Come playoff time, the road through the Western Conference to the Stanley Cup final goes through Los Angeles or Chicago. The defending-champion Kings and still-in-their-prime Blackhawks remain the standard.
The regular season? That's a different story.
Remember, last season, it wasn't even the St. Louis Blues who won the Central Division but the upstart Colorado Avalanche. In the Pacific, the Kings and San Jose Sharks had the memorable first-round series, but the Anaheim Ducks get the division champions banner.
Those teams — beginning with the Ducks, Blues and Avalanche and continuing down to the Dallas Stars — are already focused on making that next step to competing against the Kings and Blackhawks.
Over the grind of an 82-game season, it's a daunting task for any team outside last year's playoff field to crack the top eight.
"It is tough and it's getting tougher," Vancouver Canucks defenceman Kevin Bieksa said. "It seems like over the summer every team in the West adds more pieces that make them deeper."
There's no doubt the West is deep, and even with 14 teams there will be at least one or two out in the cold come April who could make a run in the East.
Here's a look at the Central Division in the predicted order of finish.
St. Louis Blues
Last season: 52-23-7, 111 points, second in Central, lost in division semifinals to Chicago
Who’s gone: G Ryan Miller, LW Brenden Morrow, D Roman Polak
Who’s new: C Paul Stastny, D Carl Gunnarsson, D Chris Butler
Outlook: After trading Jaroslav Halak and counting on Miller down the stretch and in the playoffs backfired, the Blues go into this season with Brian Elliott and Jake Allen. Unlike Miller, they’re used to coach Ken Hitchcock’s system and how few shots St. Louis likes to give up. Up front, Stastny and captain David Backes combine for a nice one-two punch down the middle and there’s plenty of talent on the wings. On defence, Alex Pietrangelo and Jay Bouwmeester lead a group that’s at least five strong.
Chicago Blackhawks
Last season: 46-21-15, 107 points, third in Central, lost in conference final to Los Angeles
Who’s gone: C Michal Handzus, F Brandon Bollig, D Sheldon Brookbank
Who’s new: C Brad Richards
Outlook: This might be the best top six in the NHL with Jonathan Toews, Patrick Kane, Patrick Sharp, Marian Hossa, Bryan Bickell and Richards. And that’s still a crazy-deep defence, led by Norris Trophy-winner Duncan Keith. Injuries contributed to last year’s third-place finish, but this is a group that knows to turn it on when it matters. Chicago is a Stanley Cup favourite even if it doesn’t win the Central or even finish second.
Dallas Stars
Last season: 40-31-11, 91 points, fifth in Central, lost in division semifinals to Anaheim
Who’s gone: G Tim Thomas, RW Alex Chiasson, D Aaron Rome
Who’s new: C Jason Spezza, RW Ales Hemsky, G Anders Lindback, F Patrick Eaves
Outlook: Jim Nill won the off-season by getting Spezza from the Ottawa Senators for Chiasson, two prospects and a second-round pick and signing Hemsky. Dallas, as a result, is a chic pick to be one of the most improved teams in the NHL and ready to play with the big boys in the West. Much of that depends on the health of goaltender Kari Lehtonen and the play of a virtually anonymous defence led by Alex Goligoski and Trevor Daley. Second-year winger Valeri Nichushkin could also make a substantial leap.
Colorado Avalanche
Last season: 52-22-8, 112 points, first in Central, lost in division semifinals to Minnesota
Who’s gone: C Paul Stastny, RW P-A Parenteau, D Andre Benoit, G Jean-Sebastien Giguere
Who’s new: RW Jarome Iginla, D Brad Stuart, C Daniel Briere, F Jesse Winchester
Outlook: Captain Gabriel Landeskog and Calder Trophy winner Nathan MacKinnon in separate interviews within an hour said the Avalanche may not get 112 points this year, but they expect the team to be better. It’ll be hard to match last season’s out-of-nowhere success, unless goaltender Semyon Varlamov keeps up a superhuman pace and stays healthy. More likely, Colorado is fighting until the final days for one of the final playoff spots in the West.
Minnesota Wild
Last season: 43-27-12, 98 points, fourth in Central, lost in division final to Chicago
Who’s gone: G Ilya Bryzgalov, LW Matt Moulson, LW Dany Heatley, D Nate Prosser, D Clayton Stoner
Who’s new: LW Thomas Vanek
Outlook: Goaltending was a huge part of why the Wild made the playoffs last year, and depth in the form of Darcy Kuemper helped them get to the second round and give the Blackhawks a small scare. Minnesota is now counting on Josh Harding returning and Niklas Backstrom staying healthy. Young talent keeps piling up, like centre Mikael Granlund and defenceman Jonas Brodin, and the addition of Vanek should give Mike Yeo’s team a bit more of an offensive punch.
Nashville Predators
Last season: 38-32-12, 88 points, sixth in Central
Who’s gone: F Patric Hornqvist, F Nick Spaling, D Michael Del Zotto, F Patrick Eaves
Who’s new: RW James Neal, C Olli Jokinen, C Derek Roy, C Mike Ribeiro, D Anton Volchenkov
Outlook: Under new coach Peter Laviolette, the Predators will play a much different, more up-tempo style and have some more weapons with which to do so. Goalie Pekka Rinne being healthy makes a big difference, and Seth Jones should be a year improved learning from Shea Weber. Problem is, this is still the Western Conference, and Nashville is in the toughest, deepest division there is. The Predators will contend, but they have to prove they’re better than Minnesota or Colorado.
Winnipeg Jets
Last season: 37-35-10, 84 points, seventh in Central
Who’s gone: C Olli Jokinen, RW Devin Setoguchi, G Al Montoya
Who’s new: C Mathieu Perreault, F T.J. Galiardi, D Keaton Ellerby
Outlook: Meet the new Jets, same as the old Jets. Blake Wheeler said coach Paul Maurice instituted a more professional atmosphere around the team when he took over last year, but the necessary talent to be a playoff contender is still lacking. It would take monster jumps from centre Mark Scheifele and/or defenceman Jacob Trouba and a strong year from goaltender Ondrej Pavelec to make that even a possibility. Pavelec might even need to play more with rookie Michael Hutchinson as his backup.