Dallas Stars' Central Division Opponents May Decline This Season

The Dallas Stars are on a fast-track to success, and some of their central division friends seem ready to help them out.

It’s no secret that the Central Division is tough- one of the harshest environments in the NHL. The Dallas Stars have gone back and forth in terms of dealing with their division opponents, capping off their 2015-16 campaign as division leaders but failing to take their game much further in 2016-17.

And in games against these division foes, tensions can run high and raise the stakes, making these important games for the Dallas Stars. In the past, these were often toss-up games. As the 16-17 season progressed, it seemed less and less likely that the Stars would come out on top in any matches against teams from their own division.

However, the Stars have made some great offseason decisions that might just put them back on top of the pecking order of the central division. THN did project that the Stars are the likeliest bets for a Central Division title win in the 17-18 year, with a lot owing to the new blood and energy brought in by the organization.

Still, there are other factors that seem to be working in the Stars’ favor around the division. Three division opponents in particular may pose less of a threat to the Stars this season.

Dallas Stars

The St. Louis Blues, of course, have been favorites to stay at the top of the division and the Stars have had all sort of special axes to grind with them. After Hitchcock’s departure from the Blues, the reign of Mike Yeo has seen the coaching staff change dramatically.

Although the Blues have posed a playoff threat to the Stars, they never seem to quite make it al the way themselves, this season being held off by the Predators. And while the Blues didn’t seem to suffer any particularly hard losses so far in the offseason that might bring them down in the 2017-18 season, it seems pretty clear to us (and THN too) that the Stars are probably primed to skate right past them.

One Central Division team that’s perhaps had the short end of the stick this offseason had been the Chicago Blackhawks. Letting go of Artemi Panarin and adding back some former Hawks was apparently a great idea to the management, but seems like not so much to many of the rest of us.
Of course, salary cap issues will always ensure for a team of big-names, which the Dallas Stars may have to learn for themselves in the near future. But for now, Chicago’s loss could always be our gain.

Last but not least is the Nashville Predators. Though Dallas hasn’t engaged in any sort of bitter rivalry with them and has actually enjoyed some fond memories at their expense, the Predators have lately been the ones that seem most eager to shine in the Central.