Central Division 2026-27 Fantasy Hockey Preview and Team Outlooks
It's time for a look at the Central Division, which always seems to have a handful of title contenders. None have been able to break through to the Stanley Cup Finals since the Avalanche won it in 2022, which is a testament to just how much the top teams in this division pummel each other during the early rounds of the playoffs. There's a pretty clear line between the top half and the bottom half of the division going into 2026-27.
Don't miss our previous Metropolitan Division and Pacific Division deep dives.
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche still look to be the team at the top, thanks to an elite top six and an all-world defenseman. However, the cap crunched this roster a bit in the offseason -- not enough to be a concern, but enough to make things different. New chemistry needs to be developed, and a remodeled bottom six will hopefully provide the critical depth scoring that has been lacking in recent years.
Trades defined the early offseason for the Avalanche. The team dealt away Ross Colton and Isak Posch to Nashville for Magnus Chrona and two picks, then followed up with another deal to send Jack Drury and Chase Bradley to the Predators for Fedor Svechkov and Zachary L'Heureux. Colorado found a landing spot for Valeri Nichushkin in Columbus in a salary dump for three picks. In a minor trade, the Avalanche picked up Fabian Lysell from Boston for Ivan Ivan. Also departing from depth roles were Joel Kiviranta (Dallas) and Nick Blankenburg, who will attend Toronto's camp on a tryout. Unsigned restricted free agent Zakhar Bardakov received a qualifying offer but will play in Russia this season. With some money to throw around, the Avalanche signed Jaden Schwartz, Noah Juulsen, Vinnie Hinostroza, Adam Beckman, Georgi Merkulov, Domenick Fensore and Christian Wolanin to fill out the depth while finding new deals for Brent Burns, Brett Kulak and Lysell before signing Cale Makar to a record-setting contract extension late in the offseason.
While the depth is drastically different from last year, there were few changes to the key parts of the roster. Nathan MacKinnon is the engine of this team as the top-line center, with Artturi Lehkonen, Martin Necas and Gabriel Landeskog all candidates for spots on his wings. Brock Nelson and Nazem Kadri are likely to center the second and third lines with some combination of Schwartz, Parker Kelly, Nicolas Roy and Logan O'Connor battling for the wings. It remains to be seen if Nelson and Kadri will both remain at center -- one could eventually move to the wing to get more production out of the second line. Roy can also play center if necessary. In competition for the fourth line, there's Svechkov, L'Heureux, Lysell, Merkulov, Gavin Brindley and Hinostroza. The Avalanche still don't have a ton of cap space, so it wouldn't be surprising to see just one extra forward on the roster.
Defensively, the duo of Cale Makar and Devon Toews continues to be one of the best pairings in the NHL, though Toews showed some age-related regression last year. Sam Malinski was a positive surprise and has worked his way into a regular role, while the iron man Burns should see steady playing time in the bottom four. Kulak and Josh Manson provide some grit to round out the blue line, while Juulsen plays a similar style to Manson and could slot in as the seventh defenseman. Keaton Middleton and Fensore could push for a job but will likely spend most of the year in the AHL. The defense played a big part in establishing the duo of Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood as a top tandem between the pipes. Wedgewood was the better of the two last year, but Blackwood is supposed to be the 1A option generally. Ilya Nabokov will join AHL Colorado for his first year in North America and may not need much more time to push for an NHL job after playing professionally in his native Russia, but it'll likely be next season where he gets his first real chance to shine.
While the playoff success in recent years is lacking, the Avalanche still provide one of the most formidable challenges to every other defense in the league. Considering their power-play was sixth-worst in the 2025-26 regular season (17.1 percent), there's plenty of room for them to find another level just by the talent on the roster bouncing back to average while up a man -- they scored the most goals and gave up the fewest last year, and they also had an elite penalty kill.
Minnesota Wild
General manager Bill Guerin has turned Minnesota into a destination, especially after building the United States' Olympic-winning roster last year. He still has work to do to solidify the Wild's core, especially with a massive decision looming for one of the game's top blueliners.
The Wild didn't lose too much in the offseason. Marcus Johansson opted to head to Sweden rather than pursuing more time in the NHL. Mats Zuccarello signed with the Kings, while Robby Fabbri, Vladimir Tarasenko and Jeff Petry all remain unsigned. Zach Bogosian and Nick Foligno re-signed in Minnesota, while the team got new deals done for Michael McCarron and Bobby Brink prior to July. Joining the fold this year are Max Shabanov, Justin Kirkland, Calvin Pickard, Mason Shaw and Dylan Gambrell. The big move of the offseason was a trade that sent Jake Middleton and three picks to Calgary for Blake Coleman and Olli Maatta, adding some championship experience to a roster that has yet to get over the hump.
The star of the show in Minnesota is Kirill Kaprizov. He hasn't been able to replicate his 100-point form in 2021-22, but he's an electric goal-scorer who can drive a power play. The Wild often rotate through centers, with Joel Eriksson Ek and Ryan Hartman most often working on the top line. Danila Yurov could be in the mix this year after his 27-point rookie campaign. Matt Boldy provides another 40-goal threat in the top six, allowing the Wild some flexibility in building their lines. Expect Brink to see top-six minutes, as could Coleman and Shabanov, though the second-line wing spots are far from set. Down the lineup, the Wild have plenty of thump in the form of Yakov Trenin, McCarron and the brothers Nick and Marcus Foligno. That toughness is part of the Wild's identity, though as their games get heated, some of their skill forwards take a few too many hits. Nico Sturm, Shaw, Gambrell, Hunter Haight and Tyler Pitlick will contend for depth jobs, but expect only two of them to be on the NHL roster when everyone's healthy.
Quinn Hughes will have everyone's attention, both on and off the ice. He's a year away from free agency, but getting him under contract would be another feather in Guerin's cap. Hughes worked well with Brock Faber, creating a fantasy-friendly pairing in the top four, as both can eat tons of minutes and generate plenty of offense. Jonas Brodin is a significant injury risk, but he can chip in a little extra value in blocked shots from the second pairing. Jared Spurgeon fills a similar role, both in production and in injury risk, though he's 36 and turning 37 in November. Maatta and Bogosian will be the top candidates for the third pairing, while Daemon Hunt, David Spacek, Carson Lambos and Matt Kiersted will be available as depth options for when injuries strike this blue line. The biggest concern going into the season is the ongoing recovery of Filip Gustavsson (hip), though his availability for the start of the campaign is still in question. Jesper Wallstedt did well to take on the top job in the playoffs and could operate more as a No. 1 goalie this year, while Pickard is a veteran who can hold the fort until Gustavsson is healthy again. There's a wide range of results for Minnesota in its own zone, but when the defense is healthy, Wallstedt is a borderline No. 1 fantasy goalie and Gustavsson is a firm No. 2 with upside on a strong team.
The Wild's roster looks to be built for playoff success. The scorers will have no trouble scoring, and the bottom six will be tough to play against. The hard part will be turning potential into results in the spring, but this is a clear playoff team as long as the injuries are limited to just one or two at a time.
Dallas Stars
The Jason Robertson situation was the headline of the offseason, but the Stars kicked the can down the road by signing the winger to a one-year deal. A rising cap environment and some tough contracts coming off the books in 2027 could make that the smart move, but the pressure is on. Dallas is still loaded with talent, but the team is at risk of getting caught in the current of the ever-challenging division they play in.
In terms of free-agency losses, the Stars are unlikely to miss any of Alex Petrovic (Panthers), Michael Bunting (unsigned), Adam Erne (unsigned) or Nathan Bastian (unsigned). However, the trade of Mavrik Bourque to Nashville to create salary space could leave a mark. Ilya Lyubushkin was also dealt away in that trade. The Stars reached new deals with Jamie Benn, Arttu Hyry and Kyle Capobianco as well as Robertson, and added Kyle Burroughs, Joel Kiviranta and Brandon Halverson in depth roles in addition to some AHL-level re-signings. Despite the early playoff exit, this is still largely the same team as last year, with the hope that continuity and better injury luck will improve the results.
It's fair to question who the No. 1 center is on Dallas' roster. That's previously been Roope Hintz's role, but Wyatt Johnston increasingly looks the part while providing more durability than Hintz. The difference comes in wingers, with Robertson and Mikko Rantanen firmly hogging top-line minutes as 40-goal, 100-point threats. Tyler Seguin is expected to be ready for the start of the year after knee surgery, and he should be a second-line option. Matt Duchene and Benn add more veteran talent in the middle six, while Sam Steel is as versatile as any player on the roster. Justin Hryckowian was a success story as an agitator, which makes him a good third-line fit and a deep-league fantasy sleeper this year. Some combination of Radek Faksa, Oskar Back, Colin Blackwell, Kiviranta and Hyry will round out the lineup on the fourth line. The team lacks NHL-ready forward prospects, but AHL veteran Cameron Hughes was good for Texas last year and was rewarded with three NHL appearances, which makes him an option to be called up when the injury bug bites some of the team's more fragile forwards.
The Stars dangled Thomas Harley in trade discussions, but it looks like he'll be back in a big role. Harley and Miro Heiskanen get the power-play minutes, and while Harley is coming off a rough year, he has displayed 50-point potential in the past. Esa Lindell is a shutdown specialist who can be a fantasy target for blocked shots, while Tyler Myers and Lian Bichsel add significant physicality in bottom-four roles. Nils Lundkvist should be a regular in the lineup again, but he had some injury troubles last year, opening the door for Capobianco or Burroughs to be called upon as fill-ins. The Stars' defense has a fairly safe floor for fantasy, especially if Bichsel takes a step up on offense, but the ceiling isn't as high as some other teams. In goal, Jake Oettinger will continue to command a majority of the starts, while Casey DeSmith is a capable backup. Halverson and Remi Poirier are fine AHL options, with Halverson likely having the better chance at a call-up due to experience. Oettinger is a No. 1 in fantasy, while DeSmith is a streaming option.
The on-ice results are one thing, but the Stars need to find a way to make Robertson fit in the long run, or get a massive haul if they trade him away. Either path helps the team's long-term success. With a high-quality top line and enough talent across the board, the Stars should be in the playoffs, but it's tough to see this roster as currently constructed getting past the second round without a little good outside fortune.
Utah Mammoth
Making the playoffs was the first step. There's more to come for the Mammoth, who not only have an excellent young core, but also boast a deep prospect pool. Hockey has been a hit in Utah already -- just imagine what a little playoff success in the Delta Center will look like.
The Mammoth made two major trades at the draft, acquiring the 23rd overall pick from Boston for JJ Peterka before flipping it to get Sebastian Cossa from the Red Wings. Peterka never really fit in Utah, while Cossa addresses the need for better goaltending depth. The Mammoth also flipped Maksymilian Szuber to Montreal for Joshua Roy ahead of free agency. Roy, Kailer Yamamoto, Nick DeSimone and Cossa all got deals prior to free agency, while Kevin Stenlund was retained, Anders Lee was signed and Vincent Trocheck was acquired for Cole Beaudoin, Sean Durzi and a pick on a busy July 1. Barrett Hayton inked an offer sheet with the Devils, but the Mammoth opted to match it, while Zac Jones and Andrew Peeke were added to the defense. Later in the summer, John Marino signed a long-term extension. The losses in free agency were limited to Vitek Vanecek (Islanders), Alex Kerfoot (Predators), Kevin Rooney (AHL deal with Tucson), Scott Perunovich (Kings), Matt Villalta (Sabres) and Ian Cole (Blackhawks), so it's fair to say the Mammoth are stronger heading into 2026-27 than they were at the end of last season.
With all of Trocheck, Nick Schmaltz and Logan Cooley being able to play center, it's expected one of them will shift to the wing regularly to stay in the top six. Clayton Keller, Lee and Dylan Guenther will round out the top six, making that a very strong group as a whole even without a 100-point superstar leading the way. There's plenty of grit deeper in the lineup with Lawson Crouse, Jack McBain, Hayton (upper body) and Michael Carcone in the fold. Yamamoto, Stenlund, Liam O'Brien and Brandon Tanev are already in place as depth options, but they'll be pushed by Tij Iginla (undisclosed), Daniil But and Roy for Opening Night spots. It's on the prospects to earn their spots, though the Mammoth will likely keep most of them in the AHL for this year until a prominent role opens up. If the team opts to go for more skill and less sandpaper, Utah could roll three fantasy-relevant lines, though Crouse and Hayton are fringe options in standard formats.
Mikhail Sergachev and MacKenzie Weegar offer plenty of all-around upside if they stick together as the top pairing this year. Add in Marino as a defensive stalwart on the second pairing and Nate Schmidt as an acceptable scorer from the blue line, and this is a strong top four. Peeke, DeSimone and Jones can all play on the third pairing, while Dmitri Simashev and Maveric Lamoureux will challenge the hierarchy on defense during training camp. Simashev has shutdown capabilities, but he produced 35 points in 40 regular-season AHL games last year, so he may have some fantasy value if he can stick around all year. Karel Vejmelka is back as the top goalie, and he was a workhorse with a league-leading 64 appearances last year. The lack of quality goaltending from the backup spot led to the addition of Cossa, who should be able to lighten Vejmelka's workload in 2026-27, assuming Cossa's AHL numbers with Grand Rapids weren't smoke and mirrors. Vejmelka's workload has him in the No. 1 range for fantasy, though he's only exceeded a .900 save percentage in one of his five seasons, while Cossa is an intriguing depth option.
The Mammoth are not only on the rise, but they also have nearly half a roster's worth of prospects that could fill roles in the next few years. Success will thin out the prospect pool through trades that reduce picks and move out some players for more immediate help. It's too early to call them a Stanley Cup contender, but they should be competitive in a tough division.
St. Louis Blues
Falling behind in the Central isn't necessarily a failure. The Blues have definitely come up short lately, but they took some big swings in trades to remodel the roster. It's unlikely to be enough, but the Central still has a chance to command both wild-card spots in the Western Conference, and that's where the Blues should be aiming.
A busy trade market prior to free agency was the big source of changes. Connor McMichael and prospect Milton Gastrin came in from the Capitals for Jordan Kyrou. Mason McTavish was acquired for picks from the Ducks after he got pinched out of their future plans. The Blues also added Brandon Carlo for picks before taking care of business. Out the door went Jonathan Drouin (contract termination, unsigned), Matt Kessel (Islanders) and Justin Holl (Capitals), while Jonatan Berggren and Oskar Sundqvist were re-signed after testing the market. Ross Johnston and Dillon Dube were the remainder of the team's signings, while McMichael got a six-year extension to solidify his place in the core. With quantity coming in but quality exiting in the form of Kyrou, the Blues are clearly in a retooling phase while figuring out if they can find the next level.
Robert Thomas and McTavish will center the top two lines this year, and while neither is a superstar, both are fine for the roles they play. The real intrigue begins on the wings, where the group of Dylan Holloway, Pavel Buchnevich, Jimmy Snuggerud, McMichael and Jake Neighbours are competing for the rest of the top-six jobs. Whoever misses out likely ends up on the third line, joined by Dalibor Dvorsky and/or Pius Suter. Berggren can take power-play time in the bottom six, while Alexei Toropchenko and Johnston add toughness from the fourth line. Sundqvist, Jack Finley, Dube and Nathan Walker could mix in there, while Otto Stenberg could eventually push for a middle-six role during the year. This is a forward group consisting of a lot of good players who just need to find the right chemistry and get some better luck than last year. Anyone in the top six could carry decent fantasy value.
As 2025-26 developed, Philip Broberg and Logan Mailloux took strides to being the leaders on the Blues' defense. If they falter, Cam Fowler, Colton Parayko and Carlo all have experience in top-four roles as well. Tyler Tucker should continue to see time on the third pairing, but the Blues' lack of NHL-level depth could open the door for Calle Rosen, Theo Lindstein or Adam Jiricek to push for minutes with the big club early in the year. This blue line can't afford injuries, but Broberg, Mailloux and Fowler have scoring potential while Parayko can bring physicality. Between the pipes, both Jordan Binnington and Joel Hofer are playing for new contracts. Hofer has been trending toward the No. 1 job for a while -- he ran with it at times last year. Binnington has the championship resume, and there's no prospect knocking down the door in the AHL, with minor-league veteran Georgi Romanov next in line if a spot opens up. The trajectory of 2026-27 will likely determine if Binnington gets traded or re-signs. Hofer's upside makes him a No. 2 in fantasy, with Binnington in the same range if he's at his best.
It's an uphill battle for the Blues heading into the new season. The top teams in the Central are just that much farther ahead of the pack, making it tough for progress to show. Getting good years out of the young core will be a positive step, even if the team ultimately falls short of a playoff spot. Keep Snuggerud and Dvorsky in mind as breakout picks in fantasy.
Winnipeg Jets
In a world where feelings didn't change, the Jets would be poised for a bounce-back year. However, the Connor Hellebuyck trade request looms large over the team. There's no winning a Hellebuyck trade in the short-term -- the Jets will need a massive haul of long-term assets to kick off a likely rebuild without the world-class goalie. Almost nothing went right in 2025-26, and that's presumably just the beginning of some gloomy years in Winnipeg.
While Hellebuyck hasn't been dealt yet, that impending move will be the biggest one of the Jets' season. What has happened has been far less impactful. The Jets saw Eric Comrie (Sharks), Jacob Bryson (Red Wings), Ville Heinola (Golden Knights), Gustav Nyquist (unsigned) and Colin Miller (Switzerland) leave in free agency. Jonathan Toews also retired after one year with his hometown team. A trade saw David Gustafsson sent to the Penguins for Jack St. Ivany, which amounts to a depth move. Walker Duehr and Isak Rosen signed new deals, while the Jets were able to add Stuart Skinner, Noah Gregor, Mario Ferraro and Henry Thrun in free agency. The biggest addition is No. 8 overall pick in 2026, Viggo Bjorck, who is expected to compete for an NHL job as an 18-year-old. A five-year contract for Cole Perfetti also keeps him in the fold as a reliable top-six forward.
Mark Scheifele has earned fine wine status -- his best two years have been the last two. At 33 years old, regression could hit at any time, but he's still the top-line center and coming off a 103-point campaign despite the team's struggles. Longtime linemate Kyle Connor joins him in a prominent role, while Gabriel Vilardi is likely to stick on the first line as well. Expect Perfetti or Brad Lambert to compete for the top line when lines get shuffled, but they should mostly work on the second line, which is where Bjorck is expected to begin his career. If that proves too much for him, the ever-versatile Vladislav Namestnikov or the reliable shutdown center Adam Lowry could take over the spot. If Bjorck proves himself early, those two veterans should work with Nino Niederreiter on the third line. Rosen and Alex Iafallo can work their way up the lineup, while Morgan Barron leads the fourth line from center. Expect Duehr, Gregor, Cole Koepke, Parker Ford and Nikita Chibrikov to be in the mix for depth roles as well. While the top line is a fantasy force, Bjorck and Perfetti are the only other forwards with significant upside heading into 2026-27.
The Jets returned their top-four on defense from last year. Josh Morrissey's offense fell under the 60-point mark for the first time in four years, but he's still a high-quality option in fantasy. Dylan DeMelo, Dylan Samberg and Neal Pionk are all physical forces playing heavy minutes, which is a role Ferraro can also fill, though he may see far less ice time than he did during his tenure with the Sharks. Haydn Fleury will probably stick around the NHL as depth, as will St. Ivany, while Elias Salomonsson (shoulder) could get a look after he gets back up to speed following his recovery from surgery. Thrun and Isaak Phillips will probably start the year in the AHL, though if injuries crop up, they'll be top candidates to get called up. The goaltending situation is obviously in flux, and it all hinges on whether Hellebuyck will report to the team for training camp. Despite a down year in 2025-26, he's still a top-tier fantasy netminder, but he'll be discounted in drafts if he holds out for a trade. Skinner is likely to get top billing once Hellebuyck is out of the picture, unless the Jets get a goalie back. If not, Thomas Milic and Domenic DiVincentiis are set to compete for the backup job. Milic had slightly better numbers in the AHL last year, but both are largely unproven and can't be trusted in fantasy until they get more games under their belts.
The prudent thing for the Jets to do would be find a deal for Hellebuyck and move on from this chapter. Without a world-class goalie, they have no advantage to gain a foothold in the Central, so this would be a good time to retool around the current core and position themselves to compete in a few years.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks are still functionally in rebuilding mode, but it's safe to say they're about to pivot out of it. The team has stockpiled young talent, with core pieces in place at nearly every position. Taking the next step will be a challenge, especially with the team facing a bit of adversity before the season gets going.
Chicago didn't waste time in making changes this offseason. A big trade saw Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway brought in for Louis Crevier and two picks. Byram also signed a six-year, $75 million contract extension, which is big money for a player with a long injury history and a lack of a track record as a true No. 1 defenseman. Andre Burakovsky was also dealt away to Ottawa. Matt Grzelcyk (upper body) has yet to sign in free agency, while Ilya Mikheyev went to the Lightning and Sam Lafferty landed with the Panthers. Chicago added Ian Cole, Cole Smith and Connor Mackey early in free agency, but it was new contracts for Connor Bedard (shoulder), Kevin Korchinski and Drew Commesso, as well as a reunion with Patrick Kane, that led to some optimism later in the offseason.
Bedard's shoulder injury will keep him out for part of the season, leaving a big opportunity for someone else to step into the first-line center spot to begin the year. Frank Nazar or Anton Frondell would be the obvious choices, but Roman Kantserov's name has also circulated for that gig. Those three players are sure-fire top-six options, as are Kane and Tyler Bertuzzi, leaving one more spot up for grabs on a temporary basis. Oliver Moore, Nick Lardis or Ryan Greene are the leading candidates to play on the second line, while the others would work in the bottom six with Teuvo Teravainen, Smith, Ryan Donato, Greenway and Andrew Mangiapane. Dominic Toninato, Sacha Boisvert and Landon Slaggert will also be in the mix. With a lot of young talent around, the Blackhawks have plenty of flexibility to send players down to the AHL if they don't look ready to contribute immediately. That will lead to ample internal competition throughout the year.
The defense is arguably just as young, though the 25-year-old Byram brings some valuable experience. Alex Vlasic, Artyom Levshunov and Sam Rinzel are all on the younger side, while Cole and Mackey are veterans for the NHL and AHL clubs, respectively. Wyatt Kaiser should also see regular time, while Ethan Del Mastro and Korchinski will battle for an NHL job. Byram, Levshunov and Rinzel are all power-play candidates, so it will be important to see how the man advantage develops, especially with the blueliners. Spencer Knight is the foundation in goal, and while he isn't a fantasy stud yet, he should benefit from another year of growth for the team in front of him to stay in the No. 2 range. Arvid Soderblom is projected to be the backup, but Commesso is likely ready to challenge for that spot, as Soderblom has yet to impress at the NHL level.
The Blackhawks aren't good enough to stick near the top of the Central. Being without Bedard early in the year will probably create too much of a deficit to overcome by April. It won't be long before there's playoff hockey again in Chicago, but the focus this year is making sure the prospects stepping up are ready to be part of the future.
Nashville Predators
The Predators remain caught in a strange spot -- they have too many veterans on the roster, and a lot of youngsters looking to take their places, but very few players in the middle. It'll take time or some trading magic to get out from under long-term deals for a handful of veterans.
Nashville got a head start on its offseason with entry-level deals for Vitali Pinchuk and Felix Nilsson, adding to the prospect pool. The attention moved to the trade market after that with Ross Colton, Isak Posch, Jack Drury and Chase Bradley coming in from the Avalanche in a pair of deals that sent Fedor Svechkov, Zachary L'Heureux and Magnus Chrona to Colorado. Later trades saw Adam Edstrom dealt from the Rangers, Mavrik Bourque and Ilya Lyubushkin acquired from the Stars and Nils Hoglander traded from the Canucks. The Predators lost Erik Haula (Kings) and Kevin Gravel (AHL deal with Milwaukee) in free agency, and Tyson Jost is back in Nashville on a tryout. Nashville also signed Alex Kerfoot, Jack Ahcan and Hunter Skinner, while Bradley, Bourque and Justin Barron all got new contracts. Late in the summer, the Predators sent Luke Evangelista to the Devils for two picks, leaving a hole in the top six. With a flurry of activity this summer and more likely on the way under new general manager Chris MacFarland, the Predators will look quite different in 2026-27.
While there will be changes, the top six is still anchored by Filip Forsberg, Steven Stamkos and Ryan O'Reilly. Jonathan Marchessault could also be included in that group, but he may be set to move down the lineup as prospects take hold. Bourque could get a look on the second line as a center despite limited experience in that spot, while Matthew Wood is one of Nashville's prospects that's farther along the developmental path. Drury, Colton and Hoglander could make a new-look third line, as all play with a bit of grit and two-way skills that could work as a checking line. Kerfoot is a veteran forward who can play anywhere, making him a safe bet to be in the lineup. The battle for the last spots in the lineup will be crowded with newcomers Pinchuk, Nilsson and Edstrom joining Cole O'Hara, Joakim Kemell, Ozzy Wiesblatt, Aiden Fink, Brady Martin and Reid Schaefer in the mix for NHL jobs. Jost could also earn one if he does well during his tryout. Barring injuries freeing up more spots, the competition for the bottom of the roster will be intense.
The blue line is headlined by Roman Josi, who was able to have a bounce-back campaign. However, he is 36 years old and has missed noticeable time in back-to-back seasons. Brady Skjei is also a sure thing in the top four. The rest of the defense will be some combination of Nicolas Hague, Nick Perbix, Lyubushkin, Adam Wilsby, Barron and Ryan Ufko competing for five spots on the roster and four in the lineup. Viggo Gustafsson has some long-term defensive upside but is just entering his first full campaign in North America, while Ahcan could be a more immediate option for call-ups. Juuse Saros continues to get the bulk of the time in the net, but his numbers have been deteriorating for a few years. Justus Annunen and Matt Murray are candidates for the backup spot, while Posch is likely to be a full-time AHL option. Saros still gets enough playing time to have fantasy value, but the team in front of him and his own decline makes it risky to trust him for every game.
The Predators aren't in a position to fully tear things down, but they aren't looking like a good team. That could be a blessing in disguise, as there's no reason to rush prospects. It may be a good idea to get familiar with AHL Milwaukee's roster -- a lot of those players will be in the NHL within three years.
As tight as the Central Division could be, we have an even tougher division to take a look at Thursday when the Atlantic brings it home for our division preview series. Keep checking in with all of our RotoWire hockey coverage to prepare for your drafts as training camps get underway this week before preseason hockey begins over the weekend!
