Utah still on top, Blues push back, Hawks wobble: Central Division roundup

There were no Central Division games on the schedule yesterday, but it was anything but quiet around the teams. With the Utah Mammoth still leading the pack, the Blues showing signs of life and the Blackhawks in early trouble, the standings are already taking shape.

Mammoth hold first, Avalanche stumble, Stars under the microscope

Utah stays on top of the Central with 8 points in 6 games (4-2-0). According to The Hockey Writers, their recent 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres reinforced what has been a strong opening stretch for the expansion club, especially coming after Buffalo had been heavily beaten by Dallas earlier.

In Colorado, inconsistency is the early theme. The Hockey Writers notes that the last time the Colorado Avalanche faced the Calgary Flames, they rolled to a 7-3 win, only to follow it up with a 6-3 home loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs. William Nylander played a major role for Toronto in that game, according to the outlet. The split leaves Colorado sitting fourth in the Central with 6 points from 5 games (3-2-0).

Dallas sits in the middle of the division with 5 points (2-2-1), but individual starts are under scrutiny. The Hockey News points out that several NHL stars have opened the 2026-27 season slowly, and at least one Dallas player is among that group. That contrasts with what The Hockey Writers describes as a dominant Dallas win over Buffalo not long ago.

Blues trending up, Predators juggling, Jets in rumour mill

There’s a more optimistic tone in St. Louis. The Hockey Writers reports that the St. Louis Blues just wrapped up their first full week at 1-1-1, with losses to the Chicago Blackhawks and San Jose Sharks and a 5-3 comeback win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. Jimmy Snuggerud scored twice in the second period of that game, per the same source. Another article highlights a wave of Blues prospects standing out in college, junior and overseas leagues, with Nick Bogas and Tomas Mrsic mentioned as leading the way, and even revisits some of the franchise’s best and worst trades.

In Nashville, The Hockey Writers pulls out key takeaways from the Predators’ 3-2 shootout loss to the Ottawa Senators. The debuts of Jayden Struble, Vitali Pinchuk and Matt Murray didn’t translate into a win. In a separate piece, the outlet relays a suggested trade idea that would see the Predators acquire defenceman Simon Edvinsson from the Detroit Red Wings.

Winnipeg, third in the Central with 7 points (3-1-1), pops up in the rumour mill. In its NHL rumour roundup, The Hockey Writers raises the possibility that Connor Hellebuyck could eventually look at a return to the Jets, though it remains speculative at this stage.

Wild steady near the top, Blackhawks searching for answers

The Minnesota Wild are keeping pace near the top, second in the division with 7 points in 5 games (3-1-1). The Hockey Writers recaps their 4-1 road win over the Florida Panthers, which capped a three-game road trip and provided a bounce-back after a rough loss.

In Chicago, the mood is more anxious. The Hockey Writers details how the Blackhawks opened a seven-game homestand with a 5-2 loss to the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes. Another piece from the same outlet looks ahead to Chicago’s week, mentioning growing concern around the young roster and an injury update on Bedard. A separate article focused on Carolina’s fourth straight win underscores how overmatched Chicago looked in that 5-2 result. With just 2 points from 6 games (1-5-0), the Blackhawks sit last in the Central and are already in early-season damage-control mode.