The NHL gets underway in January and one of the biggest challenges for teams in 2021 will be dealing with the new division realignments. The league decided to realign based on geography to limit travel in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
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As a result, all the Canadian teams are in one division and the remaining U.S. teams have been divided into three. One of those is the Central Division, which is the new home of the reigning Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning.
Can the Lightning repeat in 2021?
The Favorite to Win the NHL Central Division
Stanley Cup winners have a tendency to start slow the season after a win. Tampa Bay cannot afford a slow start in a shortened 56-game regular season. That said, the Lightning are the +125 favorite to win the Central Division.
It should be noted that star Nikita Kucherov has some sort of injury that could keep him out for a while. Tampa Bay will not have to deal with Boston in their division this year making them the overall favorite to win the Central.
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Top Contenders
Dallas won the Western Conference last season and made it all the way to the Stanley Cup finals where they lost to the Lightning. The Stars are solid defensively and can score when needed. Dallas is listed at +475 to win the division.
Carolina is given +400 odds to win the Central. The Hurricanes have one of the more exciting lines in the NHL with Sebastian Aho teaming up with Teuvo Tervainen and Andrei Svechnikov. That trio led Carolina in points, goals, and assists.
The Hurricanes won’t have to deal with Washington, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh in the new Central Division. They will have to deal with Tampa Bay, but if Kucherov remains out of the lineup the Hurricanes might be a very good value.
No Chance
If you’re hoping for a longshot like Detroit, think again. The Red Wings are just not anywhere near being ready to compete for a division title. They’re really not ready to compete for anything just yet. There is a reason why Detroit is listed at +2800.
The same holds for Chicago, which checks in at +1400. The Blackhawks roster of stars is getting old and just cannot compete with the likes of Tampa Bay and Carolina.
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The Surprise
The one interesting team to watch is Columbus. The Blue Jackets may have the most to gain from realignment. Like Carolina, they will not have to deal with the heavyweights in the Metropolitan Division (Washington, Pittsburgh, etc.).
Columbus battled Tampa Bay last year in the first round of the playoffs and while the Lightning won 4-1 the Blue Jackets made them earn it. Don’t forget the 2018-19 season when an eighth-seeded Columbus swept the No. 1-seeded Lightning in the first-round of the playoffs.
Columbus is listed at +550 to capture the Central Division. Defensively, the Blue Jackets are up to the task. It will come down to the offense in an effort to win the division. They are somewhat of a longshot to win the division, but Columbus should be in the mix for a playoff spot.
Odds to Win NHL Central Division 2021
You can bet on tons of NHL futures and props at MyBookie this season.
Tampa Bay Lightning +125
Carolina Hurricanes +400
Dallas Stars +475
Columbus Blue Jackets +550
Nashville Predators +750
Florida Panthers +800
Chicago Blackhawks +1400
Detroit Red Wings +2800
