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Metropolitan Division: Ranking the goaltending for each team

By Ant Barberio

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 24: Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals prepares to play against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Capital One Arena on April 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 24: Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals prepares to play against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Capital One Arena on April 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images /

In what should be a competitive Metropolitan Division, goaltending could be the difference maker. 

Growing up a New Jersey Devils fan, I was treated to watching amazing goaltending. The best goaltender the sport of hockey has ever seen in Martin Brodeur lead the Devils for their glory years with his acrobatic heroics. The goaltending of the Metropolitan Division has changed a lot since Martin Brodeur hung up his skates for the last time.

The highlights didn’t belong to only the Devils. There was the 2001 Stanley Cup final where Brodeur faced off against his idol Patrick Roy of the Colorado Avalanche in a losing effort. In 2009 then Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward would emerge victorious over Brodeur.

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And then there was the player that Devils fans love to hate – Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers. Whenever the Devils and Rangers would face-off, all eyes were glued to the opposing ends of the ice as the two goaltenders would duel throughout the night.

The Metro figures to be one of the most competitive divisions in the NHL next season. There’s not much of a dropoff between the best team and the worst. Goaltending can be the ultimate equalizer.

So it wouldn’t be surprising if goaltending wound up deciding who makes the playoffs out of the Metropolitan Division and who doesn’t.

These rankings are purely based on projected number one and two goaltenders for the next season, with prospects not taken into account.

Now, as we enter the next season, let’s look at goaltending throughout the Metropolitan Division.

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