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Central Division (NHL) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The Central Division is a group of ice hockey teams in the NHL. It was created in 1993 as part of the Western Conference. Think of it like a league within a league! This division is special because it's the only one with 7 teams, while the other three NHL divisions have 8 teams each. It used to be called the Norris Division before the big changes in 1993.

Teams in the Central Division Over Time

The teams in the Central Division have changed a few times since it started. Here's how the lineup has looked:

Early Years: 1993–1996

When the Central Division first began, these teams were part of it:

How the Division Started

The Central Division was formed when the NHL reorganized its teams. The Minnesota North Stars moved to Dallas and became the Dallas Stars. Many teams, like the Chicago Blackhawks, Dallas Stars, Detroit Red Wings, St. Louis Blues, and Toronto Maple Leafs, came from the old Norris Division. The Winnipeg Jets joined from the Smythe Division.

Mid-1990s: 1996–1998

A small change happened in 1996:

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

One Team Moved

The original Winnipeg Jets team moved to Phoenix, Arizona, and became the Phoenix Coyotes.

Late 1990s: 1998–2000

The division became smaller for a short time:

More Teams Moved In and Out

The Dallas Stars and Phoenix Coyotes moved to the Pacific Division. The Toronto Maple Leafs joined the Northeast Division. A brand new team, the Nashville Predators, joined the Central Division.

Early 2000s to 2013

The division added another new team:

A New Team Joins

The Columbus Blue Jackets were added to the NHL as a new expansion team and joined the Central Division.

Modern Era: 2013–Present

The division saw a big shake-up and welcomed many new teams:

Major Changes in 2013

The NHL reorganized again. The Northwest Division was closed down. The Columbus Blue Jackets moved to the Metropolitan Division, and the Detroit Red Wings moved to the Atlantic Division. The Central Division welcomed the Colorado Avalanche and Minnesota Wild from the old Northwest Division. The Dallas Stars returned from the Pacific Division, and the current Winnipeg Jets team joined from the Southeast Division.

Central Division Champions

Winning the Central Division means a team finished first in their group during the regular season. Here are the teams that have won the division title:

Stanley Cup Winners from the Central Division

These teams from the Central Division have gone on to win the ultimate prize in hockey, the Stanley Cup:

Presidents' Trophy Winners from the Central Division

The Presidents' Trophy is given to the team with the best record in the entire NHL during the regular season. These Central Division teams have won it:

Central Division Titles by Team

Here's a quick look at how many times each team has won the Central Division title:

Team Number of Championships Won Last Year Won
Detroit Red Wings 13 2011
Chicago Blackhawks 3 2017
Dallas Stars 3 2016
St. Louis Blues 3 2015
Colorado Avalanche 1 2014
Nashville Predators 1 2018
Minnesota Wild 0 –
Winnipeg Jets 0 –
Columbus Blue Jackets 0 –
Toronto Maple Leafs 0 –
Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes 0 –

Teams in bold are currently in the Central Division.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: División Central de la NHL para niños

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