NHL Central Division Teams Opened 2026-27 Season

Franchises in the Central Division have commenced their campaigns amid high-stakes roster moves and contract disputes.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Hockey

NHL Central Division Teams Opened 2026-27 Season

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NHL teams have officially begun the 2026-27 season within the Central Division, setting the stage for an intense race toward Western Conference playoff spots. Clubs are navigating complex roster changes and salary cap decisions to challenge established contenders like Colorado.

Why it matters

Teams outside the top three are aggressively pursuing moves to challenge the dominance of Colorado, Dallas, and Minnesota. These organizations are working to reverse past bottom-tier finishes and playoff exits through veteran acquisitions and core re-signings.

Colorado leads the division after earning 121 points last season, while Chicago continues to struggle after finishing in eighth place for four consecutive seasons. Dallas secured Jason Robertson on a $12 million contract to bolster their playoff competitiveness.

The players

Jason Robertson

He is a prominent forward for the Dallas Stars who recently signed a significant contract.

Connor Hellebuyck

The 33-year-old goalie is currently serving a suspension for failing to report to training camp.

Kevin Cheveldayoff

He is the long-tenured general manager of the Winnipeg Jets currently in his 15th season.

Vincent Trocheck

The veteran player was recently added to the Utah roster to provide additional depth.

Anders Lee

He is a veteran forward who signed with Utah as a free agent during the offseason.

The details

Central Division teams are re-signing core players and adding veteran depth to improve their standing in the Western Conference. Notable moves include Utah adding Vincent Trocheck via trade and signing Anders Lee, while the league faces an ongoing suspension of goalie Connor Hellebuyck for refusing to report to camp.

September 2026 marked the start of the current NHL season.
2015 was the last year Minnesota won a playoff series prior to 2025.
2019 saw the St. Louis Blues win the Stanley Cup.
2019-20 was when the Chicago Blackhawks earned 72 points.
June was when Winnipeg decided against trading Connor Hellebuyck.

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The Big Picture

The current divisional race follows a competitive pattern set by the 2019 St. Louis Blues Stanley Cup win as teams strive to build championship-caliber rosters. This environment forces non-contending teams to aggressively acquire veterans to maintain relevance against top-tier franchises.

Minnesota is currently prioritizing the re-signing of Quinn Hughes to stabilize their defensive core after a six-game playoff series win against Dallas last season. Winnipeg faces ongoing goaltending uncertainty due to the continued suspension of Connor Hellebuyck, who carries an $8.5 million cap hit.

The takeaway

The early season results highlight the widening gap between perennial contenders and rebuilding teams in the Central Division. Fans should watch how cap-strapped franchises balance high-value contracts against the need for veteran depth to avoid bottom-tier finishes.