The Metropolitan Division is the worst in the NHL. The division has a few good teams but is mostly filled with mediocre or worse teams. The New York Metro area has three of the four best teams insuring at least the national hockey media will be intrigued.
- New York Rangers – The Rangers are the reigning President’s Trophy winner. They are the best team in the Metro. Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider are great players. At least until the playoffs arrive. Vince Trocheck is the perfect second line center. Former number one overall pick Alexis Lafreniere came into his own last season. Goon Matt Rempe is a fun sideshow. The Rangers defense is better on paper than on ice. Adam Fox is overrated. Captain Jacob Trouba throws big hits but serves pizza passes. K’Andre Miller is exceptional but receives less fanfare. Goaltender Igor Shesterkin receives an abundance of fanfare but isn’t quite as good as New York fans and media claim he is. The Rangers are flawed but the best team in a very flawed division.
- New Jersey – The Devils have the best top center combination in the division. Jack Hughes is a superstar. Nico Hischier is a natural two-way center. Timo Meier, Ondrej Palat . Jesper Bratt and Dawson Mercer are legitimate top six forwards. Dougie Hamilton leads an improved blue line with the addition of Brent Pesce. Horrible goaltending destroyed New Jersey last season. Jacob Markstrom will make goaltending not be an issue. New Head Coach Sheldon Keefe will prosper being out of the bright lights of Toronto.
- Carolina- The Hurricanes lost some power over the summer and may only be a category four storm this season. Rod Brind’Amour’s teams always win games in the regular season. Sebastian Aho is an elite center. Andrei Svechnikov, Marty Necas and Seth Jarvis are very capable of having big seasons. Carolina’s organizational frugality cost the Canes depth upfront and on the backend. Jaccob Slavin anchors the defense which is still formidable with Brent Burns and Dmitry Orlov. Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov. will still be adequate in net.
- New York Islanders – The Islanders are the best of the rest of the division due to their superior goaltending. Ilya Sorokin and Seymon Varlamov were not lights out last season but still very good. Bo Hovat and Matthew Barzal need to produce more offense. The speedy Anthony Duclair puss the top line. The vaunted 4th line has been dismantled but don’t expect the Fishermen to start playing finesse hockey. Noah Dobson jumped over Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock to lead the defense. Head Coach Patrick Roy now has a full season to put his stamp on the team.
- Pittsburgh- The Penguins did not make the playoffs for the second straight season. The Penguins got a remarkable season out franchise legend Sidney Crosby. A great first half out of 3 -time Cup winning defenseman Kris Letang. Hall of Fame center Geno Malkin was great until the Christmas break. The Penguins need much more out of Erik Karlsson who was only one year removed form a Norris Trophy. The Penguins have more depth this season but only forward Bryan Rust and defenseman Marcus Petterson can be considered reliable. Goaltender Tristen Jarry is unreliable. Head Coach Mike Sullivan will probably be turn to backup Alex Nedeljkovic before Thanksgiving.
- Washington – The Capitals want Alexander Ovechkin to break Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal scoring record. Hopefully winning some hockey games along the way. The Capitals will start the season without Nicklas Backstrom and TJ Oshie. Their careers appear to be over. Tom Wilson will be there but he’s not the force he used to be. Washington made some great offseason moves. The Capitals acquired forward Andrew Mangiapane and defenseman Jacob Chychrun. Trading Darcy Kuemper for locker room cancer Pierre – Luc Dubois was not one of them. If goaltender Charlie Lindgren doesn’t have another great season, the Capitals will be sellers at the trade deadline.
- Philadelphia – The Flyers are not a good hockey team, but they will play hard for the NHL’s media favorite despot John Tortorella. The Flyers front office did not address the Flyers need for a number one center or number one defenseman. Instead of finding stable goaltending the Philly brass made sure to smear the good name of a few players and agents. It felt like a throwback to when Bobby Clarke ran the team. Nicolas Deslauries and Garnet Hathaway ensure Philly will still be the Broad Street Bullies.
- Columbus -The Blue Jackets were a horrible hockey team before Johnny Gaudreau’s tragic death.
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