Central Division (NHL)


The NHL's Central Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Western Conference in a league realignment. Its predecessor was the Norris Division. As part of the 2013 realignment, the Central Division expanded into 7 teams. It is also one of two successors to the Northwest Division. Three of its teams—the Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, and Winnipeg Jets —joined the NHL in the league's last expansion phase between 1998 and 2000. The fourth team in that group, the Columbus Blue Jackets, is no longer part of the Central Division, having moved to the Metropolitan Division. After the addition of the Vegas Golden Knights to the Pacific Division in 2017, the Central Division is currently the only division in the NHL without eight teams. This situation will remain until the 2021–22 NHL season, when the Seattle Kraken enter the league in the Pacific Division and the Arizona Coyotes are realigned into the Central Division.
The Central Division has sent five teams to the Stanley Cup playoffs on seven occasions. In the first three seasons after the most recent realignment in 2013, Central Division teams occupied both Wild Card playoff spots in the Western Conference. This occurred again in the 2018–19 season, for the fourth time in six seasons.

Current standings

Division lineups

1993–1996

Stanley Cup winners produced

Teams in bold are currently in the division.
TeamWinsLast win
Detroit Red Wings132011
St. Louis Blues42020
Chicago Blackhawks32017
Dallas Stars32016
Nashville Predators22019
Colorado Avalanche12014
Minnesota Wild0—
Winnipeg Jets0—
Columbus Blue Jackets0—
Toronto Maple Leafs0—
Winnipeg Jets/Arizona Coyotes0—