The Central Division was the toughest in the NHL last season, producing the Presidents’ Trophy winner in the Winnipeg Jets, three teams that put up more than 100 points in the standings (Jets, Dallas Stars, Colorado Avalanche) and both wild-card qualifiers from the West (Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues).

So, winning the division, like the Jets did last season, is viewed as a major accomplishment.

Can the Jets do it again?

Of course, but several of the NHL.com writers have doubts. Five choose the Stars, who finished 10 points behind the Jets in the regular season, but beat Winnipeg in the playoffs, to be the top dog. Three chose the Jets and one picked the Avalanche, who are the most recent winner of the Stanley Cup (2022) from this division.

The Utah Mammoth were in the mix for much

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