Ice HockeyNHL
2018 Getty Images
We end our journey among the 31 teams of the NHL with an analysis of the Metropolitan Division, which for three years has hosted the winning team of the Stanley Cup.
Wednesday 3 October 2018 27 minutes reading time
The Metropolitan Division has been for years the stage of the rivalry between the Washington Capitals of Alexander Ovechkin, the outgoing champions, and the Pittsburgh Penguins of Sidney Crosby, who also this year will fight for the division's victory, with the Columbus Blue Jackets ready to fight . The Philadelphia Flyers and the New Jersey Devils will try to reconfirm the good season of last year, while the Carolina Hurricanes will try to redeem a disappointing year. For New Yorkers it will be an uphill season: the Islanders will have to make up for the start of Tavares, while the Rangers have decided to undertake a demanding rebuilding.
CAROLINA HURRICANES
A new property (Tom Dundon), a new GM (Don Waddell) and a new coach (the great former Rod Brind'Amour). These are the premises of the new Hurricanes season. The new management during the 'summer has made some trade from the front page: if on the one hand the maxi exchange with Calgary has brought in Carolina the strong defender Hamilton, on the other leaves perplexing the sale of Jeff Skinner in Buffalo for Cliff Pu and a handful of draft picks. What is about to begin is another transition year for Carolina, which does not qualify for the playoffs for 9 years.
ATTACKS With the departure of Jeff Skinner, the strong points of the attack will be 21-year-old Sebastian Aho, 23-year-old Teuvo Teräväinen and veteran Jordan Staal. The future of the Canes depends largely on the young Andrei Svechnikov, Martin Necas Victor Rask. Ferland's engagement was also positive, purchased in the maxi-exchange for Dougie Hamilton. The new arrivals should ensure greater efficiency in the powerplay that last year placed 22nd in the league
DIFESALe summer moves have instead significantly strengthened the defense department. Dougie Hamilton is the top d-man that served and will go to make a copy with the solid Calvin De Haan, taken during the free agency. The second line should instead be formed by Jaccob Slavin and Brett Pesce who already behaved very well last year. Justin Faulk, Trevor Van Riemsdyk and Haydin Fleury will play the two places in the 3rd line. With these moves, it is hoped for an improvement even in the penalty kill.
PORTIERISi is the most critical department. Scott Darling last year was nothing short of disastrous (SV% 0.888) and in the summer the Canes failed to bring home a new goalkeeper. They then turned to Petr Mrazek who will play his chances to be the new goalkeeper.
COLUMBUS BLUE JACKETS
After years of hardship, the Columbus Blue Jackets finally boast a competitive roster and for the first time they managed to qualify for two years in a row to the playoffs, getting defeated in both cases against the team that would later win the Stanley Cup (in 2016 against Pittsburgh and in 2017 against Washington). At present they have all the credentials to try to win the Metropolitan Division. Unfortunately, Columbus still remains a square with little appeal and for the management it is always difficult to keep the valuable pieces on the expiry of the contract. Problem that will resurface also next summer with Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky, whose contracts will expire in July 2019.
ATTACCOPanarin is the top player of the offensive department, with 82 points; the first line with Dubois and Atkinson is top notch. The Blue Jackets hope that next season Wenneberg, Jenner and Foligno will be able to be more productive, after a rather disappointing year. With the addition of Riley Nash, purchased during the free agency, and with Anthony Duclair, GM Kekalainen hopes to have a third more effective line.
DEFENSEThe defensive department is the strong point: Seth Jones is a defender who will play the Norris Trophy in the next few years and 21 year-old Werenski has proved to be a defender of infinite talent. Although in the post season Columbus lost Ian Cole and Jack Johnson, the couple Savard-Murray and the young Nutivaara (24 years) - Carlsson (21) should not make them regret.
PORTIER It is difficult to imagine the Blue Jackets without Bobrovsky, not only because the Russian is now the goalkeeper for 6 seasons, but also because behind him there are not today worthy substitutes. In the organization there are several prospective keepers (among them Elvis Merzlikins from Lugano, a well-known face for us Italians who closely follow the Swiss championship), but nobody ready to replace Bobrovsky in the near future, should he not find an agreement for renewal.
NEW JERSEY DEVILS
Last year the Devils were able to break a fast from the playoffs lasted for 5 years, grabbing the last place available as a Wild Card. The first step towards a return to the glories of the '90s / 2000s? Difficle to say. The good season of the Devils is mainly due to an exceptional Taylor Hall, author of 93 points and winner of the HART Trophy as MVP. During the summer, the GM Shero did not make big purchases, while the outgoing players were different.
ATTACK Taylor Hall, as mentioned, has put on the score 93 points and represents the fixed point and unmovable while the rookie Nico Hischier (1st choice in draft 2017) has played a good season, scoring 52 points. Hall definitely needs better support from the rest of the team. It is hoped this year that Palmieri and Johansson will not suffer other serious injuries and that younger players like Coleman and Bratt can improve their performances.
DIFESACon the exchange that in November led to New Jersey Sami Vatanen, the Devils have put a nice patch to a department that, in the defensive phase, was rather deficient. This year the defensive department this year will be similar to the one seen last year, finishing 17th with 2.93 GAA. Worth mentioning is the excellent rookie season Will Butcher, who has achieved the beauty of 44 points in his rookie year.
PORTIERICory Schneider, complicit in physical problems, has played a disappointing regular season, readily redeemed during the playoffs: despite the elimination of Devils in the first round against Tampa Bay, the goalie has played an exceptional series, with an SV% of .950. During the summer Schneider has undergone an operation that will make him lose the first part of the season. the Kinkaid back-up is ready to take over and show that he deserves his starting position.
NEW YORK ISLANDERS
The June engagement of Lou Lamoriello as new GM and Barry Trotz - fresh Stanley Cup winner - as a coach, were not enough to handle the superstar John Tavares, who moved to Toronto. The management rushed to make a number of purchases, even if none of these seems to be able to make up for the captain's farewell.
ATTACK The Isles offensive phase last year was top notch (7th attack and 6th power play of the league). Mathew Barzal in his rookie season was the top scorer with 85 points, winning the Calder Memorial Trophy, as best debutant. This year will take the center place on the front line. Excellent season also by Josh Bailey, Anders Lee and Jordan Eberle who will try to reconfirm on last year's levels. It remains a free place as the center of the second line, which will be played one between Valtteri Filppula, Brock Nelson and the Russian Jan Kovar.
DEFENSE The main deficit of Isles remains the defensive unit, which was the worst in the league both in 5vs5 and in penalty kill. In the summer only Luca Sbisa was bought, while Calvin de Haan, one of the best d-man from Isles, moved to the Hurricanes. The management hopes that the new coach Barry Trotz can give a more functional and effective tactical approach.
PORTIER With the departure of Halak, the new takeover Robin Lehner (coming from Buffalo) and Thomas Greiss will play the starting spot, with the first definitely favored on the second. Greiss last year has disappointed (SV%. 892) and, if he wants to fight for the role of starter, will have to return to the levels of 2015/16, when he led the Isles in the second round of the playoffs with an excellent SV% 0.925.
NEW YORK RANGER
In the last 12 years, the Rangers have missed the playoffs only 2 times, in 2010, they arrived 2 times in the final of the Conference (in 2012 and 2015) and they played the Stanley Cup in 2014. So when last February GM Jeff Gorton and President Glen Slather said they would give way to a rebuilding process, many were stunned. In a few months, McDonagh and JT Miller were sold, sent to Tampa, Rick Nash and Nick Holden in the direction of Boston and Micheal Grabner in New Jersey. Revolution that also passes from the bench: Alain Vigneault has been exonerated and replaced by David Quinn, who after 5 years at Boston University, is ready to make his debut in NHL.
ATTACK One of the shortcomings of the roster in recent years has been the lack of a top 80/90 points player. In the last 10 years, only on one occasion the Rangers have had a player capable of reaching 80 points (Marian Gaborik in 2010), while in the last 5 years the best was Rick Nash with 69 points in 2014-15. For the next season the Rangers trust the definitive explosion of 23-year-old Buchnevic and trust that prospects Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil prove to be top-6 strikers. Good renewals during the summer of the RFA, Namestnikov (arrived from Tampa Bay) Hayes, Skjei and Vesey.
DEFENSE The defense last year was certainly not at the height, 29th in the NHL. Shattenkirk closed early on a difficult start to the season, with a knee injury that held him 40 games. De Angelo (23) and Skjei (22) have disappointed, but considering their age, there is plenty of time to prove that it was a road accident. The purchase of Claesson and McQuaid should give the department more physicality.
PORTIERILundqvist has faced one of the most difficult seasons of his career. Despite the problems with one knee and an uncertain defense, this year he managed to put together an SV% of .915. Also considering his 37 years, Alexander Georgiev is ready to take over the back-up.
PHILADELPHIA FLYERS
Last year the Flyers played a good season qualifying for the playoffs, except to go out in the first round against the most accredited Pittsburgh Penguins This year they will try to confirm: the return of James van Riemsdyk and the growth of some young people can give the definitive push to this group
ATTACKS 'attack of the Flyers behaved well. Giroux, Couturier and Voracek were the authors of an important season, supported by young Konecny ​​and Patrick, who continue to improve. The return of James van Riemsdyk in the summer will only improve a good offensive department, allowing Giroux to return to play in his natural position in the middle.
DIFESALa couple Provorov and Gostisbehere is the future of Philadelphia, but already today they make the difference. The department includes other twenties: Robert Hagg, Travis Sanheim and probably the prospect Philippe Myers. Gudas and MacDonald will cluck and use force when necessary. From the attack a precious help, also like penalty killing, will come from Sean Couturier, who last year ended with a +28 of plus / minus.
PORTIERThe weak point of this team seems to be between the posts. The veteran duo Elliott and Neuvirth do not give enough guarantees, on paper, for a long and successful season race. The fans hope to see the prospect Carter Hart and Alex Lyon soon.
PITTSBURGH PENGUINS
Unfortunately for the fans of Pens, the back-to-back of 2016 and 2017, has not turned into a historic three-peat, with the 'elimination in the second round of the playoff by the Washington Capitals, then become champions. Despite this, the Pens season was anything but disappointing and Pittsburgh is still a candidate for the title this year. The hard core of the players is always the same, of the highest quality, with the likes of Crosby, Malkin, Kessel, Letang and Guentzel. During the off-season the Pittsburgh lost Conor Sheary and Matt Hunwik, sent to Buffalo, while incoming to report the purchase of defenders Jack Johnson, Derek Grant and Juuso Riikola.
ATTACK Confirmed the "Big3" Malkin, Kessel and Crosby who finished the season in the NHL top 10 for points scored. Despite several rumors referring to a discontent of Kessel for having often played in the third line, and then as a possible starting, Phil remained in his place. The first line should almost certainly see Crosby flanked by Guentzel, back from an excellent year, while on the right wing nothing is yet decided: Kessel could play first, or second with Malkin, leaving in this case a free spot in the first for one between Rust, Hornqvist and the young rookie Daniel Sprong. In the third it is all to be defined, with the only fixed point Derick Brassard in the center. Even the power play was exceptional: the special team was the best in the league with 26.2%.
DEFENSEThe defensive department was the team's Achilles' heel. With 3.02 GAA, it was the 20th defense of the League. Even in penalty kill did not shine: 17 ° of the league with 80.0%. The defense lost Matt Hunwick, replaced by Jack Johnson. The idea is to have a puck-mover for each defensive line: so first should play Letang and Domulin, in second Justin Schultz (limited by injuries last season) with Johnson and in third Maatta flanked by Oleksias or the new purchase Riikola.
PORTIERIAl his first year as a starter, Matt Murray, protagonist of the two Stanley Cup conquered by the franchise of Pennsylvania, has disappointed the expectations, also due to repeated physical annoyances. Behind him, 23-year-old Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith will compete for the back-up role.
WASHINGTON CAPITALS
Team that wins does not change: in attack 11/12 of the rose have been confirmed, in defense is also unchanged top4, and among the posts there will still be Braden Holtby. The real news is instead on the bench, with the farewell of Barry Trotz moved to the Islanders, replaced by the debutant Todd Reidern, who has been the assistant coach of Trotz in the last four years and will guarantee the right continuity, both in terms of tactics and harmony in the locker room.Proprio the chemistry in the locker room was the keystone of last year's victory. In the season when, on paper, the Capitals had the probably less competitive roster of the 4 years of management Trotz, the harmony between the players and the staff was able to give that extra gear to overcome the eternal rivals of Pittsburgh in the 2nd turn of the playoffs, giving the La to the epic ride to success.
ATTACK The Caps had the 9th attack of the league with an average of 3.12 GPG, and there is no reason to think that the performance of Ovi and teammates can not match, if not improve, those of last year. With 49 goals, Ovechkin was the top scorer of the Lega, winning his 7th Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy in 13 disputed seasons. Next to him, Evgeny Kuznetsov, Nicklas Backstrom, TJ Oshie, Lars Eller and Tom Wilson provide considerable depth to the roster. The home specialty is still the power play, 7th in the 17/18 season, with 22.5%. The quintet formed by Ovie, Kuznetsov, Backstrom, Oshie and with Carlson in directing this year promises to be lethal.
DIFESANIn the regular season the defense of Washington did not impress, 16th in the NHL with almost 3 goals conceded by the average per game (2.90 GAA). However, in the second part of the season and during the playoffs he showed a substantial change of register. Carlson (15 goals and 53 assists) will play in the front line, joined by Michael Kempny, and behind them Washington will count on Orlov, Niskanen, Djoos and Orpik. . To be revised by the penalty killing (15th in the League), which will also have to do without the specialist Jay Beagle, settling in Vancouver.
GOALIEBraden Holtby in the regular season played in the worst season of his career, but he promptly redeemed during the playoffs, with fundamental rescues (we all remember his miraculous parade on Tuch). This year of course is reconfirmed as the goalkeeper. To contend the back-up spot there will be the goalie of Hershey Bears (AHL) Phoenix Copley and the young prospect 21 year old Ilya Samsonov who promises to be the future goalkeeper of the franchise.
© ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Social media engagement
Ultimi in Sport invernali
Dopo tre piazze d'onore, si sblocca Jessica Hilzinger nello slalom bis di Cerro Catedral. Aihara beffa i tedeschi
South American Cup 2026: la specialista tedesca, dopo che Mijares Ruf e Good sono uscite nella 1^ manche, batte nettamente Baruzzi Farriol per il suo primo successo in assoluto nel circuito. A livello maschile Germania in serie alle spalle del nipponico, che regola di 7 centesimi Palamaras: si migliora ancora Simonelli. Sabato doppio gigante in programma sulle nevi argentine.
438