Central Division (NHL)

The NHL's **Central Division** was formed in 1993 as part of the Western Conference in a league realignment, the predecessor of which was the Norris Division. It is the only division with 7 teams, the other 3 in the league having 8.

## 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–Present
* 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

## 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)

### Season results
*Green background denotes qualified for playoffs

## Stanley Cup winners produced
#1997—Detroit Red Wings
#1998—Detroit Red Wings
#2002—Detroit Red Wings
#2008—Detroit Red Wings
#2010—Chicago Blackhawks
#2013—Chicago Blackhawks
#2015—Chicago Blackhawks

## Presidents' Trophy winners produced
#1995—Detroit Red Wings
#1996—Detroit Red Wings
#1998—Dallas Stars
#2000—St. Louis Blues
#2002—Detroit Red Wings
#2004—Detroit Red Wings
#2006—Detroit Red Wings
#2008—Detroit Red Wings
#2013—Chicago Blackhawks
#2018—Nashville Predators

## Central Division titles won by team
**Teams in bold are currently in the division.**

## References
*NHL History