2022-2023 NHL Season Preview: The Central Division

The Winnipeg Jets slot in at number six for me in the Central Division, which I find to be very disappointing.

With Connor Hellebuyck in goal (and hopefully playing at a higher level than last year), this team should have a chance. However, the Jets did nothing to make their roster stronger, despite having opportunities to do so in free agency.

As a result, this team will continue to struggle defensively in front of Hellebuyck, and I don’t see the offense as being strong enough to carry the underwhelming defense anymore.

Winnipeg has no depth, no captain, and no chance at the postseason. The Jets are on the decline and will watch the playoffs from home for a second straight season.

Also on the decline are the Dallas Stars. This team has been more frustrating for me over the years, but now I think that the writing is on the wall.

Dallas did manage to sign Jake Oettinger to a three-year deal and barely got Jason Robertson locked up as well. Unfortunately, there are simply not enough scoring options for this team to find success in the regular season.

The Stars will hope that Mason Marchment, who tallied 18 goals and 29 assists for 47 points with the Florida Panthers last season, can provide some type of a scoring punch after emerging during last year’s offensive outbreak in Sunrise.

Even if he’s able to do that, they’ll still need more from the likes of Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin, as Alexander Radulov is gone, and Joe Pavelski is a year older. Dallas’s core has to prove that it still has some offense left to give.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen this story too many times in Big D, so fifth place feels like a good spot for a team that has its best hockey behind it.