The Metropolitan Division can be summarized as a brutal cage match that spits out one contender but always leaves the door open for them to return at the price of another team's sanity. Currently, four teams inhabit eight of the available Eastern Conference playoff spots. For each team to have a chance at the Cup, what are each of their specific needs?
Carolina Hurricanes: A Second Line Center
This drum has been beating consistently for a while now. The Carolina Hurricanes, and more importantly their fans, have likely come to the logical conclusion that the Jesperi Kotkaniemi experiment has failed systematically. With Kotkaniemi now hosting the fourth line and Logan Stankoven manning the second line, the musical chairs at the center position has only displayed how drastically the Hurricanes are in need of stability at the center position. Kotkaniemi and his short comings, who has already been the subject of many trade rumors that the Hurricanes have been involved with (with the Hurricanes coming close to acquiring Quinn Hughes from Vancouver), will require the Hurricanes to search for a highly coveted asset in a second-line center.
Let's face it, while Quinn Hughes is a generational defenseman, the Hurricanes did not need another offensive defenseman, as Shayne Gostisbehere has been excellent this year. The Hurricanes are in desperate need of a commodity that is the subject of the NHL arms race every season, the second-line center, with centers such as Brock Nelson fetching a king's ransom at the 2024-2025 trade deadline. The only realistic target would be Nashville's Ryan O'Reilly, who likely fits the Hurricane's short-term bill for a second-line center, which would be his ceiling at his current age and production rate. However, it should be noted that O'Reilly is likely a temporary solution to a long-term problem.
Philadelphia Flyers: A first line center
The Carolina Hurricanes at least have Sebastian Aho as the top-line spearhead; the Flyers are currently manning a one-two punch of Sean Couturier and Christian Dvorak. It should be noted that both are having very decent seasons, but they are not the solutions in the long term, especially considering how great Philadelphia's wing depth is throughout the lineup.
If finding a second-line center is difficult, imagine how hard it will be to acquire a first-line center. But one clear name does come to mind in the form of Elias Pettersson. Funny enough, he could be an excellent second-line center for the Carolina Hurricanes, but for this scenario, he would be an intriguing first-line center for the Flyers. Let's face it, Pettersson needs a fresh start. With reports of his demeanor and work ethic in Vancouver seeping through the media cracks, the Swedish center needs a change of scenery and a fighting chance to succeed.
It could be argued that Pettersson could be a part of Vancouver's long-term plans, as he could continue to serve as the Canuck's first-line center with Marco Rossi as his second-line shadow. But it can also be argued that the Canucks must look to acquire more draft capital to either boost their blue line or center depth at this year's loaded draft. Pettersson would expand Philadelphia's offensive capabilities and provide them more flexibility, with Pettersson manning the first-line center role and either Dvorak or Couturier maintaining the second-line role. As a result, the Flyers could stabilize their center position for the long term as they seek to capitalize on Pettersson's relatively young age.
The New York Islanders: A star winger
This season for the New York Islanders has been a rollercoaster but an exceptional ride at the very least. This team had no expectations besides the development of, now-franchise defenseman, Matthew Schaefer. The 2025 first overall pick, who has been a dominant two-way presence, has effectively eliminated the need for immediate help on the blue line. So where do the Islanders go from here, and what do they need to stay competitive?
Well, if the Hurricanes and the Flyers have always needed a top-six center, the Islanders have always needed a top-six winger. Luckily for the Islanders, wingers are abundant in today's NHL, with many teams on the decline potentially being more than happy to part with a winger for a roster player and some draft capital. The Islanders currently hold two first-round picks, one being the Colorado Avalanche's first-round pick, and have a plethora of players of value who could be sent the other way. But who is available?
Currently, the Islanders have only been reportedly interested in Vancouver's Kieffer Sherwood, who would fit like a glove on the Islanders' middle six. However, why not shoot for a bigger fish? The Islanders' trade targets should not be aging forwards who could be short-term mercenaries; they need young and developing star-potential wingers that have interest in finding a long-term home. A player that certainly comes to mind is Jordan Kyrou, a dynamic winger who has been drowning in the inconsistency of the St. Louis Blues.
But the Islanders have always needed more finishers and more goal scorers, and another name that comes to mind is Philadelphia's Travis Konecny. Now why would a star winger on a current playoff team be traded to a division rival? Well, it is only January, and while both teams could be spit out of their playoff spot, the Islanders likely have the best chance of remaining in said playoff spot because they have two things that the Flyers do not have: a star goaltender and center depth. If the Flyers should become sellers at the deadline, Bo Horvat's cousin could become a fascinating piece alongside him on the first line.
A last food for thought would be what if the Islanders take a 180 and seek to acquire a defenseman, likely a right-handed defenseman, to mentor Matthew Schaefer? Should they take that route, a defenseman that could fit that bill quite nicely is Vancouver's Filip Hronek. An excellent and relatively young two-way defenseman, Hronek could provide excellent stability and mentorship to a star-studded Schaefer. If Vancouver were to truly begin the total rendition of their roster, Hronek is a blue line threat that could stimulate Schaefer's already dynamic game.