Central Division (NHL)

Central Division
Conference	Western Conference
League	National Hockey League
Sport	Ice hockey
Formerly	Norris Division
Founded	1993
Teams
No. of teams	8
Championships
Most recent champion(s)	Carolina Hurricanes (1st title)
Most titles	Detroit Red Wings (13 titles)

The NHL's Central Division was formed in 1993 as part of the Western Conference in a league realignment. Its predecessor was the Norris Division. As part of the 2013 realignment, the Central Division expanded into 7 teams. It is also one of two successors to the Northwest Division. Three of its teams—the Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, and Winnipeg Jets (as the Atlanta Thrashers)—joined the NHL in the league's last expansion phase between 1998 and 2000. The fourth team in that group, the Columbus Blue Jackets, was for a period of time not a part of the Central Division, having moved to the Metropolitan Division.

After the addition of the Vegas Golden Knights to the Pacific Division in 2017, the Central Division was the only division in the NHL without eight teams. This situation remained in effect until the 2020–21 NHL season, when the COVID-19 pandemic compelled a radical re-alignment of the divisions, including the temporary abolition of the Eastern and Western conferences. The Central Division was the only existing division retained for the 2020–21 NHL season. Only three of the eight Central Division teams for 2020–21 were members of the division in the previous season.

The Central Division has sent five teams to the Stanley Cup playoffs on seven occasions. In the first three seasons after the realignment of 2013, Central Division teams occupied both Wild Card playoff spots in the Western Conference. This occurred again in the 2018–19 season, for the fourth time in six seasons. In the pandemic-shortened 2019–20 season, all Central Division teams made the 2020 Stanley Cup playoffs due to the 24-team format.

Division lineups[]

1993–1996[]

Chicago Blackhawks
Dallas Stars
Detroit Red Wings
St. Louis Blues
Toronto Maple Leafs
Winnipeg Jets

Changes from the 1992–93 season[]

The Central Division is formed as the result of NHL realignment
The Minnesota North Stars move to Dallas, Texas, and become the Dallas Stars
The Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, and Toronto Maple Leafs come from the Norris Division
The Winnipeg Jets come from the Smythe Division

1996–1998[]

Chicago Blackhawks
Dallas Stars
Detroit Red Wings
Phoenix Coyotes
St. Louis Blues
Toronto Maple Leafs

Changes from the 1995–96 season[]

The Winnipeg Jets move to Phoenix, Arizona, to become the Phoenix Coyotes

1998–2000[]

Chicago Blackhawks
Detroit Red Wings
Nashville Predators
St. Louis Blues

Changes from the 1997–98 season[]

The Dallas Stars and Phoenix Coyotes move to the Pacific Division
The Toronto Maple Leafs move to the Northeast Division
The Nashville Predators are added as an expansion team

2000–2013[]

Chicago Blackhawks
Columbus Blue Jackets
Detroit Red Wings
Nashville Predators
St. Louis Blues

Changes from the 1999–2000 season[]

The Columbus Blue Jackets are added as an expansion team

2013–2020[]

Chicago Blackhawks
Colorado Avalanche
Dallas Stars
Minnesota Wild
Nashville Predators
St. Louis Blues
Winnipeg Jets

Changes from the 2012–13 season[]

The Northwest Division is dissolved due to NHL realignment
The Columbus Blue Jackets move to the Metropolitan Division
The Detroit Red Wings move to the Atlantic Division
The Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild come from the Northwest Division
The Dallas Stars come from the Pacific Division
The Winnipeg Jets come from the Southeast Division

2020–2021[]

Carolina Hurricanes
Chicago Blackhawks
Columbus Blue Jackets
Dallas Stars
Detroit Red Wings
Florida Panthers
Nashville Predators
Tampa Bay Lightning

Changes from the 2019–20 season[]

Due to COVID-19 restrictions the NHL realigned into four divisions with no conferences for the 2020–21 season
The Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues move to the West Division
The Winnipeg Jets move to the North Division
The Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets come from the Metropolitan Division
The Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning come from the Atlantic Division

2021–present[]

Arizona Coyotes
Chicago Blackhawks
Colorado Avalanche
Dallas Stars
Minnesota Wild
Nashville Predators
St. Louis Blues
Winnipeg Jets

Changes from the 2020–21 season[]

The league returned to the previous divisional and conference alignment
The Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets move to the Metropolitan Division
The Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning move to the Atlantic Division
The Arizona Coyotes, Colorado Avalanche, Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues come from the West Division
The Winnipeg Jets come from the North Division

Division champions[]

1994 – Detroit Red Wings (46–30–8, 100 pts)
1995 – Detroit Red Wings (33–11–4, 70 pts)
1996 – Detroit Red Wings (62–13–7, 131 pts)
1997 – Dallas Stars (48–26–8, 104 pts)
1998 – Dallas Stars (49–22–11, 109 pts)
1999 – Detroit Red Wings (43–32–7, 93 pts)
2000 – St. Louis Blues (51–19–11–1, 114 pts)
2001 – Detroit Red Wings (49–20–9–4, 111 pts)
2002 – Detroit Red Wings (51–17–10–4, 116 pts)
2003 – Detroit Red Wings (48–20–10–4, 110 pts)
2004 – Detroit Red Wings (48–21–11–2, 109 pts)
2005 – no season (NHL Lockout)
2006 – Detroit Red Wings (58–16–8, 124 pts)
2007 – Detroit Red Wings (50–19–13, 113 pts)
2008 – Detroit Red Wings (54–21–7, 115 pts)
2009 – Detroit Red Wings (51–21–10, 112 pts)
2010 – Chicago Blackhawks (52–22–8, 112 pts)
2011 – Detroit Red Wings (47–25–10, 104 pts)
2012 – St. Louis Blues (49–22–11, 109 pts)
2013 – Chicago Blackhawks (36–7–5, 77 pts)
2014 – Colorado Avalanche (52–22–8, 112 pts)
2015 – St. Louis Blues (51–24–7, 109 pts)
2016 – Dallas Stars (50–23–9, 109 pts)
2017 – Chicago Blackhawks (50–23–9, 109 pts)
2018 – Nashville Predators (53–18–11, 117 pts)
2019 – Nashville Predators (47–29–6, 100 pts)
2020 – St. Louis Blues (42–19–10, 94 pts)
2021 – Carolina Hurricanes (36–12–8, 80 pts)

Season results[]

^(#)	Denotes team that won the Stanley Cup
^(#)	Denotes team that won the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl, but lost Stanley Cup Finals
^(#)	Denotes team that qualified for the Stanley Cup playoffs
‡	Denotes winner of the Presidents' Trophy

Season	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	8th
1993–94	⁽¹⁾ Detroit (100)	⁽³⁾ Toronto (98)	⁽⁴⁾ Dallas (97)	⁽⁵⁾ St. Louis (91)	⁽⁶⁾ Chicago (87)	Winnipeg (57)
1994–95^[a]	⁽¹⁾ Detroit (70)^‡	⁽³⁾ St. Louis (61)	⁽⁴⁾ Chicago (53)	⁽⁵⁾ Toronto (50)	⁽⁸⁾ Dallas (42)	Winnipeg (39)
1995–96	⁽¹⁾ Detroit (131)^‡	⁽³⁾ Chicago (94)	⁽⁴⁾ Toronto (80)	⁽⁵⁾ St. Louis (80)	⁽⁸⁾ Winnipeg (78)	Dallas (66)
1996–97	⁽²⁾ Dallas (104)	⁽³⁾ Detroit (94)	⁽⁵⁾ Phoenix (83)	⁽⁶⁾ St. Louis (83)	⁽⁸⁾ Chicago (81)	Toronto (68)
1997–98	⁽¹⁾ Dallas (109)^‡	⁽³⁾ Detroit (103)	⁽⁴⁾ St. Louis (98)	⁽⁶⁾ Phoenix (82)	Chicago (73)	Toronto (69)
1998–99	⁽³⁾ Detroit (93)	⁽⁵⁾ St. Louis (87)	Chicago (70)	Nashville (63)
1999–2000	⁽¹⁾ St. Louis (114)^‡	⁽⁴⁾ Detroit (108)	Chicago (78)	Nashville (70)
2000–01	⁽²⁾ Detroit (111)	⁽⁴⁾ St. Louis (103)	Nashville (80)	Chicago (71)	Columbus (71)
2001–02	⁽¹⁾ Detroit (116)^‡	⁽⁴⁾ St. Louis (98)	⁽⁵⁾ Chicago (96)	Nashville (69)	Columbus (57)
2002–03	⁽²⁾ Detroit (110)	⁽⁵⁾ St. Louis (99)	Chicago (79)	Nashville (74)	Columbus (69)
2003–04	⁽¹⁾ Detroit (109)^‡	⁽⁷⁾ St. Louis (91)	⁽⁸⁾ Nashville (91)	Columbus (62)	Chicago (59)
2004–05	No season due to 2004–05 NHL lockout
2005–06	⁽¹⁾ Detroit (124)^‡	⁽⁴⁾ Nashville (106)	Columbus (74)	Chicago (65)	St. Louis (57)
2006–07	⁽¹⁾ Detroit (113)	⁽⁴⁾ Nashville (110)	St. Louis (81)	Columbus (73)	Chicago (71)
2007–08	⁽¹⁾ Detroit (115)^‡	⁽⁸⁾ Nashville (91)	Chicago (88)	Columbus (80)	St. Louis (79)
2008–09	⁽²⁾ Detroit (112)	⁽⁴⁾Chicago (104)	⁽⁶⁾ St. Louis (92)	⁽⁷⁾ Columbus (92)	Nashville (88)
2009–10	⁽²⁾ Chicago (112)	⁽⁵⁾ Detroit (102)	⁽⁷⁾ Nashville (100)	St. Louis (90)	Columbus (79)
2010–11	⁽³⁾ Detroit (104)	⁽⁵⁾ Nashville (99)	⁽⁸⁾ Chicago (97)	St. Louis (87)	Columbus (81)
2011–12	⁽²⁾ St. Louis (109)	⁽⁴⁾ Nashville (104)	⁽⁵⁾ Detroit (102)	⁽⁶⁾ Chicago (101)	Columbus (65)
2012–13^[b]	⁽¹⁾ Chicago (77)^‡	⁽⁴⁾ St. Louis (60)	⁽⁷⁾ Detroit (56)	Columbus (55)	Nashville (41)
2013–14	⁽¹⁾ Colorado (112)	⁽²⁾ St. Louis (111)	⁽³⁾ Chicago (107)	^(WC1) Minnesota (98)	^(WC2) Dallas (91)	Nashville (88)	Winnipeg (84)
2014–15	⁽¹⁾ St. Louis (109)	⁽²⁾ Nashville (104)	⁽³⁾ Chicago (102)	^(WC1) Minnesota (100)	^(WC2) Winnipeg (99)	Dallas (92)	Colorado (90)
2015–16	⁽¹⁾ Dallas (109)	⁽²⁾ St. Louis (107)	⁽³⁾ Chicago (103)	^(WC1) Nashville (96)	^(WC2) Minnesota (87)	Colorado (82)	Winnipeg (78)
2016–17	⁽¹⁾ Chicago (109)	⁽²⁾ Minnesota (106)	⁽³⁾ St. Louis (99)	^(WC2) Nashville (94)	Winnipeg (87)	Dallas (79)	Colorado (48)
2017–18	⁽¹⁾ Nashville (117)^‡	⁽²⁾ Winnipeg (114)	⁽³⁾ Minnesota (101)	^(WC2) Colorado (95)	St. Louis (94)	Dallas (92)	Chicago (76)
2018–19	⁽¹⁾ Nashville (100)	⁽²⁾ Winnipeg (99)	⁽³⁾ St. Louis (99)	^(WC1) Dallas (93)	^(WC2) Colorado (90)	Chicago (84)	Minnesota (83)
2019–20^[c]	⁽¹⁾ St. Louis (71 gp 94 pts. .662 ppct.)	⁽²⁾ Colorado (70 gp 92 pts. .657 ppct.)	⁽⁴⁾ Dallas (69 gp 82 pts. .594 ppct.)	⁽⁶⁾ Nashville (69 gp 78 pts. .565 ppct.)	⁽⁹⁾ Winnipeg (71 gp 80 pts. .563 ppct.)	⁽¹⁰⁾ Minnesota (69 gp 77 pts. .558 ppct.)	⁽¹²⁾ Chicago (70 gp 72 pts. .514 ppct.)
2020–21^[d]	Temporary realignment for season
2020–21^[d]	Carolina (80)	Florida (79)	Tampa Bay (75)	Nashville (64)	Dallas (60)	Chicago (55)	Detroit (48)	Columbus (48)

Notes

^a The 1994–95 NHL season was shortened to 48 games due to the lockout.
^b The 2012–13 NHL season was shortened to 48 games due to the lockout.
^c The 2019–20 NHL season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the imbalance in the number of games played among teams, the regular season standings were determined by points percentage.
^d The 2020–21 NHL season was shortened to 56 games due the COVID-19 pandemic and the Canada-United States border closure.

Stanley Cup winners produced[]

Presidents' Trophy winners produced[]

Central Division titles won by team[]

Teams in bold are currently in the division.

Team	Wins	Last win
Detroit Red Wings	13	2011
St. Louis Blues	4	2020
Chicago Blackhawks	3	2017
Dallas Stars	3	2016
Nashville Predators	2	2019
Carolina Hurricanes	1	2021
Colorado Avalanche	1	2014
Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes/Arizona Coyotes	0	—
Columbus Blue Jackets	0	—
Florida Panthers	0	—
Minnesota Wild	0	—
Tampa Bay Lightning	0	—
Toronto Maple Leafs	0	—
Winnipeg Jets	0	—

References[]

NHL History

[a]

[b]

[c]

[d]

v t National Hockey League divisions
Current	Eastern Conference (1974–2020, since 2021): Atlantic (1993–2020, since 2021) Metropolitan (2013–2020, since 2021) Western Conference (1974–2020, since 2021): Central (since 1993) Pacific (1993–2020, since 2021)
Historic	American (1926–1938) Canadian (1926–1938) East (1967–1974, 2020–21) West (1967–1974, 2020–21) Adams (1974–1993) Norris (1974–1993) Patrick (1974–1993) Smythe (1974–1993) Northeast (1993–2013) Northwest (1998–2013) Southeast (1998–2013) North (2020–21)
Category