Did the Blackhawks move up in the Central Division power rankings this past summer?

The Chicago Blackhawks won’t automatically place so low in most power rankings, be it divisional, conference, or league. Or, at least they shouldn’t. No, you can’t quite say they will be ranked very high just yet, but at least we won’t resign ourselves to sighing at these rankings, knowing it will be another brutal year in the Windy City. 

So, starting with the division, where do the Blackhawks stand among their closest peers and rivals? Here’s a hint for you: They are NOT in last place, so the Hawks have that going for them. But as you may guess, they’re also not ranking entirely high just yet. 

1 - Dallas Stars

The Dallas Stars have made deep playoff runs the norm, but they’re also making falling just one series short the norm, too. But it also means that nobody is better at the moment, and even with a few losses this offseason, the team remains relatively intact and poised for another run. 

2 - Colorado Avalanche

As long as the Colorado Avalanche maintains a dynamic duo and a sensational core, they’re at least a top-three team in the division. Should they play good hockey early, look for the Avs to contend for that No. 1 spot and leapfrog Dallas. 

3 - Winnipeg Jets

Defense-first may not have taken the Winnipeg Jets far in the NHL Playoffs last season, but for a while, they looked like the Central Division’s best team. If they can get some consistency, Winnipeg could find themselves as serious contenders for the top spot in the Central, but they’ll have to prove they’re better than Dallas and Colorado first. 

4 - Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators, even if they didn’t sign so much veteran talent, would likely be fourth on this list anyway. Sure, you may see them slated higher in other rankings, but let’s see how they fare as a team before we assume they’re better than Dallas, Colorado, or Winnipeg. 

5 - St. Louis Blues

The St. Louis Blues are in the worst possible scenario, even if they’re still a top-five team in the Central. Right now, the Blues aren’t doing enough to get any better, but they’re in no position to move their current talent so they’re bad enough to garner a top draft pick in the near future. If they didn’t have such an intriguing prospect pool, this team would be every bit as irrelevant as they are relevant. 

6 - Chicago Blackhawks

While you’ll still see a few critics keep the Chicago Blackhawks trapped at No. 8 in these rankings, they did too much in free agency to be ranked so low. This isn’t a top-four team just yet, but there’s no way the Hawks are any worse than the Utah Hockey Club or the Minnesota Wild heading into the season on paper. 

7 - Utah Hockey Club

You don’t often see relevant teams relocate sans a multitude of financial pitfalls, and the Utah Hockey Club is no different. The former Arizona Coyotes weren’t good last season, and although Utah made a few notable moves, they’re still well entrenched toward the bottom of these rankings. 

8 - Minnesota Wild

It’s safe to assume that, right now, the Minnesota Wild are the likeliest team in the Central Division heading for a rebuilding phase. But even if they are relevant this season, they’ll also face stiff competition from the Blackhawks and Utah Hockey Club.