Central Division

For so long the Central Division, was owned by the Detroit Red Wings. It seemed like every season they would clinch the Division Title, as they went about becomeing the modern day powerhouse. As with every great team though, it doesnt last forever, and one-by-one the legends have left hockeytown. Niklas Lidstrom was the latest name to leave, giving Mike Babcock a huge task in trying to replace one of the all-time greatest defensemen. Even though my team have always been the Penguins, one thing you cant deny is that the Wings have had great teams. When I first started to follow hockey in the mid-1990s Detroit always were the best team (whether they won the Stanley Cup or not), and their players were all household names. Look at these for possible line combinations, Shanahan-Yzerman-Lapointe, Kozlov, Larionov, Fedorov, Maltby-Draper-McCarty, Holsmtrom-Brown-Kocur. What a line up that was, then you throw the likes of Brett Hull & Luc Robitaille into the mix over the coming years and it is no wonder Detroit became one of my favorite teams.

The Chicago Blackhawks generally sucked during that same era, but then in 2009 things improved with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane building the franchise back up, and culminating in them winning the Stanley Cup in 2010. It is due to the Hawks having such an exciting team right now, why they take second spot in my standings.

Third spot would go to the St. Louis Blues, as I can remember them qualifying for the play-offs almost every single year, and being an entertaining side to watch, with the likes of Pierre Turgeon and Pavol Demitra going forward and Defenseman Al MacInnis and Chris Pronger and further Offense.

Columbus would get 4th place, as they have never had a great team, as yet, but the Nationwide Arena was the first NHL arena I have been too, and also been lucky enough to stand at Center Ice, so have got something of a soft spot for the team from Ohio. Nashville get 5th but its extremely harsh as I have really enjoyed watching them over the last couple of years and did extremely well against Detroit in last seasons playoffs. If either of the Blue Jackets or the Predators were in any other division they would stand much higher up in the standings.

My Rankings:
1 - Detroit Red Wings
2 - Chicago Blackhawks
3 - St Louis Blues
4 - Columbus Blue Jackets
5 - Nashville Predators

Expected 2012-13 finish
1 - St Louis Blues
2 - Chicago Blackhawks
3 - Detroit Red Wings
4 - Nashville Predators
5 - Columbus Blue Jackets