Stacked Metro Division Just Got Tougher
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The NHL’s Metropolitan Division is one of the hardest divisions to play in, and it just got a lot tougher. After a dramatic free agency, the Metro is looking as strong as ever with almost all the teams having at least one superstar caliber player. In addition, at least one more player on the market has been linked to one of these metro teams, which would bolster an already stacked lineup. But who are the favorites to win this division and who is the sleeper team in this difficult division?
Sleeper
Nazem Kadri is still the biggest prize on the market and reports have him linked to the Colorado Avalanche and the New York Islanders. Should he sign with the Islanders he would join a team that already has three centers in Brock Nelson, Matt Brazal, and J.G. Pageau. However, with even with three solid centers, and a tone of good wingers, this team finished in 5th place and failed to make the postseason. Not to mention their horrific start going 5-10-5, and going almost an entire month without winning a game. They finally found their grove as the calendar turned to 2022, but by then it was too late to catch the other teams in the Metro. But if adding Nazem Kadri gets them deep into the playoffs, then the price for him would be worth it.
Favorites
The Carolina Hurricanes were no doubt the best team in the Metro last season, winning the season series against 6/7 teams in their division. Not a tone has changed in Raleigh this year. The only notable difference is losing Vincent Trocheck who signed a seven-year contract with the New York Rangers, and Tony DeAngelo who signed with the Philadelphia Flyers. Returning players of course are Sebastian Aho who led the team in goals, assists, and points, Andrei Svechnikov, Teuvo Teravainen, and Nico Niederreiter. While this team did win the division, they however fell in seven games to the New York Rangers in the second round of the playoffs last season. That game seven went as poorly as a game could’ve gone, getting blown out at home losing by a 6-2 score. But with the Ranger’s improved lineup, if this team doesn’t win the division this season, I don’t see them finishing lower than second.
It was a pretty good offseason for the Eastern Conference Runner Up. While the team did lose some key pieces in their line up such as Frank Vatrano, Ryan Strome, and Andrew Copp, the Rangers got themselves a solid (and relatively young) second-line centerman in Vincent Trocheck. Resigning Kaapo Kakko also keeps a piece in their future. With the departures of Vatrano, Strome, and Copp, the Rangers are going to have to do some rearranging. With the void in the right wing on the first line, Artemi Panarin could move up to the first line which allows the 2020 1st overall pick, Alexis Lafreniere, to move up to the second line. Kakko may also join him and Trocheck. The Rangers not only have a solid shot to win the division but to win the Stanley Cup as well. This team is going to be good for a long time.
Maybe?
My two maybes are two teams that are showing age. Both the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals used to compete for the division almost every year, but those days seem like a long time ago and that was just in 2018. Both these teams are now officially the oldest in the league. Or most experienced depending on how you look at it. The Penguins come in at No. 1 with the average age of the team at 30 even. Washington is No. 2 with an average age of 29.7. But both of these teams still have superstar talent. The Capitals have Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Kuznetsov, Nicklas Backstrom, and John Carlson. The Penguins kept their core trio in Sidney Crosby (who is never going anywhere), Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. They were also able to extend Bryan Rust to six years shortly after their season ended. Now I have these teams listed under maybe because their chances are slim but the experience does help so never count them out.
No Way
The teams who have no shot to win this division are anyone who I haven’t mentioned yet. Even with the addition of Johnny Gaudreau in Columbus, he alone can’t do it all. Out in Philadelphia, they lost their longtime captain in Claude Giroux and signed one of the most hated players in Tony DeAngelo, so no division title this year. I think the Flyers should try at a rebuild (if they haven’t already). New Jersey did acquire a solid defenseman in John Marino but Jack Hughes is the face of the team he and Nico Hischier do all the work.
All in all, I’d say what could be a five-team race for the division, may only be a two-man race. So, will the young whippersnappers take the division? Or will the senior citizens say “Not so fast!”? I guess will see come March and April.
