NHL Eastern Conference Metropolitan Division Preview

With preseason underway, it presents the capability to get a good look at each teams potential for the upcoming season. It is going to be a season of many good and close match ups leading to close games and nail biting victories. Fans of every team will be eager to find out how their season will play out and who will have the opportunity to move on and play for the Stanley Cup. 

Washington Capitals – The 2018 Champs will attempt to capture their fifth straight Metropolitan Division Crown this season. The only big move the Capitals were able to make was signing forward Jakub Vrana for seven years. Cap space for Vrana’s acquisition opened up with the most notable cost of losing Matt Niskanen to Philadelphia in exchange for hard-hitting defenseman Radko Gudas. With his game shaky at points in recent years, goaltender Braden Holtby will have the final say as he will likely be the Caps’ biggest question mark heading into the season. Apart from that, the Capitals are definitely a team to watch and are most certainly a top threat from the East. 

Carolina Hurricanes – With the recent addition of Jake Gardiner, the Canes will definitely have one of the league’s best defenseman-core, as he’ll share ice-time with Dougie Hamilton. Nino Niederreiter was traded to the Canes last January and placed on the first line along with Sebastian Aho and Teuvo 

Teravainen. Veteran Jordan Stall will likely center the second line and in goal the newly resigned Petr Mrazek will likely see most of the work. With this, and coming off a great run in the playoffs to the Conference Finals, the Hurricanes should be poised for a big season. 

New York Islanders – Change certainly has been the recurring theme for the Islanders in recent years – with the departure of superstar John Tavares and the hiring of Barry Trotz as head coach. However no free agents fled the club this past offseason, as Lou Lamoriello resigned Jordan Eberle, Brock Nelson, Matt Barzal and Anders Lee. On defense, Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuck will chew up the most minutes, with Thomas Greiss mainly in net. Expect to see a push from the Islanders this season.