The Top of the Metropolitan Division is Tight and All Four Teams Have Legitimate Claims to the Division Crown
With the top four in the Metropolitan separating themselves from the rest of the pack, it's starting to feel like an epic battle to reach the top is incoming.
We're only a month into the 2024-25 season, but fans of teams in the Metropolitan Division already feel like they're watching the standings closely, waiting for other teams to stumble. The top of the Metro is crowded, with the Rangers, Hurricanes, Capitals, and Devils alternating chances at the top of the division. While it means little in November, it could mean we're in for a long fight for division supremacy over the coming months. Here's a breakdown of where we are and why each team has a legitimate chance of winning the division in April.
Washington Capitals
The Washington Capitals' start indicates that last season's postseason appearance wasn't a fluke. While they barely snuck in as a Wild Card team a season ago, the Capitals are soaring. After a subpar season, by his standards, Alex Ovechkin looks primed to break Wayne Gretzky's all-time goals record this season. The greatest goal-scorer of the generation has ten goals in 14 games, putting him on pace to cement himself as the best ever before the end of the year.
Ovechkin isn't the only player creating offense. Connor McMichael is experiencing a breakout season, tying the captain with ten goals. Dylan Strome has become a great distributor, leading the team with 18 assists and 22 points. Offseason addition Logan Thompson has yet to drop a decision, starting 7-0-0 with a 2.55 GAA. Their start has come in spite of injuries to TJ Oshie and Nicklas Backstrom, which will likely keep them out the entire season.
Why They Could Win the Metro- Of the four teams, I think the Capitals have the toughest path to the division crown. Their only slight this season has been their performance against their division rivals, with three of their four losses coming within the Metropolitan Division. However, this division is so unpredictable that Washington winning would make complete sense. If Ovechkin and McMichael can keep scoring, while getting some help from Tom Wilson and others, the Capitals might surprise the rest of the division.
New Jersey Devils
Health was a major concern for the New Jersey Devils last season as they missed the postseason. With an aggressive mindset going into the offseason, the Devils have come out looking like a much better team. Ranking in the Top 10 in goals per game, goals allowed per game, and both special teams disciplines, the Devils got the early jump by sweeping the Global Series against Buffalo and have played more games than any other team to this point.
The most impressive part of the Devils' start has been how much they've spread the wealth on offense. Captain Nico Hischier leads the team with ten goals, but Jack Hughes is right behind him with eight and Timo Meier, Stefan Noesen and Paul Cotter have seven each. Jesper Bratt and Dougie Hamilton have been the main distributors. Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen have provided stability between the pipes, something the team has sorely lacked in recent seasons.
Why They Could Win the Metro- First-year man Sheldon Keefe has experience with superstar playmakers. The Devils have the most comparable offensive talent to the New York Rangers, who I viewed as the team to beat in the division. They have the talent to outscore some of their defensive shortcomings. Assuming they don't work Jacob Markstrom into the ground and can stay healthy for most of the season, they could find the magic that put them in a dogfight with the Hurricanes two seasons ago for the division title.
Carolina Hurricanes
For a team who lost several key players during the offseason, there were concerns about how the Hurricanes would keep up with the rest of the division. In typical Carolina fashion, they've silenced their critics. Guided by an eight-game win streak, the Hurricanes have gotten contributions from their entire lineup to begin the season, especially their newest signees. Jack Roslovic paces the team with nine goals, Shayne Gostisbehere and Sean Walker have stepped in to form a strong second pair, and Eric Robinson has been an under-the-radar addition.
The real story for the Hurricanes has been Martin Necas. Riding a ten-game point streak, Necas is tied for third in the league with 24 points, as of Wednesday. He has overshadowed the starts of other All-Stars Sebastian Aho and Andrei Svechnikov, who are playing at a point-per-game pace, too. Necas has turned into a game-changer after an offseason that featured rampant speculation that he would be traded. I bet the Hurricanes are glad they kept him around.
Why They Could Win the Metro- Regular season success hasn't been the issue under Rod Brind'Amour. Since he took the helm in 2018, the Canes have reached the postseason every year, including three straight division titles from 2021 to 2023. Right now, they're one of the hottest teams in the league and while it would be ignorant to expect them to continue at their current pace, there doesn't appear to be a limit for this group. The real test will come if they make the postseason and try to get over the hump.
New York Rangers
I feel like the New York Rangers are a team that is acknowledged for being very good yet doesn't get talked about at the same level as other great teams. Maybe it's because they aren't as flashy as some of those other teams despite consistently being better, or because I don't live in New York to hear them being talking about. It usually isn't until later in the season and during the playoffs when we see the full strength of the Rangers shine through.
The individual numbers don't jump off the page for the Rangers like they do for some of the other teams in the division, with Artemi Panarin's ten goals and 22 points being the exception. However, they're Top 5 in goals scored and allowed per game with special teams that drive opponents insane. The Rangers have yet to play much within the division, with just three of their first 14 games coming against Metro opponents, but they've done considerable damage against the Atlantic Division to build their start.
Why They Could Win the Metro- Top to bottom, the Rangers have the toughest lineup in the division, especially in net. Igor Shesterkin will be worth every penny of his new contract once he signs it. He has formed a formidable tandem with Jonathan Quick, who has won his first three starts. Their defensive group rivals Carolina's as one of the best in the NHL. Most importantly, they're a team built to succeed in the playoffs with a coach who knows how to win. If they can get consistent secondary scoring to ease the burden on their top lines, the Rangers could find themselves playing in June.