Before every season, the best and the "brightest" minds in the hockey world put out their preseason predictions for how they think the season we're about to watch will unfold. I'm not sure anyone saw this type of season coming for the Metropolitan Division. Just one look at the standings conjures a hundred questions about what we've seen unfold over the last four months.
After only earning three postseason spots last season, it looks as if the Metro is about to do the same thing this season, doing little to change the growing narrative that the division isn't very good. However, the one ray of consistency shining through the chaos has been the Carolina Hurricanes. While it's important to talk about their success, we need to talk about their division rivals, too.
The Rangers are waiving the white flag, so let the fire sale begin
The New York Rangers are the only team in the Eastern Conference currently below .500, and they're not close to breaking that. They were shut out on home ice for the seventh time on Thursday by the Hurricanes, who did the same in November when they visited. Everything that can go wrong for the Rangers has gone spectacularly wrong.
They've already started to sell, sending Carson Soucy to Long Island before Wednesday's blockbuster deal that shipped Artemi Panarin to Los Angeles. I think this is only the beginning for them. They've already announced a "retool" instead of a rebuild, so they should be active before the March 6 deadline. I suspect that Vincent Trocheck might be one of the next dominoes to fall.
They'll likely get some reinforcements after the break, with Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox working back from injuries, though the damage has been done. The "Fire Drury!" chants during Thursday's contest were hard to miss. The fan base is, rightfully, upset with the product on the ice, so it's time to take a step back and accept that this is a lost season for them.
Injuries, inconsistency have derailed the Devils' season
While the Rangers are below .500, the Devils are the next closest team to them, just one game above. Despite all of the offensive weapons that they possess, the Devils can't score goals, sitting with the third-fewest in the league (143). A major contributor to this is the fact that they can't keep their entire roster on the ice at the same time.
Injuries to their biggest stars have prevented them from gaining much momentum after a torrid start. Jack Hughes has missed 21 games. His brother, Luke, is currently dealing with a shoulder injury. Stefan Noesen had knee surgery and is out long-term. Brett Pesce has missed over 20 games. Jacob Markstrom has been limited to 30 games in the net. It has been a struggle to stay healthy.
The Devils have already made one small deal, sending Ondrej Palat to the Islanders, but I'm not sure that the Devils are going into panic mode just yet. Dougie Hamilton's future is going to be one of the biggest stories to watch before the deadline. He went on an insane ten-game point streak after being scratched, so there might be a team willing to trade for him, despite his unsavory contract.
Internal issues overshadow the product on the ice in Philadelphia
At the end of November, the Philadelphia Flyers were firmly in the hunt for a playoff spot. They were stuck in a sea of teams atop the division. Their season started to turn at the beginning of December, and it has gotten especially bad over the last month. Since December 1, the Flyers are 11-13-7, and they've recorded just three wins in their last 15 games.
A lot of the recent talk has surrounded the ongoing "issues" between Head Coach Rick Tocchet and young winger Matvei Michkov. The sophomore slump has been real for Michkov, who has played well below his pace from last season after finishing fourth for the Calder Trophy. Tocchet has been critical of his conditioning at the start of the season, and his role continues to diminish.
It's overshadowing what has been an otherwise decent season for the Flyers. Their gamble on Trevor Zegras has proven fruitful, with the former Duck hitting 20 goals before the break, and Travis Konecny continues to lead the charge. Dan Vladar has also been strong in the net. The Flyers might not be completely out of the race just yet.
Playoff, veteran experience should serve the Capitals well after the break
Of the teams currently outside of the cut line in the Eastern Conference, I'm the most confident in the Washington Capitals' ability to get on the right side of it. They are getting consistent scoring depth throughout their lineup, including the defense. They have an Olympian between the pipes who is among the best in the league. Not to mention, the all-time leading goal scorer.
They own an edge over many of the teams around them in the vast wealth of experience that they possess. It will serve them well during the stretch run, assuming they can stay healthy. They received a big boost to their lineup when Pierre-Luc Dubois returned on Thursday night. Once they get Charlie Lindgren, Connor McMichael, and Sonny Milano back into the mix, they'll be set.
The Capitals will also have the benefit of the fewest games after the Olympics. They've already played 59 games, one more than any other team. It might be a small difference, but it's a difference, nonetheless. I could easily see them hopping into the Top 3 of the Metropolitan Division. If there's one area they can focus on, it's their special teams, with both units ranked 20th or worse.
The hottest team heading into the break...the Columbus Blue Jackets?
It's not that the Blue Jackets were abysmal when they relieved Dean Evason of his duties in mid-January. They were stuck at .500 and couldn't fight their way through the other contenders. Bringing in Rick Bowness has completely turned their season around. Since Bowness took over, the Blue Jackets are 10-1-0, entering the break on a league-best seven-game winning streak.
This hot stretch hasn't gotten them above the cut line, but they're the first team out, sitting four points behind the Islanders for third in the division and the Bruins for the second Wild Card spot. They've already made a big trade, adding Mason Marchment from Seattle, and if they had plans to trade him before the deadline, they might not have a reason to now.
Another big reason for this success has been the play of Norris-hopeful Zach Werenski. He's one of two defensemen with over 60 points, with his 62 being one behind Edmonton's Evan Bouchard. He also has 20 goals, trailing only Washington Jakob Chychrun for the most by a defenseman. If the season ended today, he'd have a very strong case to win the award for the first time.
The Islanders are stuck in a very confusing spot
After winning the draft lottery to secure the top pick in the draft this past offseason, the New York Islanders have to like where they are in the standings and how well Matthew Schaeffer has acclimated to life in the NHL. Sitting third in the division, the Islanders have a few teams breathing down their necks.
However, there are legitimate questions surrounding whether this team is a threat to do anything in the postseason, putting them in a peculiar position. They've already added a few pieces, trading for Ondrej Palat and Carson Soucy in a pair of division deals, but there are players on expiring deals that they might be better off trading to recoup some assets instead of losing them for free.
Regardless of whether they're threats or not, the Islanders boast one of the leaders for the Vezina Trophy in Ilya Sorokin, and Schaeffer should have the inside track to win the Calder Trophy. If they find a little more consistency in their game, there is reason to believe they'll be right back in the playoff hunt after just one year off. The future doesn't look too bad on the island.
The Penguins refuse to go away and might be legit
If you pegged the Pittsburgh Penguins to be in the second spot in the division at the Olympic break, you're a liar. I know I didn't. After three straight seasons outside of the playoffs with a steady decline in points, the Penguins are already a few wins away from reaching their point total from a season ago. Not too bad for an aging core of players.
Sidney Crosby might never slow down, though the rumors about what could come next for him have as the season trudges on with the Penguins in a playoff spot. It's almost as if Crosby and Evgeni Malkin have turned back the clock to find the magic that made them a burgeoning dynasty in the late 2000s and throughout the 2010s.
They made a big move in December to change their luck in the net. It took Stuart Skinner a few starts to get rolling, but he was excellent for most of January, going 7-1-0 for a stretch with a .934 save percentage. He didn't look as good in his two starts before the break, but if he can provide decent goaltending down the stretch, the Penguins should have no problem getting back to the big dance.
At the top of it all is the Carolina Hurricanes
Alas, everyone in the Metropolitan Division is looking up at the Carolina Hurricanes right now. This was expected heading into the season, but the journey to this point has been anything but conventional for the Canes. They rarely played with their full complement of players over the first several months, but those injuries gave way to some solid revelations throughout the organization.
Joel Nystrom has turned into a strong NHL-ready defender, earning himself a new deal in the process. Charles Alexis Legault also benefited from an opportunity to play NHL minutes before his freak injury. However, no one has grabbed the moment more than Brandon Bussi. Setting records every step of the way, Bussi went from the third-string waiver addition to the team's top goalie.
Otherwise, it has been business as usual. Sebastian Aho is a point-per-game player. Seth Jarvis is likely hitting 30 goals again. Nikolaj Ehlers took some time to get acclimated, but he has been an excellent addition. Andrei Svechnikov is playing the best hockey of his career. Everything is moving in the right direction for the Hurricanes, but we know it's what they do in the playoffs that really matters.