Five Teams Given +450 Odds or Shorter to Win NHL’s Central Division; Avalanche Favored at 3-1

• Colorado Avalanche lead the way as +300 favorites to win the Central Division in NHL futures
• Dallas Stars join Stanley Cup champion St. Louis Blues at +400
• Nashville Predators sit alongside Winnipeg Jets as an attractive +450 bet

Following an impressive late-season charge into playoff contention last season, followed by a stunning first-round playoff upset of the top-seeded Calgary Flames, the Colorado Avalanche open the new campaign perched as +300 favorites to finish atop the Central Division standings in the NHL futures.

Odds to Win NHL Central Division

*Odds taken on 10/02/19

Avalanche Rebound Overshadowed by Blues’ Stanley Cup March

The Colorado Avalanche’s impressive rebound last season has been largely overshadowed by the St. Louis Blues’ widely heralded success story. Buried alongside the Chicago Blackhawks in the Central Division basement in mid-February following a dismal 3-13-5 run, the Avalanche embarked on a 15-7-4 surge to close out the schedule with the second Western Conference wild card.

We started out the season SUPER hot!

But then we went into a slump. A really bad slump. (We can admit it.) We found ourselves fighting for a spot in the playoffs.

Then we went 8-0-2 to secure our Wild Card spot, clinching in Game 81.

#GoAvsGo pic.twitter.com/cKJrnqCChl

— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 25, 2019

Now following a busy summer that involved several key personnel moves, the Avalanche return to action aiming to claim their first divisional crown since 2014. The club features one of the best one-two punches in the NHL in Nathan MacKinnon and Mikko Rantanen, who combined to tally 72 goals and 114 assists last season.

The arrival of rookie sensation Cale Makar enabled the club to ship Tyson Barrie to Toronto in exchange for Nazem Kadri, who brings an additional edge to the club’s talented lineup, while goaltender Philipp Grubauer takes over from departed starter Semyon Varlamov between the pipes.

Inconsistency has been a hallmark in Colorado in recent seasons, with the club enduring lengthy slides in each of the past three years similar to the one that almost dashed their playoff hopes last season.

However, inconsistency has been a hallmark in Colorado in recent seasons, with the club enduring lengthy slides in each of the past three years similar to the one that almost dashed their playoff hopes last season. Grubauer played a key role in the club’s late-sason surge, but must prove capable of improving on the team’s middling 16th goals-against against average of a year ago. The club must also improve on last season’s shaky 12-9-5 divisional record.

Stars, Blues Knotted as Co-Second Favorites

Further down the Central Division odds, the Dallas Stars join the Blues at +400, while the Nashville Predators sit deadlocked with the Winnipeg Jets at +450. Backed by the stellar goaltending of Vezina Trophy finalist Ben Bishop, the Stars eked out last year’s other Western Conference wild card.

Dallas added veteran depth by signing Joe Pavelski and Corey Perry, but with just three shooters potting more than 15 goals last season, it remains to be seen whether the addition of the former San Jose Sharks captain will be enough to improve on a Dallas offense that ranked 29th in the NHL last season with just 210 goals.

Jordan Binnington's story in less than two minutes. https://t.co/hIDZIzONwz #stlblues pic.twitter.com/MXQbu0nvtf

— St. Louis Blues (@StLouisBlues) July 14, 2019

The Blues face the challenge of overcoming a Stanley Cup hangover following a very physical march to their first-ever championship. The club’s core returns largely intact, with Ryan O’Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko leading an offense that averaged four goals per game during their late-season bid for first place.

However, the Blues’ chances of claiming top spot is likely to hinge on the play of goaltender Jordan Binnington. The 26-year-old was spectacular in a midseason NHL debut that coincided with the club’s rise from the ashes. But it remains to be seen how Binnington handles a full season’s workload as an NHL starter after never appearing in more than 48 regular-season games as a pro.

Jets in Decline as Predators Retool

Decimated by offseason departures including Tyler Myers, Jacob Trouba, and possibly Dustin Byfuglien, the Jets are likely to struggle this season, and sit as an attractive -110 bet to finish the campaign with Under 92.5 points on the NHL season point totals.

David Poile all but saying the #Preds want Matt Duchene and that Dante Fabbro helped them move off P.K. Subban. pic.twitter.com/iEWN9NXOkz

— Justin Beasley (@JBeasleyWSMV) June 22, 2019

Conversely, the Predators made some much needed adjustments after a sluggish 2018/2019 campaign. Nashville dealt PK Subban to the New Jersey Devils, freeing up salary cap space to sign free agent center Matt Duchene, who should help lift the club’s 19th ranked offense, while also opening a spot on the club’s impressive blue line corps for promising rookie Dante Fabbro.

With Pekka Rinne returning, the Predators should once again be among the stingiest teams in the NHL after ranking third in the league in team goals against average last season. And if the club can mirror last season’s fast start, posting wins in 13 of their first 16 contests, Nashville is well-positioned to celebrate a third-straight Central Division title.

Pick: Nashville Predators to win the Central Division (+450)