ESPN Insider Craig Custance wrote a great piece breaking down the brand-new Metropolitan Division, home to the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Custance argues that the Rangers are trending up, saying that Henrik Lundqvist is the best goalie in the division, better than reigning Vezina winner Sergei Bobrovsky, and the top four of Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh, Michael Del Zotto and Marc Staal stacks up with any defense in the East.
Custance says the Islanders have good, young talent but expects "a small step back may be coming after last season's big step forward." My big question about the Isles is, can John Tavares keep up his production after a breakthrough season? If so, this will be a fun team to watch.
After losing Ilya Kovalchuk, David Clarkson and Henrik Tallinder and adding Cory Schneider, Ryane Clowe, Michael Ryder and Jaromir Jagr, the Devils are a hard team to predict. Custance thinks Schneider will have a big impact in the crease and the team will be able to hold steady.
Read the full piece here (Insider).
Paul Grant has expressed his displeasure over the new Metropolitan Division. What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below.
