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Factoring in what we've seen to date, and post-deadline rosters, we share our thoughts on which team is best inside the Central Division.
Todd Cordell
I give Winnipeg a slight edge over Nashville.
I know their 5v5 play has been pretty underwhelming at times – especially since the turn of the calendar – but I'm still high on the Jets.
Dustin Byfuglien has missed more games than he's played, Nik Ehlers sat out for more than 20 games, Josh Morrissey has missed time, and Patrik Laine was essentially useless for months. Despite all that, the Jets still find themselves leading the Central in wins, points, goals, and goal differential.
I think Kevin Hayes is really going to balance their lineup and, when healthy, believe the Jets are one of the league's elite teams.
Peter Tessier
The best team in the Central Division is a muddy debate and for once none of them are truly dominant, they all have warts. Now given the recent play between the Press and Jets and that the Jets have beat the Blues in all meetings so far perhaps the Jets are the top dog, like they are in the standings.
Perhaps not.
What has not happened is the full integration of deadline acquisitions into each team and the Jets are missing two of their top 4 3 defensemen. It can't be the Blues although they are playing great hockey in front of instance goaltending. So that leaves Preds and Jets and in that argument go with the top dog and the one who has beaten the other 2 of 3 times. Winnipeg is your winner but can they hold on?
James Tanner
I think the best team in the Central is the Winnipeg Jets. They are not only leading the division, but they've gotten almost nothing out of Patrik Laine for months. Laine scored 3 goals in October, 3 in December, 1 in January, 4 in February and zero so far in March. But he did score 18 goals in November. Laine is pretty clearly an elite goal-scoring monster who is in a bizarre bad luck run. The fact that Winnipeg can be in first place, and then say "Oh guess what, we've also got this potential 70 goal scorer that we don't even use" makes me think they're the best team. Obviously, it's a matter of time and nothing else before Laine is scoring like he should.
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