There’s not a more fascinating division than the Central. There’s the old guard still built to win in Chicago, surrounded by teams loaded with talent.

But how many of these teams are truly capable of winning a Stanley Cup this season? Examining what made the Penguins successful last season helps provide the blueprint, with these five characteristics standing out:

1. Franchise center(s)

2. Big-minute franchise defenseman

3. Contributors on entry-level contracts

4. Three skilled scoring lines

5. Mobile puck-moving defense

Here’s how the Central stacks up (in order of last season's finish: