The Central Division is likely to be the most competitive of all four NHL divisions this coming season. With 5 or 6 teams able to make a run at the playoffs (depending on who you ask), the battle between these talented teams will mean that more likely than not, one has to stay home in May.
Can the St. Louis Blues continue to surpass their divisional rivals and assert themselves in a tough playoff picture in the Western Conference?
The best of the west
The Central Division is not just the best division in the Western Conference; it might be the toughest group of teams in the NHL.
Last season, the Central Division had five playoff teams, the maximum that any one division can hold. That trend is likely to repeat this coming season. Dallas and Colorado are still two of the best teams in the league, Winnipeg is likely to take a step back, but even a step back from a Presidents' Trophy win is still likely a playoff team, and Minnesota was the other playoff team from last season, will be looking to
This season, all four of those teams should be in the mix for a playoff spot, and a new challenger approaches. The Utah Mammoth look set to challenge the playoff race themselves, meaning there are six spots for five potential winners.
The Western Conference is going to be a gauntlet to get through, and being in the Central Division only makes the path harder for the Blues. They are sure going to have their mettle tested this upcoming season in St. Louis.
Wild card or divisional spot?
What should the Blues' aim be for the path to the postseason? Are they going to have to scrap for a wild card spot, or can they earn one of the top three divisional spots?
I think the latter is possible, and should be the aim of the team to earn a divisional spot beyond the wild card. This would guarantee them a lower opponent than a division winner, and they have the talent to go out and do it.
Dallas and Colorado are largely the same teams as last season and likely will take the two spots atop the division. But behind them, there is a 4-way jockey for the third spot.
Winnipeg might be the easy answer because they won the Presidents' Trophy just last season, but I think they are due for some regression. They lost key players this offseason like Nikolaj Ehlers, and will likely not get the same Hart-caliber performance from Connor Hellebuyck. I think they have to earn their divisional spot again, and while they may be the favorites, they are certainly not unbeatable.
Minnesota and Utah will bring fierce competition too, as hungry or young teams looking to make a name for themselves and pull themselves out of the middling mire. The Blues are going to have their hands full in terms of keeping pace with their division.
However, the Blues have the talent on the roster to do it, paired with one of the best head coaches in the league. Jim Montgomery is especially successful at bringing out the best in depth roster pieces and in starting out hot, two parts of the formula that are key to developing a sustainable winning machine in St. Louis.
With their mix of talent combined with the Jim Montgomery X-Factor, the Blues have every capability to go out and seize a divisional spot this season, despite playing in the toughest division in the NHL.