Way Too Soon NHL Power Rankings for the Metropolitan Division

It’s still the Alex Ovechkin, T.J. Oshie and Tom Wilson show in the Nation’s Capital. Even though Ovechkin is an expiring contract, he’ll finish out his days in DC while looking to surpass Wayne Gretzky‘s all-time goals record. This team still has forward scoring depth in Jakub Vrana, Carl Hagelin and Richard Panik, coupled with a farm system that has been reloaded with young talent.

The defense is still solid with John Carlson, Dmitry Orlov, and big, beefy Brenden Dillon. I am iffy about the Justin Schultz signing, not because I’m a salty yinzer, but the guy can’t stay healthy. That two-year, $8 million dollar contract doesn’t look good if he can’t stay on the ice.

The goalie situation does look pretty good with a young Ilya Samsonov, but now they have a King in the Nation’s Capital in former New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. They’ll be firmly in the hunt to get a second Stanley Cup for Ovechkin and a first ring for Lundqvist.

Once again, as a yinzer, this burns like the hottest of hot wings for me to admit. But this team is good, scary good. If last year’s Playoffs were a sneak preview then this team will be in the running for a Stanley Cup. Claude Giroux will still do Claude Giroux things and, with Jakub Voracek and James van Riemsdyk, I love their scoring depth especially if Sean Couturier shows up. Then, throwing in young talent in the ilk of Joel Farabee, Morgan Frost and Isaac Ratcliffe from the farm system, they have depth for days.

This is another solid defense team and very young with the oldest being Justin Braun at 33, while everyone in Philly is hoping Shayne Gostisbehere has a bounce-back season. The Flyers also have plenty of young talent on the back-end in Ivan Provorov , Travis Sanheim and Robert Hagg around them with more in the pipeline.

But, the selling point is their new hero in goal in Carter Hart who had a coming-out party in the Playoffs last year. This kid appears to be the real deal and is ready for the big lights in South Philadelphia.  I don’t like Brian Elliott sticking around but, in a shortened season with probably more back-to-backs, it could be worse. But, if things go south with him you could always call up Alex Lyon from Allentown. To me the Philadelphia Flyers are the most complete team in the metropolitan as of November.

Well, those are my way too soon Power Rankings for the Metropolitan Division, thanks everyone for reading, and stay safe.