How the 2020-21 NHL season would look under the normal alignment

Central Division

The normal Central Division also brings three 2021 divisions together. Unlike the Eastern Conference divisions, though, this division houses no current division leaders, making the Winnipeg Jets the frontrunner. The Dallas Stars would reside in last place due to a lack of games played, but the only teams here with a sub-.500 point percentage are the Nashville Predators and the aforementioned Stars.

1. Winnipeg Jets (16-8-2, 34 points)

2. St. Louis Blues (14-8-5, 33 points)

3. Minnesota Wild (16-8-1, 33 points)

4. Chicago Blackhawks (14-9-5, 33 points)

5. Colorado Avalanche (15-8-2, 32 points)

6. Nashville Predators (11-15-1, 23 points)

7. Dallas Stars (8-9-5, 21 points)

The St. Louis Blues and Minnesota Wild would join Winnipeg in the division’s top three and would be slated for a Playoff date, just as they are currently as members of the West Division. The Chicago Blackhawks and the Colorado Avalanche would be postseason candidates as potential wild card clubs.

My biggest takeaway here is the fact that the Avs need to start finding better results. Now, by no means do I think it is panic time for the team that I picked to win the Stanley Cup this season, but Colorado would be the last team into the Playoffs right now, no matter the format. There is plenty of time for the Avalanche to hit its highest gear, but it is worth pointing out that this group is not comfortably in a postseason spot by any stretch of the imagination. I expect that to change, but at some point reality has to mirror those expectations.