We avoid talk of the NHL All-Star Weekend as we foray into the foursome it’s foreseeable that any of Dallas, Winnipeg, Colorado and Minnesota could win the Central Division and Western Conference regular szn crown.
Why there isn’t a front-runner to forecast as the favorite and we didn’t record this at a Four Szns for that matter in advance of the nearing NHL trade deadline and how added player pieces could help a team’s push in fortunes.
A forewarning of a forward (recorded Sunday before the teams returned to play) and an attempt at applying Bayes Theorem for an answer.
Dallas leads the Central Division and Western Conference and finally get the extra point on their 4th consecutive try.
14 – Dallas captain Jamie Benn’s return to form. 20 goals and his 1000 NHL games.
Hintz why Dallas’ top line drives team production but are getting secondary scoring from new sources this szn.
Cap crunch could mean the status quo for GM Jim Nill at the deadline though a line-mate for Tyler Seguin is desired.
Winnipeg’s 2nd and it’s double-4; 44 – Josh Morrissey’s that cues the comeback preventing the Jets from losing 4 straight but instead with a win into the All-Star break.
40 – for the games started by Wpg’s key player - goalie Connor Hellebuyck.
Mason Appleton nears return and Logan Stanley’s healthy scratch.
Remembering coming up with a STL (Vladi Tarasenko and Colton Parayko trade in 2019 before STL turned the szn around to win the Stanley Cup – to then insert and update Vladi Tarasenko’s actual trade to the NYR). However, a top6 F and top4 RHD still is minimally what Wpg needs to add.
Colorado doesn’t along with Minnesota play catch up with Winnipeg idle but Colorado’s single point puts them via one fewer GP third in the division.
4 – Rookie Bowen Byram’s return
+4 to equal 8 – Cale Makar’s ends up back out of the lineup because of Pittsburgh’s Jeff Carter’s awful intentionally hit to the head that doesn’t have a penalty or suspension come of it and all the rzns why it should have.
-4 – what of Byram’s injuries and his pending RFA next deal?
Josh Manson’s soon to return and Colorado’s d-grp this year wraps the Colorado conversation.
Should they re-acquire D Jack Johnson?
Plus: The Pacific division comparatives.
(Note: Minnesota's team segment was unfortunately due to editing time not included as originally intended.)
based on standings headed into February 11th NHL Saturday schedule.
Recorded and Edited: February 5, 2023 (the forward). February 8-10, 2023 (team segments)
Show Intro/Extro Music: excerpts of “Acid Trash” performed by MAP from the “Grant Ave.” EP © 2018 Used with permission.
Central Division Hockey – The Podcast is written, hosted, engineered, and produced solely by Tim Bigelow. © 2023.
