NHL Preview: Metropolitan Division

Yesterday, I previewed the Atlantic division and didn’t exactly shock anyone with who I picked to win the division. Today, I’ll look at the Metropolitan division, home of the top team in the league last year. 

(TheUltimateSportsBlog.com)

New York Rangers

Last season: 53-22-7 (113 points). Lost in Eastern Conference Finals.

Offseason Moves that Matter: Marty St. Louis retired, traded Carl Hagelin, signed Erin Andrews boyfriend who got arrested in the offseason.

This season: The Rangers have Henrik Lundqvist, and as long as he’s healthy, they’re in good shape. They play a strong defensive system, but when things break down, King Henrik usually bails them out. Their scoring will take a small hit with the loss of St. Louis and Hagelin, but a full year with Keith Yandle on the back end will certainly help their power play. Plus, they still have Rick Nash, one of the elite goalscorers in the league. If their young guys pull their weight, their offense won’t take the hit that is expected. 

Biggest question: Can Henrik Lundqvist stay healthy?

Outlook: There’s a lot to like about this Rangers team. Not only do I think Lundqvist is the best goalie in the league, slightly edging out Carey Price, but I love their defense. Ryan McDonagh is a stud and Marc Staal can more than hold his own. Their offensive depth is questionable, especially if the young guys don’t step up, but this team will be one of the top defensive teams in the league all season.

Prediction: 1st in the Atlantic Division.

Washington Capitals

Last season: 45-26-11 (101 points). Lost in 2nd Round of Playoffs.

Offseason Moves that Matter: Lost Mike Green, traded for shootout ace T.J. Oshie, signed “Mr. Game 7” Justin Williams.

This season: The Capitals are a great regular season team. Their problem has never been the first 82 games. It’s been the next 7+. Every year the Capitals play great in the regular season and then fail in the playoffs, usually losing in game seven. So this offseason they signed a guy who has never lost in game 7. It’s a sound strategy. The Caps are going to be a great regular season team once again. None of that matters if they can’t make it past the 2nd round. 

Biggest question: Can Justin Williams lead them to victory in Game 7?

Outlook: Alex Ovechkin will likely put up 40+ goals and their offseason should be great. I worry about their defensive depth, but Braden Holtby proved to be a #1 guy last year so at least they are set in goal. This team will win plenty of regular season games. That doesn’t matter though. The playoffs is where they’ll live or die.

Prediction: 2nd in the Atlantic Division

New York Islanders

Last season: 47-28-7 (101 points). Lost in 1st Round of Playoffs.

Offseason Moves that Matter: None

This season: The Islanders surprised a lot of people last year. They had a top five offense and were led by John Tavares, who is a legit MVP candidate coming into this season. This team has a lot of young talent up front with Kyle Okposo, Dylan Strome, Brock Nelson, and Anders Lee. As long as they continue to develop and stay healthy, they’re going to score goals. Their problem is their defense and goalie. I don’t buy Jaroslav Halak as a #1 guy and they have no defensive depth past Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk. 

Biggest question: Can their goaltending/defense match their offense?

Outlook: The Islanders will be a fun team to watch because chances are they’re going to be involved in a lot of 5-4 games. However, I think they’ll take a step back this year. Their offense is good, but I don’t trust their defense or goaltending to hold up.

Prediction: 4th in the Atlantic Division.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Last season: 43-27-12 (98 points). Lost in 1st Round of Playoffs.

Offseason Moves that Matter: Traded all their prospects for Phil Kessel, re-worked their depth forwards, lost two of their top defensemen. 

This season: This team has Sidney Crosby centering Phil Kessel. Kessel will likely score 50 goals and Crosby should hit 100 points. Plus, they have Evgeni Malkin, a top five talent in the league. Their power play is going to be great and their offense is going to be unfair on a lot of nights. There are question marks surrounding their defense, but I really like the young guys they have. They aren’t big, but they are good exiting the zone and transitioning to offense. Marc-Andre Fleury has been inconsistent at times, but he’s still one of the better starters in the league.

Biggest question: Will Kessel fit with Crosby or Malkin?

Outlook: I don’t think the addition of Kessel is enough to leap them over the Rangers or Capitals, but I do think they’re in much better shape than they were last season, when they barely made the playoffs. The Crosby/Kessel duo should terrorize teams.

Prediction: 3rd in the Atlantic Division

Columbus Blue Jackets

Last season: 42-35-5 (89 points). Missed playoffs.

Offseason Moves that Matter: Traded for Brandon Saad.

This season: There’s a lot to like about their forwards and a lot to dislike about their defense. Saad has to the potential to really breakout playing alongside Ryan Johansen and Nick Foligno. They have great depth amongst their forwards and if they stay healthy, something they didn’t do last year, they’ll be able to compete with teams up front. That said, their defense is a mess. Ryan Murray is great when he’s healthy, but he can’t stay healthy and after them they don’t have anyone who I’d consider a top guy. Sergei Bobrovsky had a down year, but he’s a former Vezina winner who can get hot and carry them to wins.

Biggest question: Will their defense step up?

Outlook: The Blue Jackets aren’t quite as good as the four teams in front of them, but they definitely have a chance to challenge for a wild card spot. 

Prediction: 5th in the Atlantic Division.

Philadelphia Flyers

Last season: 33-31-18 (84 points). Missed playoffs. 

Offseason Moves that Matter: Brought in a coach from college.

This season: Claude Giroux and Jakub Voracek are as deadly of a combo as you’re going to find in the league. Other than those two, the Flyers have a lot of talent that just haven’t panned out. The Schenn brothers were supposed to lead the Flyers into the future, but now they’re on the trade block. Wayne Simmonds and Sean Couturier are consistent, but their bottom six is brutal. Just as brutal is their defense. They have no #1 guy and lack depth. In goal, Steve Mason is good, but not great and certainly not good enough to make up for his lack of defense.

Biggest question: Can Giroux and Voracek do everything again?

Outlook: The Flyers will benefit from a coaching, but the talent just isn’t there, especially on the back end. Giroux and Voracek will be fun to watch, but otherwise they just don’t have a lot to offer. 

Prediction: 6th in the Atlantic Division.

New Jersey Devils

Last season: 32-36-14 (78 points). Missed playoffs.

Offseason Moves that Matter: Every old player retired or was released.

This season: Cory Schneider is great, but they don’t have much support around him. The defense is still too young to really make a stand and the offense doesn’t have a legit threat. New Jersey is definitely rebuilding and it’s going to be a long season. 

Biggest question: Will they trade Patrick Elias?

Outlook: Schneider will prevent them from competing for the #1 overall, but they’re definitely a bottom five team in the east. 

Prediction: 7th in the Atlantic Division.

Carolina Hurricanes

Last season: 30-41-11 (71 points). Missed playoffs. 

Offseason Moves that Matter: Traded for Eddie Lack, James Wisniewski, and Kris Versteeg. Paid Alexander Semin a lot of money to go away.

This season: The Hurricanes made some solid moves in the offseason. Unfortunately, it won’t be enough to really make them competitive. Unless the Staal brothers and Jeff Skinner produce the best seasons of their careers, this team is in trouble. The defense is a mess and I’m not sure either Cam Ward or Eddie Lack can be the #1 guy in goal. 

Biggest question: Will they trade the Eric and Jordan Staal?

Outlook: Things have to break extremely well for the Hurricanes to be competitive this year. Their offense isn’t good enough to win them games and their defense and goaltending isn’t good enough to bail them out.

Prediction: 8th in the Atlantic Division.