Written by Scott on Saturday, October 4th, 2025
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If you’re reading this preview, then you know what that means; the NHL season is almost here!
As always each season, we do previews just before the season begins, covering each division.
The regular season starts on Tuesday.
We have the Central Division today, the Metro Division preview will be up tomorrow.
The two remaining divisions will be posted Monday.
And then Tuesday, NHL Betting Tips return!
Let’s look at the Central:
Central Division Betting Odds
All the teams in the Division are listed below and also listed are the odds for them to win the division. The odds will change but this is a list of what we find on average.
- Colorado Avalanche – 2.90
- Dallas Stars – 3.00
- Winnipeg Jets – 6.00
- Minnesota Wild – 8.50
- St. Louis Blues – 14.00
- Utah Mammoth – 15.00
- Nashville Predators – 34.00
- Chicago Blackhawks – 251.00
If you see your team listed above and like the odds for them to win the division you can get them at these sportsbooks depending on where you live.
Ontario: Sports Interaction
Canada: Sports Interaction
USA: Bovada
Everyone Else: Bet365
Central Division Winners Betting Tips
For a few seasons now the Avalanche have been considered a team to beat and this year is no different.
As usual the team is led by MacKinnon. The moved on from Rantanen but still have depth at the forward position. Lehkonen, Landeskog, Nichushkin, Drury, Nelson and Necas form arguably the deepest team.
On defense the have one of the best in the league with Makar who cak take over a game all by himself. Hes joined by Toews, Manson, Gerard and Burns who decided to stay in the league for one more season to try for a Cup.
In goal is the only real weakness the Avs have. They have Blackwood as the starter and Wedgewood as the backup. Blackwood is still fairly young and has shown that he can put up decent numbers.
The Central does have a few teams that could challenge for the division win I just think that the Avs have the best roster so I’m going with them.
Best Odds for the Avalanche to win the Central
Ontario: 3.10 Odds at Bet365 (Americans: We recommend http://www.bovada.lv
Rest of Canada: 3.10 Odds at Bet365 (Americans: We recommend http://www.bovada.lv
USA: +225 Odds at BetOnline.
Everyone Else: 2.90 Odds at Bet365 (Americans: We recommend http://www.bovada.lv
Central Division Betting Analysis
Dallas Stars
Much like last year the Stars are right there with the Avs to challenge for the Central.
The have Hintz, Robertson, Rantanen and Johnston. If they can get another productive season from Duchene than that will only help them and Benn still has some gas in the tank.
On defense is where the Avs have the advantage and why I rank the Stars 2nd in the Central. Heiskanen, Harley and Lindell are a strong top 3 but they lack depth.
In goal they are set with Oettinger as the starter and DeSmith as the backup.
The Stars could win the Central but again its the lack of depth on defense that hase slightly put off.
Best Odds for the Stars to win the Central
Ontario: 3.10 Odds at Sports Interaction
Rest of Canada: 3.10 Odds at Sports Interaction
USA: +175 Odds at BetOnline.
Everyone Else: 3.00 Odds at BetOnline.
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets are yet another team that has a chance at winning the Central.
Offensively they are led by Scheifele, Connor, Vilardi and Pefetti. The have great depth with Namestnikov, Niederreiter, Nyquist, Pearson and a great pick up with Toews who has 3 Stanley Cups as a captain with the Blackhawks.
On defense they have Pionk, Morrissey, DeMelo and Miller. Samberg is going to miss 6-8 weeks. They have some youngsters trying to make a name for themselves, Phillips, Heinola and Salomonsson, and they should push the veterans.
In goal its Hellebuyck and he always has a shot at the Vezina Trophy. He is backed up by Comrie.
Best Odds for the Jets to win the Central
Ontario: 6.50 Odds at Sports Interaction
Rest of Canada: 6.50 Odds at Sports Interaction
USA: +500 Odds at BetOnline.
Everyone Else: 6.00Odds at Bet365 (Americans: We recommend http://www.bovada.lv
Minnesota Wild
The Wild signed Kaprizov to an 8 year deal worth $17 million per season making him the highest paid player in the league. Hes joined by Boldy, Eriksson-Ek, Rossi, Tarasenko, Zuccarello and Hartman for a nice and deep group.
On defense its Faber, Brodin, Spurgeon and Middleton. They have Jiricek and Buium to push for spots on the top 6.
In goal they are moving on from Fleury who has finally retired. As the starter the have Gustavsson and Petersen and Wallstedt will back him up.
Best Odds for the Wild to win the Central
Ontario: 8.75 Odds at Sports Interaction
Rest of Canada: 8.75 Odds at Sports Interaction
USA: +700 Odds at BetOnline.
Everyone Else: 8.50 Odds at Bet365 (Americans: We recommend http://www.bovada.lv
St. Louis Blues
The Blues are a team that always adds pieces but the pieces are game changers.
They have Kyrou, Holloway, Suter, Thomas, Schenn and Buchnevich. Snuggerud ia going to be great one day and Neighbours is ready to take rhe next step in his development.
On defense its a mix of vets with Parayko being joined by Fowler, Broberg and Faulk. Broberg is the only one under the age of 30.
Binnington is a great goalie and plays his best in big games. He is backed up by Hofer who is only 25 and is 6’5 so he covers a bunch of the goal.
Best Odds for the Blues to win the Central
Ontario: 14.00 Odds at Bet365 (Americans: We recommend http://www.bovada.lv
Rest of Canada: 14.00 Odds at Bet365 (Americans: We recommend http://www.bovada.lv
USA: +1400 Odds at BetOnline.
Everyone Else: 14.00 Odds at Bet365 (Americans: We recommend http://www.bovada.lv
Utah Mammoth
The Mammoth, which is so much better than calling them the “Hockey Club”, are a team that has plenty of young talent but when and if the talent develops into stars is still up in the air.
Keller is joined by Cooley, Guenther, Hayton, Schmaltz and Peterka for a decent top 6.
On defense its Sergachev, Marino, Schmidt amd Maatta. In goal its Vejmelka and the backup is Vanecek.
If the youngsters take the next step then this team could challenge for one of the top spots in the next few seasons.
Best Odds for the Mammoth to win the Central
Ontario: 15.00 Odds at Bet365 (Americans: We recommend http://www.bovada.lv
Rest of Canada: 15.00 Odds at Bet365 (Americans: We recommend http://www.bovada.lv
USA: +1400 Odds at BetOnline.
Everyone Else: 15.00 Odds at Bet365 (Americans: We recommend http://www.bovada.lv
Nashville Predators
The Preds are a confusing team. They didnt add anything to help them instead hoping some of their older players can return to form.
Forsberg is their top point getter amd he has Marchessault, Stamkos and O’Reilly to help. Some depth in Bunting, Haula and Evangelista but they are missing a couple players to help take them to the next level.
On defense they are led, as usual, by Josi. But he can only do so much. He has Skjei and Hague but it may be a long year for them defensively.
In goal Saros is the starter and he is backed up by Annunen.
Best Odds for the Predators to win the Central
Ontario: 56.00 Odds at Sports Interaction
Rest of Canada: 56.00 Odds at Sports Interaction
USA: +4000 Odds at BetOnline.
Everyone Else: 34.00 Odds at Bet365 (Americans: We recommend http://www.bovada.lv
Chicago Blackhawks
Speaking of not doing anything. The Hawks sat on their asses and did nothing to help Bedard. He needs help and badly.
Joining him are Teravainen, Bertuzzi, Foligno, Donato and their huge off-season acquisition Burakovsky and his 37 points. They do have plenty of young talent in the organization with Nazar, Moore, Reichel and Frondell but how quickly they can help is unknown.
On defense its bad. Vlasic and Murphy are the players who they will rely on. The have Rinzel, Kaiser and Levushnov who hopefully turn into good players.
In goal its Knight as the starter and Soderblom as the backup.
As a lifelong Hawks fan it pains me to have them ranked last but it is what it is.
Best Odds for the Blackhawks to win the Central
Ontario: 301.00 Odds at Sports Interaction
Rest of Canada: 301.00 Odds at Sports Interaction
USA: +30000 Odds at BetOnline.
Everyone Else: 251.00 Odds at Bet365 (Americans: We recommend http://www.bovada.lv
