New report hints Avalanche still aren't the team to beat in the Central next season
Photo credit: The Canadian Press
A new report suggests that despite their talent and past success, the Colorado Avalanche may sill not be considered the team to beat in the highly competitive Central Division heading into the next NHL season.
The Avalanche will have their hands full trying to compete for top spot in the Central among the Dallas Stars and Winnipeg Jets.
Avalanche still aren't the team to beat in the Central.
Jake Tye from The Hockey News writes that the Jets are coming off their first-ever Central Division title and will look to defend that crown next season in what remains one of the NHL's toughest divisions.
The Central continues to produce elite Western Conference contenders like the Avalanche and Stars, while legacy franchises such as the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks have also played a major role in shaping its competitive history.
"Winning this division is never easy, especially with such high-caliber teams always in the mix. Repeating as champions will be a significant challenge for the Jets, but it is worth looking at what will be required for them to make another run at the top." -Tye
For Winnipeg to reclaim the division title, recent trends indicate they'll likely need to reach around 112 points. Since 2000, that has typically been the benchmark for finishing first in the Central, with teams falling short of 109 points rarely managing to secure the top spot.
"This target is within reach for the Jets as they have exceeded 109 points in each of the past two seasons, and their league-best defensive core returns intact with Dylan Samberg re-signing. The bigger question is whether the offense can maintain its pace following the departure of Nikolaj Ehlers." -Tye
To help close that gap, Winnipeg added Gustav Nyquist, a former 70-point scorer. While he may not completely replicate Nikolaj Ehlers' production, his presence should help ease the loss. Generating offence will be a key priority for the Jets as they aim to remain a serious contender in the Central Division race.
One potential advantage for Winnipeg is their schedule. While they sit around the league average in strength of schedule, they hold a slight edge over key Central Division rivals like the Stars and Avalanche, a small but potentially crucial factor in what's expected to be a tightly contested race.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 31 | 19 ANSWERS New report hints Avalanche still aren't the team to beat in the Central next season Where do you the Avalanche will finish in the Central next season? | ||
| 1st | 8 | 42.1 % |
| 2nd | 6 | 31.6 % |
| 3rd | 5 | 26.3 % |
| neither | 0 | 0 % |
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