The Metropolitan division has been perceived as one of the best in hockey for quite some time now. With the offseason winding down, let’s take a look at the state of every team in the Metropolitan.
Carolina Hurricanes
Additions: Ryan Dzingel, Max Pacioretty, Dylan Coghlan, Brent Burns, Ondrej Kase
Subtractions: Nino Niederreiter, Brendan Smith, Vincent Trocheck, Max Domi, Ian Cole, Tony DeAngelo
Verdict: Same
Analysis:
The Carolina Hurricanes made some interesting additions this summer, mostly through trade. Brent Burns should be a capable replacement for Tony DeAngelo, and Max Pacioretty is great when healthy. When healthy is the key though, as he expected to miss a large portion of the season following his surgery on a torn achilles on August 9th.
The only major loss was Vincent Trocheck at second-line center, but even without him the team is deep enough at the position that it shouldn’t affect them too much. Carolina probably isn’t much better if at all compared to last year, but they were also one of the best teams in the league last year so they should be okay.
Columbus Blue Jackets
Additions: Erik Gudbranson, Johnny Gaudreau
Subtractions: Dean Kukan, Oliver Bjorkstrand
Verdict: Better
Analysis:
Any team that gets a player like Johnny Gaudreau is going to be an improved team. Although, Columbus almost managed to make that not the case.
Giving $4,000,000 over four years to Erik Gudbranson is a start and trading away underrated winger Oliver Bjorkstrand after signing Patrik Laine to a mega-extension almost finished it off.
However, Gaudreau was a Hart Trophy candidate last season, and those don’t grow on trees. In the end, Columbus did marginally improve this summer, if only because of Johnny Hockey.
New Jersey Devils
Additions: Vitek Vanecek, Erik Haula, Brendan Smith, Ondrej Palat, John Marino
Subtractions: Janne Kuokkanen, P.K. Subban, Jimmy Vesey, Ty Smith, Pavel Zacha
Verdict: Better
Analysis:
Tell me where you’ve heard this before? Regardless of prior seasons, the Devils are the first team on this thus far that has improved somewhat significantly. They didn’t lose any major pieces added to areas where they were already strong.
The one spot where a change needed to be made was goaltending and that was the first position addressed with the acquisition of Vitek Vanecek. Erik Haula is a fine veteran replacement for Pavel Zacha, who fits more with what the team needs now and John Marino is an analytical darling.
The only questionable move was Ondrej Palat, if only for the latter half of the contract. Palat, the player, is a terrific addition. Though, that contrcat may age poorly.
After only one playoff appearance since 2012, this has to be the year where New Jersey makes the jump to competitiveness.
New York Islanders
Additions: Alexander Romanov
Subtractions: Andy Greene, Zdeno Chara
Verdict: Worse
Analysis:
The Islanders are the only team to have not signed a single unrestricted free agent this offseason. The only moves they made were firing one of the best coaches in NHL history in Barry Trotz. They followed this up by trading a first-round pick for a mediocre young defenseman.
Their roster didn’t get significantly worse, but they didn’t do anything to even try to do better when all of their rivals did, and again, fired Trotz. It’s in an unconventional way, but somehow general manager Lou Lamoriello managed to make this worse off. This despite not losing any major free agents.
New York Rangers
Additions: Jaroslav Halak, Ryan Carpenter, Vincent Trocheck
Subtractions: Justin Braun, Ryan Strome, Andrew Copp, Kevin Rooney, Tyler Motte, Frank Vatrano, Alexander Georgiev
Verdict: Worse
Analysis:
Of the Metropolitan teams, it appears the Rangers are one of the eight that are certainly worse. However, that can be faulted to the fact that they just didn’t have the cap space to keep their unrestricted free agents.
Jaroslav Halak is a fine backup, Ryan Carpenter is a decent bottom-six forward, and Vincent Trocheck can replace what Ryan Strome brought, and probably a little more. The additions just don’t equal or improve on the losses, which is why the Rangers got worse.
Note: Tyler Motte hasn’t officially signed anywhere else yet, but is a unrestricted free agent which is why he was included as a subtraction.
Philadelphia Flyers
Additions: Justin Braun, Nicolas Deslaruiers, Tony DeAngelo
Subtractions: Keith Yandle, Oskar Lindblom, Martin Jones
Verdict: Worse
Analysis:
The Flyers were awful last year and the general consensus for next season is that they’ll be awful again. They downgraded in the bottom-six, buying out cancer-survivor Oskar Lindblom just so they could give Nic Deslaruiers a four-year contract. Tony DeAngelo is a good offensive defenseman, but he doesn’t play defense.
Bringing back Justin Braun, who was flipped at the deadline is nice, he’s solid, but that’s not enough. Philadelphia doesn’t even have a solidified backup goaltender now that Martin Jones is gone.
The Flyers didn’t lose as much value as the Rangers, but enough that they definitely didn’t stay the same or get any better.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Additions: Ty Smith, Jeff Petry, Ryan Poehling, Drake Caggiula, Jan Rutta
Subtractions: John Marino, Mike Matheson, Evan Rodrigues, Brian Boyle
Verdict: Same
Analysis:
Most of the Penguins additions were retaining the talent they already had. However, if you don’t consider that, they still had an okay summer.
Losing John Marino and Michael Matheson is rough, but Jeff Petry, at times, has been a great defenseman. So, only time will tell to see how he does in Pittsburgh. Jan Rutta also had success in Tampa Bay that should carry over to the Penguins. Drake Caggiula and Ryan Poehling are both fine replacements for Brian Boyle and Evan Rodrigues.
Note: Evan Rodrigues hasn’t officially signed anywhere else yet, but is a unrestricted free agent which is why he was included as a subtraction.
Washington Capitals
Additions: Henrik Borgstrom, Dylan Strome, Charlie Lindgren, Darcy Kuemper, Erik Gustafsson, Connor Brown.
Subtractions: Johan Larsson, Vitek Vanecek, Ilya Samsonov, Justin Schultz
Verdict: Better
Analysis:
Last, but not least, the have the Washington Capitals. The Capitals actually improved quite a bit on paper. Tom Wilson will miss a large chunk of the season, and Nicklas Backstrom might not play at all, so the additions of Connor Brown and Dylan Strome make a ton of sense.
Goaltending is where the team improved the most though, with the addition of the best goalie on the market, Darcy Kuemper. Henrik Borgstrom is solid bottom-six depth, and Erik Gustafsson should do an alright job replacing what Justin Schultz provided over the past two years.
Summary
- Better Off: New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, Columbus Blue Jackets
- No Real Change: Carolina Hurricanes, Pittsburgh Penguins
- Worst Off: New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers