020-21 season.@VUMChealth | #PredsCamp

— Nashville Predators (@PredsNHL) January 10, 2021

Prediction: 60 Points (5th)

Columbus Blue Jackets

• 2019-20 Season Record: 33-22-15
•  Goals For Per Game: 2.57 (28th)
• Goals Against Per Game: 2.61 (3rd)
• Power Play Percentage: 16.4 (27th)
• Penalty Killing Percentage: 81.7% (12th)
• Starting Goaltender: Elvis Merzlikins (13-9-8, 2.35 SV%, .923 GAA)

The Blue Jackets are starting the season under a cloud of concern. Their No. 1 offensive player Pierre-Luc Dubois asked the team to trade him. It doesn’t have to happen immediately because Dubois did sign a two-year bridge contract. But this isn’t good for dressing room morale. It leaves players wondering about when a deal might come and whether Dubois has his mind on team success.

Key Offseason Moves

Scoring was an issue for the Blue Jackets last season, and they didn’t do much to improve their offense.

https://twitter.com/NhlCapView/status/1346843968336756737

Prediction: 68 Points (4th)

Florida Panthers

• 2019-20 Season Record: 35-26-8
•  Goals For Per Game: 3.30 (6th)
• Goals Against Per Game: 3.25 (28th)
• Power Play Percentage: 21.3% (10th)
• Penalty Killing Percentage: 78.5% (20th)
• Starting Goaltender: Sergei Bobrovsky (23-19-6, 3.23 GAA, .900 SV%)

The firing of Dale Tallon as general manager and the hiring of former Columbus assistant GM Bill Zito was probably the most significant off-season move. Zito has the reputation of being a rising young star in the management field.

Key Offseason Moves

The team’s season will clearly hinge on whether Bobrovsky rediscovers his goaltending mojo. If “Bob” plays like he did when he won Vezina trophies in 2013 and 2017, the team might compete for a playoff spot. If he performs poorly like he did last season, they won’t. He needs to step up because he has seven seasons remaining on his contract.

UPDATED: as of now, 4 of the NHL's 31 clubs will have some fans in attendance to start the 2020-21 season:

➖Arizona Coyotes: 25% cap, 3,450 fans
➖Dallas Stars: 30% cap, 5,000 fans
➖Tampa Bay Lightning: 23% cap, 3,900 fans
➖Florida Panthers: 25% cap, 5,000 fans

— Mark J. Burns (@markjburns88) January 8, 2021

Prediction: 57 Points (6th)

Chicago Blackhawks

• 2019-20 Season Record: 32-30-8
• Goals For Per Game: 2.97 (18th)
• Goals Against Per Game: 3.06 (16th)
• Power Play Percentage: 15.2% (28th)
• Penalty Killing Percentage: 82.1% (9th)
• Starting Goaltender: Collin Delia (6-4-3, 3.61 GAA, .908 SV%)

The Blackhawks’ hopes for a strong season were undermined before training camp when No. 1 center Jonathan Toews announced that he is suffering from an undisclosed illness that leaves him without much energy. He is out indefinitely. To make matters worse, No. 2 center Kirby Dach is out for the regular season after having surgery to repair a broken wrist suffered at the World Junior Championships.

Key Offseason Moves

In this offseason, the free agent and trade markets had multiple goalies available. The Blackhawks chose to go with unproven goalies this season. That decision could haunt them.

OFFICIAL: We're excited to announce a two-year contract extension for Head Coach Jeremy Colliton.

Congrats, Coach!https://t.co/VGsWa3gniX

— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) January 12, 2021

Prediction: 47 Points (8th)

 Detroit Red Wings

• 2019-20 Season Record: 17-49-5
•  Goals For Per Game: 2.00 (31st)
• Goals Against Per Game: 3.73 (31st)
• Power Play Percentage: 14.9% (29th)
• Penalty Killing Percentage: 74.2% (31st)
• Starting Goaltender: Thomas Greiss (16-9-4, 2.74 GAA, .913 SV%)

GM Steve Yzerman took the second step in his rebuilding plan this offseason by acquiring multiple veterans on short-term contracts to make the team more competitive while his young team comes of age. The addition of goalie Thomas Greiss, plus defenseman Marc Staal, Christian Djoos, Troy Stecher, and Jon Merrill will tighten up the team’s goals-against problem.

Key Offseason Moves

Yzerman seems to like coach Jeff Blashill, but Blashill is still the favorite to be the first coach fired this season. The Red Wings are still at least a year away from turning the corner in their rebuild.

“I think we're going to rely on both guys. Both guys are going to be important on our hockey team."

Bernier, Greiss look to form one of NHL's most cohesive duos: https://t.co/Z9VjnJOlbD pic.twitter.com/bSZgNT7QTy

— Detroit Red Wings (@DetroitRedWings) January 10, 2021

The Red Wings will scrape away a few wins in this division, but not enough to make a push for the playoffs with their extremely young core.

Prediction: 54 Points (7th)