The Case for the recharged Nashville Predators winning the Central Division

After "winning" the offseason, the expectations should be sky high for the Nashville Predators. Making the playoffs has now become a minimum, and this is a team that can and should achieve more.

Despite playing in what could be the NHL's toughest division, the Nashville Predators should have a real shot at winning the Central Division, which would be their first since 2019 when they racked up 100 points in the standings.

Colorado lost depth and needs an adjustment period

The Predators offseason was fantastic, but the Colorado Avalanche didn't have the greatest. They did their best to maintain, but with Valeri Nichushkin out until at least November, plus Artturi Lehkonen and Gabriel Landeskog still without return timetables, Colorado has to rely on big guns and hope that someone else steps up.

Cale Makar, Mikko Rantanen, and Nathan MacKinnon are all-world players. A first line featuring MacKinnon, Rantanen with Makar playing 25 minutes will all score their share of points. Who scores after them will be the big question.

Maybe Casey Mittelstadt finally fulfills his promise as a former first-rounder, and maybe Jonathan Druin can continue his reclamation project, but is it enough to continue their winning ways?

The defense gets older and will continue to play tough minutes, and if they don't score at the same rate then it becomes a question as to whether or not they can hold up in front of Alexander Georgiev. If he falters or gets hurt, his backup is Justus Annunen who has all of 15 NHL starts to his name.

Colorado won't be bad. They'll be good and are a playoff team, but right now they are set up for a slow start. A hot start from the Predators might create enough ground to hold a lead on this perennial powerhouse.

Dallas Stars: Fading Just Enough?

The Stars on paper look fantastic. Their young stars like Wyatt Johnston, Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz, and Miro Heiskanen are entering their prime years, and are going to shell opposing teams all year.

They've lost super vet Joe Pavelski to retirement. Matt Duchene is 33, Jamie Benn is 35, and Tyler Seguin is 32, and they are very thin at right wing.

If Dallas struggles this year it will be because the vets haven't been able to successfully evolve into more age-appropriate roles while the young guns can't quite take over the reins.

Predators: Never Stop Winning, and Stay Healthy

The Predators added top-end scoring, which in turn creates more offensive depth, returned their defensive core with an upgrade, and took care of their all-world goalie. If the additions don't disrupt the chemistry the Predators should be a wagon the whole season.

They'll need to find another five to 10 wins if they want to be the division winners. If Brady Skeji, Jonathan Marchessault, and Steven Stamkos aren't worth five to 10 wins then nobody is.

Juuse Saros HAS TO STAY HEALTHY. There is no Yarsolav Askarov backup this year, and Scott Wedgewood has never had a run as a starter for a top-tier team. The same can be said for players like Roman Josi and Filip Forsberg. Those three players are irreplaceable on this team.

If everyone stays (relatively) healthy then the sky is the limit for this team. If they get help from the two big guns in the Central Division then it could be time for another division banner to be raised at Bridgestone Arena.