Here are my predictions for the Metropolitan Division this season. *Wildcard
Okay before the haters say their piece, this will be a very competitive division and if this list was upside down it could still make sense. All 8 teams have a shot at making the playoffs. Washington is a beast in the regular season with no signs of slowing down. Expect big years out of Backstrom and Holtby who are pending free agents. Pittsburgh has a bit of a different look this year but will find a way to succeed as they always do. New Jersey was the loudest team this off season and will get back to the playoffs with a full healthy season of Hall. Columbus lost 2 key pieces in Bobrovski and Panarin who were with them all season, but they also have a strong core and added Nyquist which will keep them competitive. I don't have them in a wildcard spot though. Carolina had an incredible season and their biggest challenge will be trying to repeat it with new expectations. The Rangers might have had the fastest rebuild of all time. There are some variables with how the young guys do and in net, but I have them 6th for now. Philadelphia is always the hardest team to predict. They can either be really good or really bad. Hopefully they can get some stability in net with Carter Hart and we'll go from there. Finally, the Islanders are the last team to mention. Wihtout Robin Lehner it might be difficult to repeat that very surprising season and this division is too strong to justify them being higher. Don't count out Barry Trotz though, if this team finished top 3 in the division I wouldn't even be surprised.
1. Washington Capitals
2. Pittsburgh Penguins
3. New Jersey Devils
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
5. Carolina Hurricanes
6. New York Rangers
7. Philadelphia Flyers
8. New York Islanders
Before the haters say their things, I would like to mention that saying "your ranking sucked you garbage" is pointless because anything can happen (we have seen it last year with NYI and CAR making the playoff). Good job I like your ranking and I think it could happen.
Before the haters say their things, I would like to mention that saying "your ranking sucked you garbage" is pointless because anything can happen (we have seen it last year with NYI and CAR making the playoff). Good job I like your ranking and I think it could happen.
Thanks! It was a tough decision. You can literally pull names out of a hat for this division and that guess would be just as good
Not saying Lenher did not have a good year but Greiss had just as good as a year. The whole Lenher thing is overblown about how important he was to the team. He was basically on a 50/50 game spilt with Greiss
I get this for the most part but i think you're gonna see columbus take a major hit, they won't be able to replicate panarins production. Which will drop the rest of the top line, even with adding nyquist. I think Carolina will be 4th and they will give the wildcard contenders a run for their money
Just cant see how Columbus would be able to make the playoffs this year. They just lost arguably the best goalie in the league and an 80-100 point guy. And they replaced them with Nyquist, which is pretty sad. No hate to the Jackets though as I do love a lot of their younger players, I just dont see how they can make it with the Rangers, Devils, Canes, and Philly all making their teams better.