Metro Buzz: Four Legitimate Cup Contenders rein in the Metro?

Top Tier

New York Rangers | .722 PT%, +16 Differential (1st in Division)

The Rangers are a wagon and until further notice the clear top team in the division that is built to win in the playoffs. Doesn’t mean they’ll win the division but in the Metro, the postseason still figures to go through the Rangers. Early Trends in the Metro: Homegrown talent for the top-4 teams in the division. 2020 2nd round pick William Cuylle has come onto the scene in a third line role with 3 goals and 5 assists, all at even strength………

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2nd Tier

Carolina Hurricanes | .778 Pts%, 62 CF% (1st in NHL 5 vs 5)

The Hurricanes are a systematic machine. They are just steamrolling through the competition and Carolina added the Boston Bruins Thursday night to that group. On paper a slight step back was expected but this is always a team that just shows out in the regular season. 5 vs 5 the Hurricanes are 1st in the NHL in possession, Scoring Chances For %; and 2nd in High Danger For%. Noteworthy Player: Martin Necas whom the Hurricanes did everything to try to trade because they didn’t want to pay him, leads the team with 15 points through nine games.

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New Jersey Devils | 50 GF (1st in NHL), .615 PT%

The New Jersey Devils were always going to bounce back this season and we’re already seeing it. The big boys upfront are scoring at will, Timmo Meier looks much more comfortable in his second full season with the club and you know you’re an offensive powerhouse when Paul Cotter has 6 goals in 13 games as the third line center. The biggest question will be whether they can defend well enough to be a legitimate Cup contender? Jakub Markstrom’s .903 SV% follows a similar trend of the past two seasons where he posted an .892 SV% and .905 SV% in his previous two. New Jersey’s team high-danger save percentage at even strength is below .78%, a concerning # early on.

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Washington Capitals | .778 PT% (1st in Division), 60 HFCF% (1st in NHL)

Buy stock in the Washington Capitals? The Caps significantly upgraded their lineup over the off-season and look to have the perfect coach behind the bench in playing that win-now role but also developing homegrown talent. 23 Year olds Connor McMichael (5-5-10pts), Alliaksei Protas (3-6-9pts) have combined for 19 points through nine games and there’s just a lot to like with this club. It’s a very deep and versatile forward group. Washington’s driving play, creating high-end chances and even the older core of who’s left is also performing very well. Alex Ovechkin already has 5 goals on the season and scouts indicate John Carlsson looks the best he has in years. Defensively the Capitals are awaiting the return of Matt Roy who has appeared in just one game. The only pause is whether the goaltending is good enough……..

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Third Tier

Nobody

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Fourth Tier

Columbus Blue Jackets | .611 Pts%

Philadelphia Flyers | .409 Pts%

New York Islanders | .400 Pts%

Pittsburgh Penguins | .377 Pts%

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Buzz: Long-term protectory this season, there is a steep, steep drop off from the top-four teams in the division to the rest of the group.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have been a surprise in the early going. They have a head coach who players actually like showing up to the rink each day to play for and Dean Evason will have them playing hard and the right way. Columbus is already showing they’re going to be a tougher out for clubs in the division. However, hard to buy into their start long-term. The defense and goaltending just isn’t good enough to make ends meet against the caliber of teams in the division and the underlying #’s are a bit suspect despite the hot start. What to like about this club, though, is the young forward group that is showing much improvement with Marchenko, Chinakhov taking steps forward, Fantilli should be better and the Blue Jackets were expecting a big season from Kent Johnson before his injury. Veteran forward Sean Monahan has been a great fit on and off the ice. Columbus is in good hands with Don Waddell at the helm. Bet on them being a problem next season just not yet this year………

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The Philadelphia Flyers missed their golden opportunity last season of playing so over their head. Could they do it again this season? The odds are going to be stacked against them. One thing about John Tortorella, though, he always finds a way to overachieve. Philadelphia was reeling and have now won three or four to keep their head above water. That team save percentage of .872 is hard to win in this league. Last season missing playoffs by a point with an .889 team save percentage was such a testament to Tortorella.

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Would you rather be the Pittsburgh Penguins or New York Islanders on who has best chance to be relevant this season after a putrid October? I’d lean New York because of Ilya Sorokin but it’s not a confident lean. New York is just a stagnant hockey club where the new coach hire adrenaline rush from last year has worn off. When Kyle Palmieri is your leading scorer with 7 points you know things have been stagnant. But, there is some more room to grow individually for a couple of their higher end players who have been major disappointments that I just don’t see with Pittsburgh. Mathew Barzal had a horrible month and that’s not likely to continue; Brock Nelson has been meh and same with Bo Horvat. To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!