New York Rangers right wing Patrick Kane, left, is defended by Carolina Hurricanes center Martin Necas during the second period of an NHL hockey game Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at Madison Square Garden in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
We’re just a day away from the start of the 2023 NHL season and that means hockey is back for the Metropolitan division. Is another playoff season in the works for the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, and New Jersey Devils?Â
Today, before we focus on puck drop for the new season, we look at the first power rankings of the season for the Metro division.Â
Let’s get to it.
8. Philadelphia Flyers
It’s another year in the Flyers rebuild and that means another bottom finish in the Metro division. This team has some talent, and Carter Hart gets a bad rap, but this team isn’t fully ready to compete in this division just yet.
7. Columbus Blue Jackets
As talented as the Blue Jackets are at times, they are completely in disarray. Mike Babcock’s resignation from the team before the season even began is a sign of things to come for this group. This team is an organizational mess.Â
6. Washington Capitals
The Capitals seem to be a team clearly in transition. They do a lot of good things but the aging roster is seemingly on their last legs. The only focus for them this year is to see if Ovechkin can get past Wayne Gretzky over the next couple of years.
5. New York Islanders
Can the Islanders get back to the postseason with a full year of Bo Horvat in tow? It’ll certainly be challenging this season with a surging Devils roster and an improved Penguins team. We currently have them on the outside looking in at this point, but key matchups against the Rangers and Penguins could very well turn the tide for their playoff hopes.Â
4. New Jersey Devils
A lot of people won’t agree with the Devils being so low on this list, but they remind me a lot of the Rangers last season. New York was coming off a surprise run to the…
Read the full article here
