Because the calendar turns to October and groups throughout the NHL prepare for the puck to drop on their seasons, the Metropolitan Division is undoubtedly stuffed with drama because the gamers’ expertise and normal parity of the division groups ought to make for a compelling season.
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Final season was a curler coaster within the Metropolitan Division because it noticed one of many preseason favorites, the New Jersey Devils, fall to seventh, and the Pittsburgh Penguins additionally missed the playoffs for the second straight season after making it 16 straight. The division’s vanguard of the New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, and New York Islanders every secured a playoff look and had notable offseasons, the New York groups as a lot for what they didn’t do and Carolina for the marquee gamers it misplaced. The division’s wild card is the Washington Capitals, who would be the focus of a lot consideration following Alexander Ovechkin’s chase for Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring document. Mixed with probably the greatest younger coaches within the league, they’ll once more look to shock individuals and discover their method again to the playoffs regardless of a scarcity of depth and unproven goaltending.
John Tortorella’s Philadelphia Flyers had been a Jekyll and Hyde staff all final season. Breaking out early and taking the league by storm earlier than accidents, trades, and the lack of Carter Hart diminished the staff. They’re probably the most ignored staff within the division, bursting with gifted gamers, although professional questions on depth stay. The ultimate staff is the Columbus Blue Jackets, who suffered an unimaginable tragedy this offseason with the demise of Johnny Gaudreau. The staff additionally jettisoned Patrik Laine and didn’t enhance its goaltending. The Blue Jackets have an excellent core of expertise, however this season is ready to be difficult.
With 2023-24 within the rearview mirror, the main focus is now on the upcoming season. Listed here are predictions for every particular person staff, adopted by predictions for the division in full.
Carolina Hurricanes – 2023-24 End: 2nd Place, 111 Factors
The Hurricanes went all-in final season. They loaded up on the commerce deadline, most notably buying Jake Guentzel from the Penguins. Sadly, they may not advance previous the second spherical, and the Rangers eradicated them 4 video games to 2. The offseason was a blended bag. The staff was capable of retain Martin Necas however couldn’t preserve Guentzel. They watched veterans Brady Skjei and Brett Pesce depart large holes to fill within the protection.
Prediction #1 – Seth Jarvis Breaks Out
On Nov. 15, 2023, 21-year-old Seth Jarvis tore his labrum and rotator cuff in a sport in opposition to the Flyers. He endured the ache and discomfort to ship 33 objectives in 81 video games. He then scored 9 factors in 11 playoff video games regardless of a damaged finger. He then signed a $63 million extension to maintain him in Carolina for the foreseeable future. With a whole offseason to heal, Jarvis is primed to enhance on his stellar 2023-24 marketing campaign and problem the Hurricanes’ season purpose document of 45. With the lack of Guentzel, Jarvis will likely be counted on to proceed to develop into the franchise purpose scorer position.
One of many league’s best-kept secrets and techniques, that is the season Jarvis turns into a family identify league-wide and the primary time he scores 40 objectives.
Prediction #2 – Standings Slide
Granted, coming off of a 111-point season, there may be little room to enhance. This season, although, is a big step again for the Hurricanes. The losses of Skjei and Pesce, the staff’s second pair for 4 straight seasons, tops the checklist of exits. Add in Stefan Noesen, Guentzel, Teuvo Teravainen, and the lack of Jesper Quick for the season, and the staff isn’t the identical. They’re primed for regression. The Hurricanes may have probably the most vital detrimental level differential of any staff within the division yr over yr.
Prediction #3 – Commerce Deadline Sellers
The Hurricanes had the chance to lock up a few of their gamers long-term this offseason. They inked Jarvis and Jaccob Slavin to eight-year offers, however most of their different signings had been short-term. Ought to the staff falter within the first half of the season, they’re set as much as be main sellers on the deadline with many property that will likely be coveted by groups combating for the playoffs. Eight of their preliminary 23 roster gamers are on expiring contracts, together with two of their three goaltenders and defenders, Dmitry Orlov and Brent Burns. Necas may even be engaging on the deadline since he signed a two-year deal at an affordable $6.5 million per season. Ought to the Hurricanes falter early, search for new normal supervisor Eric Tulsky to promote on the deadline to clear cap area, accumulate property, and permit him to remake the staff round cornerstones like Slavin, Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov, and Jarvis.
Columbus Blue Jackets – 2023-24 End: eighth Place, 66 Factors
After an unfathomable offseason, no staff is more difficult to judge and forecast than the Blue Jackets. A staff steeped in younger expertise and beset by profound tragedy within the demise of Johnny Gaudreau simply three years after the demise of goaltender Matīss Kivlenieks. The staff sought a contemporary begin by bringing in a brand new head coach, Dean Evason, and a normal supervisor, Don Waddell, who was behind the sustained success in Carolina. The NHL introduced earlier this week that the Blue Jackets may start the season beneath the cap ground with a possibility to change into compliant because the season continues. With a mandate to now add wage, it is going to be attention-grabbing to see whether or not Waddell tries to take a giant swing to basically alter his staff because the season opens or if he opts for extra incremental additions.
Prediction #4 – 5 Completely different 25 Aim Scorers
The Blue Jackets didn’t add a lot offensive firepower within the offseason, not as a result of they couldn’t however as a result of it was pointless. The membership is teeming with offensive weapons in its high 9 and has a possibility to have at the least 5 gamers finish the season with 25 objectives or extra.
Final season, no participant in Columbus scored greater than 23 objectives. That modifications this season. If they’ll stay wholesome, the Blue Jackets have at the least seven gamers who may rating 25. 5 of these seven will attain that mark. New addition Sean Monahan, an in depth good friend of Gaudreau, will play the season with a heavy coronary heart and powerful motivation and can seemingly be one of many 5 to interrupt by way of 25. The others will likely be Adam Fantilli, Yegor Chinakov, Kiril Marchenko, and Boone Jenner.
Prediction #5 – Damon Severson Profession 12 months Incoming
Typically, gamers thrive of their second yr after altering groups. Damon Severson has an opportunity to have an enormous yr this season, his second in Columbus. Severson is a singular two-way defenseman who will present the secondary scoring and puck-moving {that a} quick-strike staff just like the Blue Jackets might want to thrive.
Evason may depend on Severson’s protection to assist cowl for his younger forwards. In his closing yr in New Jersey, Severson proved he might be relied on defensively as his companions, from veteran Brendan Smith to rookie Kevin Bahl, had their finest numbers alongside him. That versatility will likely be an enormous boon for the Blue Jackets and permit them to proceed to deliver alongside younger defensemen like David Jiricek.
New Jersey Devils – 2023-24 End: seventh Place, 81 Factors
Accidents and goaltending brought on the Devils to plummet greater than 20 factors from the season earlier than. The falloff value Lindy Ruff his job and led normal supervisor Tom Fitzgerald to a reckoning that he wanted to get greater, stronger gamers with extra snarl and a confirmed beginning goaltender. Alluding to locker room points final season, he vowed that his mantra this offseason was “no dickheads”.
This offseason, he executed that mission. The Devils acquired gamers with a deal with measurement and snarl in Paul Cotter, Brenden Dillon, and Stefan Noesen, and gifted two-way gamers with a historical past of profitable hockey, like Brett Pesce and Tomas Tatar. Fitzgerald lastly discovered his goaltender, buying and selling for Jacob Markstrom. Infusing a professional Vezina-caliber goalie has already given the staff extra confidence. Add in new head coach Sheldon Keefe’s three-zone, high-pressure system, which seems to be to be an excellent match for the Devils’ staff pace, and the staff is well-positioned for a rebound season.
Prediction #6 – Dougie Hamilton Norris Trophy Finalist
Dougie Hamilton is a correct top-pair offensive defenseman and, when wholesome, shapes the whole protection corps of the staff. He has a singular potential to get his heavy shot each by way of visitors and on the web in probably the most crucial moments. This was mirrored finest in 2022-23 when he was within the high one % within the NHL of each photographs on purpose and objectives coming from photographs at lengthy vary. That season, the common NHL defenseman had 35 photographs from lengthy vary, and Hamilton managed 130 photographs on purpose from that distance. His eight long-range objectives had been equally spectacular, eight instances as many because the NHL common. A wholesome Hamilton is a singular weapon.
His success in 2022-23 merited extra consideration for the Norris Trophy than he finally acquired. Whereas San Jose Sharks defenseman Erik Karlsson was the runaway favourite after scoring over 100 factors, Hamilton deserved a greater destiny than ending sixth within the voting. He completed the season second in objectives (22), fourth in factors (74), tied for the league lead in power-play objectives (eight) and residential objectives (14), and was the outright chief in game-winning objectives by a defenseman with seven. He compiled all these stats whereas taking part in 21 minutes a sport and ending the season within the high 20 of plus/minus, posting a plus-23. With the new additions to New Jersey, there is no such thing as a motive he can’t be counted on to enhance on these numbers whereas anchoring one of the vital full defensive corps within the NHL which might benefit critical consideration for the Norris Trophy.
Prediction #7 – Jack Hughes Eclipses 100 Factors
Jack Hughes’ expertise is simple. He’s probably the most gifted home-grown ahead within the Devils’ over 40-year historical past. His elite skating, stick dealing with, and excessive hockey IQ are matched solely by his competitiveness. Hughes’ aggressive drive seemingly labored in opposition to him final season as he pushed by way of a big shoulder damage to will the Devils to the playoffs earlier than finally selecting to close it down in April and bear season-ending surgical procedure. He seems to have a wholesome shoulder for the primary time in most likely three years and is ready to ship on his unbounded promise.
For the primary month of the season, Hughes was one of the best participant within the NHL. Arenas held their collective breath each time the puck was on his stick. His wizardry led the staff to the highest of the ability play standings. On the time of his preliminary damage, he was main the league in factors and assists and ranked second within the league in power-play factors, only one behind teammate Jesper Bratt. He was on tempo for a staggering 180 factors. After a troublesome opening three video games, the staff was driving a three-game profitable streak and had gained 5 of six, together with two in a row with out Nico Hischier, till Hughes went down and the staff by no means totally recovered. Two seasons in the past, Hughes appeared poised to change into the primary Satan to succeed in the 100-point mark in a season however completed simply shy, setting a franchise document with 99 factors. Ought to he stay wholesome, he would be the first Satan to succeed in 100, and it occurs this season.
Prediction #8 – Timo Meier Scores 45
Timo Meier’s tenure as a Satan has been mired in inconsistency as a consequence of a number of extreme accidents and curious deployment by the teaching workers. Regardless of taking part in by way of two knee accidents, Meier nonetheless topped out within the 92nd percentile in the whole NHL for high pace (per NHL Edge). He averages 31 objectives and 143 hits per 82 video games for his profession. Add these abilities along with his pace, and you should have a tailored ahead to play within the fast-paced, high-pressure system Keefe is seeking to set up. Meier is an underrated play driver who can skate pucks out of hassle by way of the impartial zone, enter the offensive zone, and instantly change into a risk to attain. He’s one among New Jersey’s finest forwards across the web, each as a screener and at corralling free pucks and placing them residence earlier than the protection and goalie can react.
Meier is due for a season of well being. Ought to he play 75 to 80 video games, he may flirt with the 50-goal mark. In some methods, he will be the largest beneficiary of the teaching change. Keefe has been recognized to coax big seasons out of his stars and discover methods to place purpose scorers able to use their talent. Discovering a solution to make the most of Meier on the ability play higher needs to be one among Keefe’s high priorities and web 45 objectives.
New York Rangers – 2023-24 End: 1st Place, 114 Factors
Coming off a Presidents’ Trophy, the New York Rangers spent the offseason seeking to run it again once more largely. They did transfer Barclay Goodrow to the San Jose Sharks and tried to maneuver captain Jacob Trouba. The captain stated that is the final run for this core, and as Artemi Panarin, Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, and others creep deeper into their 30s, Father Time is certain to meet up with them. The staff possesses expertise, expertise, and world-class goaltending on par with anybody within the league. There are questions on secondary scoring and high quality depth, however they’ve overcome these points earlier than. Final season, the staff instantly took to move coach Peter Laviolette and tore their method by way of the common season. It stays to be seen if Laviolette can command the identical efficiency from his enigmatic gamers. Ought to they continue to be wholesome, they are going to be within the combine for the division and have an actual likelihood to finish their 31-year Stanley Cup drought.
Prediction #9 – Alexis Lafreniere Will Lead the Rangers in Targets Scored
The previous first-overall draft choose had a breakout season in 2023-24 and is poised to enhance on that this season. Discovering himself on a line with hard-charging middle Vincent Trocheck and help machine Panarin will present Lafreniere with myriad alternatives to surpass his career-high of 28 objectives. He may even get alternatives on the vaunted Rangers energy play. With the eye that will likely be paid to Panarin, Zibanejad, Kreider, and Adam Fox, he needs to be the beneficiary.
Final season, 26 of his 28 objectives got here at even energy, with room to develop on the ability play. He needs to be within the 35-40 purpose dialog this season, and he’s solely 22. He additional introduced his ascendance within the Stanley Cup Playoffs, scoring 14 factors in simply 16 video games, placing the whole NHL on discover that he was ready to succeed in his lofty potential.
Prediction #10 – Kappo Kakko Will Not Be on the Playoff Roster
Not like his fellow excessive draft choose Lafreniere, Kappo Kakko has not but damaged by way of. This offseason, he was the topic of a lot commerce hypothesis. As an alternative, the Rangers signed him to a one-year deal, hoping it motivates him to attain his potential. He’s a yr older than Lafreniere, chosen by the Rangers one spot after Jack Hughes was taken by New Jersey, and has by no means lived as much as his pre-draft hype. Kakko is an enigma. A giant, robust winger with good contact across the web however tends to fade. After 5 seasons, he has settled right into a middle-six position and stays a sufferer of excessive expectations. He has but to attain 20 objectives in a season and would profit from a contemporary begin on a staff that doesn’t view him as somebody they used such a worthwhile asset to accumulate. He’s ceaselessly linked to Hughes, and within the New York market, that could be a comparability he can not win. For all these causes, each side would profit from buying and selling Kakko earlier than or on the deadline.
Prediction #11 – The Rangers Will Be Main Commerce Deadline Gamers
It’s no secret that normal supervisor Chris Drury desires to proceed to remake his staff on the fly and discover methods to get youthful. The staff does have good, younger expertise within the American Hockey League (AHL) and on the cusp of the NHL in Brennan Othmann, Gabe Perrault, and Zac Jones. Nonetheless, it additionally has a number of gamers staring down each restricted free company with arbitration and unrestricted free company. With the necessity to lock up Igor Shesterkin long-term or threat dropping probably the most prized free agent in a decade, search for Drury to shave future wage on the deadline whereas seeking to infuse the staff with expertise for a playoff run. Gamers poised to be on the block embody Kakko, Jimmy Vesey, Ryan Lindgren, Ok’Andre Miller, and Trouba. Shifting a participant like Trouba might be a controversial choice within the locker room, however clearing out his wage, contemplating that he has dipped to a third-pair defenseman, may be good enterprise for the Rangers.
New York Islanders – 2023-24 End: third Place, 94 Factors
The Islanders are one other enigma. Common supervisor Lou Lamoriello operates beneath the radar however has assembled spectacular expertise. He quietly turned over his roster whereas infusing it with younger expertise and pace and scrapping a few of his older, slower gamers. The additions of Bo Horvat, Anthony Duclair, and others have reworked this staff from one that may beat you by taking part in old-school, bodily, grinding hockey with nice goaltending to at least one that will outscore groups on a given evening.
Final season, the Islanders started to fade because the play of stellar goaltender Ilya Sorokin dipped. Simply earlier than coaching camp started, it was made recognized that Sorokin had a again damage, acquired offseason surgical procedure, and had an unclear timetable for a return to full well being. A lot of what occurs with this staff will hinge on getting a wholesome Sorokin again to taking part in at a excessive stage as quickly as doable.
Prediction #13 – The Islanders are a Playoff Staff
Far too many individuals are overlooking the Islanders this season. With the addition of Duclair and a wholesome Sorokin, there is no such thing as a motive to suppose the staff ought to fall off. They’ll make the playoffs, not as a wild card entry. The staff boasts extreme offensive expertise, with the aforementioned Horvat and Duclair being joined by Mat Barzal, Kyle Palmieri, Brock Nelson, and Anders Lee. A whole season of head coach Patrick Roy, coupled with one of the vital full defensive items within the league, ought to enable the Islanders to win in a number of methods, which is a recipe for sustained success.
Prediction #14 – The Finest Defensive Unit within the Metro
The Islanders’ high six defensemen can match up with any staff within the division and the NHL. Placing the offense apart momentarily, this defensive unit makes each evening a problematic sport for opponents. Ryan Pulock, Adam Pelech, Noah Dobson, Alexander Romanov, and Scott Mayfield all blocked over 100 photographs final season. The unit is younger, fierce, and fearsome, averaging solely 27 years previous whereas not being afraid to drop the gloves and play bodily, as led by Romanov’s 157 hits and Pulock’s 99 hits in solely 58 video games.
Dobson is a budding celebrity. Breaking out final season with 70 factors at simply age 24, he offers the Islanders the bonafide offensive defenseman that they had been missing and has made the ability play far more formidable. He was on the ice for 35 of the staff’s 47 power-play objectives final season. He additionally performed to a plus-12, second on the staff behind fellow defenseman Romanov’s plus-23. They is probably not the flashiest unit, however none within the division are extra constant and versatile.
Prediction #15 – Simon Holmstrom and Maxim Tsyplakov will Mix for 50 Targets
Don’t look now however the Islanders are getting an infusion of younger expertise. Final season Simon Holmstrom broke out with 15 objectives in 75 NHL video games. The 22-year-old Swede is a pending RFA and poised so as to add to that profession excessive. Fellow pending RFA Maxim Tsyplakov took a distinct path to the NHL having performed final season throughout the Atlantic within the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). There Tsyplakov put up gaudy numbers, scoring 31 objectives in simply 65 video games. He’s older at 26 however has already demonstrated his sport will translate from the KHL to the NHL. Like Holmstrom, he’s bodily imposing at 6-foot-3, 220 kilos and within the preseason has proven his potential to skate just isn’t misplaced within the NHL sport. Time will inform, however Islanders followers needs to be excited in regards to the inflow of gifted RFAs becoming a member of the roster this season.
Philadelphia Flyers – 2023-24 End: sixth Place, 87 Factors
Final season’s model of the Flyers was troublesome to foretell. The staff was in a battle for playoff place a lot of the season earlier than accidents and commerce deadline losses slowed their progress, but they completed the season solely 4 factors out of a playoff spot. Philadelphia performed with an edginess that John Tortorella groups are accustomed to taking part in with.
They had been definitely bodily and by no means backed down from a problem, however the staff confirmed it may skate with groups and generally outscore them. It constructed an identification on getting pucks to the web and ending fourth within the NHL in photographs on purpose. Now, they face the problem of constructing on final season’s successes with out taking the step again groups typically do after a fast step ahead. They improved 12 factors in a single season; ought to they be capable of do even half that this season, they’d be in rivalry for a playoff bid. The expertise is there to succeed, however in a division devoid of simple wins, the expertise alone isn’t sufficient.
Prediction #16 – Flyers Make the Playoffs
The Flyers are a troublesome staff to play in opposition to. They’ve measurement, pace, snarl, and scoring. In probably the final cease of his profession, Tortorella has painstakingly constructed a daring and brutal staff in his picture. Final season was not a fluke. Had they not suffered accidents and the lack of goaltender Carter Hart, the Flyers would seemingly have made the playoffs. With a wholesome staff and the infusion of Matvei Mitchkov this season, they’re able to take the small leap wanted to make the postseason.
Prediction #17 – Owen Tippett Breaks Out
Owen Tippett is an issue. He’s a volume-shooting blur of an influence ahead. The 25-year-old is listed at 6-foot-1, 210 kilos, however performs greater. Final season, he was within the 99th percentile for high pace and pace bursts over 22 mph, the 98th percentile for photographs on purpose, and the 94th percentile for shot pace (Per NHL Edge). Additional, he averages 131 hits per 82 video games in his profession, boasting 309 in his 176 video games in Philly.
His skating stats don’t do him justice. Out of all NHL forwards, the common variety of pace bursts above 22 mph is three; Tippett did that 46 instances final season. Along with his pace and aggression, he must discover a solution to rating extra on the ability play if he desires to succeed in the 30 and even 40-goal mark, that are each attainable. Final season, he solely potted 5 power-play objectives. Suppose he had been so as to add three extra as he did the season earlier than; he would have been at 31 objectives. Tippett has the potential to play the position Chris Kreider did for Tortorella’s Rangers, which had a lot success simply over a decade in the past. In a division stuffed with younger, gifted forwards, Tippett is one constructed for the trendy sport and has as vibrant a future as any Flyers ahead in current reminiscence.
Pittsburgh Penguins – 2023-24 End: fifth Place, 88 Factors
The Penguins are a staff in transition, however their dedication to their core gamers is unwavering. Common supervisor Kyle Dubas has sought to rebuild the staff round its legendary core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. One casualty of that rebuild was star winger Jake Guentzel, who was moved ultimately season’s commerce deadline and signed this summer time by the Tampa Bay Lightning. In any other case, they return the identical staff from final season that missed the playoffs. The staff’s largest splash, apart from extending Crosby, was buying and selling with the Winnipeg Jets for disgruntled prospect Rutger McGroarty. He’s a gifted ahead and immediately improves the Penguins prospect pool – and can seemingly have a possibility to make and stick with the NHL membership this season.
Prediction #18 – Penguins Will Miss the Playoffs Once more
After making the playoffs for 16 straight seasons, the Penguins have now missed the playoffs for 2 in a row. It’s troublesome to see how the staff really acquired higher this offseason. Maybe one may think about that Erik Karlsson returns to his Norris Trophy methods and places up one other 100-point season, however the depth and expertise don’t appear to be there for Pittsburgh. Betting in opposition to Crosby is often a idiot’s errand because the star middle has continued to play at an elite stage whilst he enters his twentieth NHL season. Crosby can’t do it alone and the staff failed so as to add sufficient secondary scoring to beat the lack of Guentzel and haven’t mounted the protection or goaltending points that reared their head final season.
Prediction #19 – That is Mike Sullivan’s Last 12 months in Pittsburgh
Head coach Mike Sullivan has had unprecedented success on the helm of the Penguins. Final season was his first main the staff to a profitable share beneath .550. He’s a first-ballot Corridor of Fame coach and may have loads of alternatives, however his time in Pittsburgh seems to have run its course.
Most coaches have a shelf-life in a locker room, and a time comes when a staff wants a brand new voice. Now could be the time for Pittsburgh. Dubas is wise, having been by way of battles in Toronto, and he won’t embarrass Sullivan and can give him the respect he’s due.
Prediction #20 – Busy Deadline for Pittsburgh
The Penguins have six gamers on expiring contracts and 5 with two seasons left on their contracts – all with out restriction on motion. Dubas can be clever if the staff underperforms to leverage these gamers to achieve property to present him another likelihood to win a Cup with Crosby.
A participant like Lars Eller might be a beautiful piece to a contender in March along with his measurement and expertise. Equally, the staff may deliver again an excellent return for gamers like goalie Alex Nedeljkovic or Noel Acciari who may every play for 2 playoff runs for an buying staff. A participant like Kevin Hayes, who additionally has two years remaining, may resurrect his profession in Pittsburgh after which command property from a playoff staff.
Washington Capitals – 2023-24 End: 4th Place, 91 Factors
The Capitals had been the shock of the division final season. Inexplicably, they performed rejuvenated hockey and made it into the postseason. It’s just about unprecedented for a staff with a minus-37 purpose differential to make it into the playoffs, however the Capitals made it work. Finally, they discovered a solution to win shut video games and never sweat dropping large.
Many predicted the season would devolve into solely being about Ovechkin’s chase of Gretzky’s scoring document. As an alternative, rookie head coach Spencer Carbery introduced the staff collectively and solid a path to the playoffs. Washington didn’t relaxation on its laurels, as a substitute selecting to make large, daring offseason strikes starting with the acquisition of Pierre-Luc Dubois. They fortified the ahead group with a commerce for Andrew Mangiapane and an under-the-radar signing of Brandon Duhaime, whose pace and aggressive type will immediately make the Capitals tougher to play in opposition to. The most important strikes although occurred on the again finish. Discovering a method so as to add Matt Roy and Jakob Chychrun to Rasmus Sandin and future Corridor of Famer John Carlson makes them a risk to hitch the play on each shift. Add in an inflow of younger expertise in Hendrix Lapierre and Connor McMichael, and it is a staff that can shock individuals this season and is ready to maintain itself past being a goal-chasing sideshow.
Prediction #21 – Ovechkin Will End the Season Nonetheless Behind Gretzky
Ovechkin enters the season 41 objectives away from the all-time document held by Gretzky. Final season after a sluggish begin, he completed with 31 objectives and 65 factors. That matched the bottom full-season level output of his profession and was the fewest objectives he has scored in a full season. This can be the brand new regular for the Capitals captain. He simply turned 39 and continues to play a bodily, demanding sport. Over the previous two seasons, he has been credited with over 350 hits. He could also be slowing down and doubtlessly vulnerable to damage as he ages since he performs such a bodily sport, however he has proven no indicators of not having the ability to attain and eclipse Gretzky’s coveted document.
Prediction #22 – The Capitals will Lead the Division in Factors From Defensemen
Washington took large swings this offseason after dropping each T.J. Oshie and Niklas Backstrom for the season. Establishing a defensive high 4 of Carlson, Chychrun, Roy, and Sandin will trigger opponents suits. The primary three can be on high pairs and most groups’ high defensemen. To have three gamers at that stage, coupled with a 3rd pair of Trevor van Riemsdyk and Martin Fehervary, the Capitals may fairly count on 170 to 200 factors from their protection. Final season, the Rangers and Hurricanes led the division with 201 and 199 factors, respectively. Every staff has taken a step again on their protection, and the Capitals needs to be the beneficiaries.
Division-Huge Predictions
Prediction #23 – Particular Groups and Faceoff Domination
Final season, the Hurricanes and Rangers completed within the high 5 in energy play share and penalty kill. The Devils lurked simply exterior these positions, ending thirteenth in energy play and tenth in penalty killing. They had been main the league in energy play share when Hamilton went down for the season. This season, they need to climb again into the highest 5 on the heels of a wholesome Hamilton and a brand new scheme. With higher goaltending and a fortified protection, additionally they ought to compete for a spot within the high 5 in penalty killing, becoming a member of the Rangers and Hurricanes.
The division is stacked on the faceoff dot with gamers like Nico Hischier, Crosby, Erik Haula, Sebastian Aho, Trocheck, and now Hayes. Primarily based on final season’s numbers and offseason acquisitions, it’s cheap to imagine that 5 of the highest ten groups in faceoff share will come from the Metropolitan Division.
Prediction #24 – And the Award Goes to … A Metro Participant or Coach
Undoubtedly, the division may have its share of profitable gamers. The prediction is that the winners of the Vezina, Norris, and Jack Adams Trophies will come from the Metropolitan Division. There are a lot of nice candidates from throughout the division for every award. The Vezina will go to Sorokin, Shesterkin, or Markstrom. Jack Adams will go to Carbery, Roy, or Tortorella. And the Norris will go to Hamilton, Dobson, or Fox.
Prediction #25 – Division Winner and Playoff Groups
In reverse order, the groups will end: Penguins, Blue Jackets, Hurricanes, Flyers, Capitals, Rangers, Islanders, Devils.
The offseason strikes by the Metro groups have made it probably the most aggressive division within the NHL, high to backside. Predicting the unpredictable is inevitably fraught with hazard, however hopefully, these 25 predictions are an excellent information to the groups and correctly set expectations for the upcoming season. As final season confirmed, all it takes are accidents to the unsuitable gamers and a staff that buys right into a system, and something can occur.
