No division changed over the summer more than the Metropolitan. Metro teams changed players, captains, head coaches, even presidents. With all the changes two teams are still a cut above the rest. The Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh 
Penguins have won three of the last four Stanley Cups. Both teams are loaded up front with superstars. Washington (1) has the greatest goal scorer of this generation in Alexander Ovechkin. Pittsburgh has the greatest player of this generation in Sidney Crosby. Pittsburgh (2) also has first ballot Hall of Fame center Evgeni Malkin. Ovechkin is second in command, Nicklas Backstrom, should make the Hall of Fame. The Penguins’ wingers are clutch scorers like Jake Guentzel, Bryan Rust, Jared McCann and Patric Hornqvist. Capitals’ wingers TJ Oshie have Tom Wilson have size and skill. Pittsburgh leaned into the speed game this summer. They acquired forwards Alex Galchenyuk, Dominik Kuhun and Brandon Tanev. Washington leaned into heavy hockey. They acquired forward Garnet Hathaway and defenseman Radko Gudas. The Capitals have the best defenseman in the division John Carlson. The Penguins have the best next two, offensive minded Kris Letang and defensive minded Brian Dumoulin. The Capitals also have the best goalie with Braden Holtby. Matt Murray Pittsburgh’s netminder is just as good on the ice but is off the ice due to injury too often. These teams have been evenly matched for over a decade but I think Washington has a slight edge this season. Their edge increases if Evgeny Knunetsov can return to form.
The last guaranteed playoff spot in the Metro will be the battle of greater New York. The Rangers, Devils and Islanders each can make a case for a top-three seed. No one changed more this offseason than the New York Rangers (3). They signed Artemi Panarin. Panarin was the best free agent on the market. The Breadman brings star power and serial goal scoring to the Rangers. The Rangers drafted Kaako Kappo. The number two overall pick brings just plain power and scoring to the Rangers. The Rangers added Jacob Trouba to their blue line. The Rangers have waited two generations for a defenseman of Trouba’s caliber. The Rangers goaltender for the last two generations has been Henrik Lunqvist and this season is Hank’s last stand. If Hank falters, the capable Alexander Georgiev is waiting in the wings.
The one team that changed very little was the New York Islanders (4). Captain Anders Lee resigned. Mathew Barzal grew into being the number one offensive option. The best fourth line in hockey Matt Martin, Casey Cizikas, Cal Clutterbuck regained their title. The Islanders defense was surprisingly effective under the tuteluge of HC Barry Trotz. Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock are not household names but they get the job done. The only change Hall of Fame GM Lou Lamoriello changed was in net. Robin Lerner who had a decorated comeback last season split for Chicago. Lamoriello brought in Seymon Varlamov from Colorado. Varlamov is as shaky off the ice as he is on the ice. Back up netminder Thomas Greiss will need to win some games for the Isles.
The Islanders’ goaltending has a big question mark. The Devils (5) goaltending has two big question marks. Veteran Cory Schneider is either on the bench because he’s hurt or because he’s hurting the team. MacKenzie Blackwood is greener than Marvin the Martian. Devils GM Ray Shero proved again this summer he is a wizard. He didn’t fix the goaltending but he made major changes to improve the roster. Shero added fire power to the offense that already had former MVP Taylor Hall and former overall number one Nico Hershier. He drafted overall number one pick center Jack Hughes. Shero stole forward Nikita Gusev from Vegas. Wayne Simmonds was brought in to protect the slight Hughes and Hershier. Shero traded for defenseman PK Subban. Subban gives the Devils a bona fide superstar and a leader on the blue line. I like Will Butcher’s offense but the rest of the Devil blue line is no better than adequate.
The Carolina Hurricanes (6) defense is much better than adequate. It’s the best the division Jaccob Slavin would be a Norris Finalist if he played in a big market. Justin Faulk and Brett Pesce are also top notch. Carolina’s forwards led by freshly resigned Sebastian Aho are fast and skilled but young. Hurricanes Captain and heart and soul Justin Williams was not resigned. Petr Mrazek will be back in net but Curtis McElhinney won’t be backing him up.
The Philadelphia Flyers (7) fired their head coach, the clueless Dave Hakstol. The Flyers hired the very competent Alain Vigneault. The Flyers will not be the Broad Street Bullies anymore, they will now be just a bunch of South Philly Punks. Simmonds left last deadline and Radko Gudas was traded in the summer. There’s no one to protect chippy forwards Claude Giroux, Jakub Voracek and Sean Couturier. The team that excels in special teams will now have to win games at even strength. The Philly defense is like most of its cheesesteaks, overrated. Shayne Gostisbehere was great two years ago. Ivan Provorov and Matt Niskanen were never great. They’re just overpaid. A lot is riding on goalie phenom Carter Hart. What better town for a young goalie to play in than Philadelphia.
It could be worse for Carter Hart. He could be playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets (8). Why does everyone leave Columbus first chance they get? Two time Vezina winning goalie Sergei Bobrovsky left. Superstar Artemi Panarin left. Matt Duchene left. Even Team President John Davidson left. Columbus’ problem is Head Coach John Tortorella remains. The Blue Jackets still have an incredible top defensive pair Seth Jones and Zach Werenski. Either could win the Norris if they played on another team. The only upsets the Blue Jackets will make this year are their season ticket holders.
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