With the 2024-25 NHL regular-season getting underway this week, NoVa Caps looks at every team in their annual division previews. We will wrap up with the Metropolitan Division, which saw the reigning Presidents’ Trophy-winning New York Rangers drub the Pittsburgh Penguins, 7-0, on Wednesday and New Jersey Devils go 2-1-0 in their first three games to get the season going:
Columbus Blue Jackets
2023-24 season result: 27-43-12 (.402 points percentage), last in Metropolitan Division/Eastern Conference; 0-1-0 to start 2024-25
2023-24 leaders: RW Kirill Marchenko (23 goals), C Boone Jenner (22 goals), D Zach Werenski (48 assists, 57 points, 24:27 TOI/game), C Sean Monahan (26 goals, 59 points – with Montreal Canadiens/Winnipeg Jets), G Elvis Merzlikins (13 wins)
Acquired: Monahan, LW James Van Riemsdyk, C Dylan Gambrell, D Jack Johnson, D Jordan Harris, RW Zach Aston-Reese, LW Kevin Labanc, Head Coach Dean Evason, GM Don Waddell
Lost: LW Johnny Gaudreau, RW Alex Nylander, D Jake Bean, D Adam Boqvist, C Alexandre Texier, C Carson Meyer, D Nick Blankenberg, D Jakub Zboril, D Marcus Bjork, G Malcolm Subban, G Jon Gilles, Head Coach Pascal Vincent
Injuries To Start Season: RW Boone Jenner (upper-body, out indefinitely from 10/6), RW Gavin Brindley (broken finger, out 4-6 weeks from 10/3)
After Laine (0.5 points per game: 6-3-9 in 18 games last season) was traded and Gaudreau (0.74: 12-48-60 in 81) died in a car incident, Columbus lost two of its most productive forwards from an offense that tied for 24th in goals per game (2.85) and ranked 31st in power-play efficiency (15.1%). The Blue Jackets signed Monahan, Van Riemsdyk (11-27-38 in 71 games with Boston), and Labanc (who has hit the 11-goal mark five times and the 28-point mark six times in his nine-year career) in free agency, which should help, but they won’t fully replace the production of their two best forwards.
Columbus is still in rebuild mode and will rely on younger players like 24-year-old Marchenko (42 points in 78 games), 21-year-old center Kent Johnson (fifth overall pick in 2021, 6-10-16 in 42 games; 5-10-15 in 10 AHL games), 23-year-old right-wing Yegor Chinakov (21st overall pick in 2020, 16-13-29 in 53 games; three goals, four points in three AHL games), 21-year-old center Cole Sillinger (12th overall pick in 2021, 13-19-32 in 77 games), 24-year-old left-wing Dmitri Voronkov (18-16-34 in 75 games), soon-to-be 20-year-old center Adam Fantilli (third overall pick in 2023, 12-15-27 in 49 games), and 20-year-old defenseman David Jiricek (sixth overall pick in 2022; 1-9-10, -4 rating, .4764 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .466 expected goals-for percentage, and .464 scoring chances-for percentage in 43 games) to continue developing. The Blue Jackets are known for having one of the deepest prospect pools.
Although the team is not pushing to win now, Merzlikins needs to improve for Columbus to progress. The 30-year-old posted an .897 save percentage and 3.45 goals-against average in 41 games last season, understandable given the team’s current state. However, Merzlikins allowed 8.21 goals below average at five-on-five. Since recording a .920 save percentage over his first two NHL seasons, Merzlikins hasn’t surpassed .908 in the past three and has dipped to .898 over the last two.
The Blue Jackets’ biggest strength is their defense, with Werenski, Jiricek, Damon Severson (9-19-28, -10 rating, .5063 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .4968 expected goals-for percentage, .4897 scoring chances-for percentage in 67 games), and Ivan Provorov (5-27-32, -11 rating, .4847 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .4705 expected goals-for percentage, .467 scoring chances-for percentage in 82 games) providing optimism. However, goaltending may overshadow this strong blueline. The team finished 31st in five-on-five expected goals-against (197.63), 31st in goals-against per game (3.63), and tied for 25th in penalty-killing (.763). Columbus’ defense must tighten up, and Evason is expected to help achieve that.
New Jersey Devils
2023-24 season result: 38-39-5 (.494 points percentage), seventh in Metropolitan Division, 13th in Eastern Conference; 2-1-0 to start 2024-25
2023-24 leaders: RW Timo Meier (28 goals), C Jack Hughes (27 goals, 20:58 average TOI/game, 1.19 points-per-game), LW Jesper Bratt (27 goals, 56 assists, 83 points), C Nico Hischier (27 goals), D Luke Hughes (21:28 average TOI/game), G Jacob Markstrom (23 wins – with Calgary Flames)
Acquired: Markstrom, LW Tomas Tatar, RW Stefan Noesen, D Brenden Dillon, D Brett Pesce, D Jonathan Kovacevic, LW Paul Cotter, Head Coach Sheldon Keefe
Lost: D Kevin Bahl, RW Tyce Thompson, D Brendan Smith, C Tomas Nosek, C Michael McLeod, D Cal Foote, G Akira Schmid, C Alexander Holtz, D John Marino, C Chris Tierney, Head Coach Lindy Ruff
Injuries To Start Season: D Luke Hughes (left shoulder, 6-8 weeks from 9/12)
New Jersey, which finished 10 points behind the Washington Capitals for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference in 2023-24, finally found a No. 1 goaltender in Markstrom after their .9053 save percentage over the past three seasons ranked better than only the San Jose Sharks (.9022). The Devils have missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in five of the last six and 10 of the past 12 seasons, with goaltending being a major issue since Martin Brodeur’s departure. The 34-year-old Markstrom went 23-23-2 with a .905 save percentage, 2.78 goals-against average, and two shutouts in 48 games. New Jersey’s .5166 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage ranked 10th in the NHL last season, suggesting that poor goaltending held them back. Now that they’ve solved that problem, how much will a bona fide starter lift them after their 52-22-8 record (third overall) in 2022-23?
After allowing 3.43 goals per game (tied for 26th) and posting a 172.86 five-on-five expected goals-against (19th), the Devils bolstered their defense by signing Dillon (eight goals, 20 points, +20 rating, .4904 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .4929 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, .4872 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 77 games with Winnipeg) and Pesce (three goals, 13 points, +10, .5836 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage – 38th overall, .5477 expected goals-for percentage, .5745 scoring chances-for percentage in 70 games with Carolina). A healthy Dougie Hamilton (22 goals, 74 points, .552 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .5584 expected goals-for percentage, .5618 scoring chances-for percentage in 82 games in 2022-23) should also provide a huge boost on both ends of the ice after being limited to just 20 games last year. These additions are key as Luke Hughes is expected to miss the first few weeks of the season with a shoulder injury.
While Hamilton’s return is crucial, the Devils also need bounce-back seasons from several players, including Meier (24 assists and 52 points, his lowest in three full seasons), Dawson Mercer (20 goals but 33 points, at least 11 fewer than in his first two seasons), Ondrej Palat (11 goals, 31 points in 71 games after three straight seasons with at least 40 points), Tomas Tatar (nine goals, 24 points in 70 games with Colorado and Seattle after scoring at least 10 goals and 30 points in each of his first 10 seasons), and Jonas Siegenthaler (one goal, nine points, -7, .4946 expected goals-for percentage, .503 scoring chances-for percentage in 57 games).
New Jersey has a talented roster that should contend for the Metropolitan Division title, but they need to prove they can meet expectations. The Devils’ young core of Hughes, Hischier, and Mercer has taken a few seasons to break out, and the team has added key pieces like Hamilton, Meier, Palat, P.K. Subban, and Tyler Toffoli. This season will be the first with a legitimate starting goalie, which should help, but 2024-25 remains critical for the Devils to live up to their potential.
Philadelphia Flyers
2023-24 season result: 38-31-11 (.530 points percentage), sixth in Metropolitan Division, 11th in Eastern Conference; 1-0-0 to start 2024-25
2023-24 leaders: RW Travis Konecny (33 goals, 35 assists, 68 points), RW Owen Tippett (28 goals), D Travis Sanheim (34 assists, 23:48 average TOI/game), G Sam Ersson (23 wins)
Acquired: C Anthony Richard, G Eetu Makiniemi
Lost: G Felix Sandstrom, C Tanner Lacynski, G Carter Hart, RW Cam Atkinson, RW Denis Gurianov, D Marc Staal, D Victor Mete, C Ryan Johansen
Injuries To Start Season: N/A
After Hart took an indefinite leave last season due to his involvement in the 2018 Canadian World Junior sexual harassment case and was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Flyers, the team heads into opening night with four goaltenders, including one (Cal Petersen) who cleared waivers last season. Together, these goalies have just 131 games of NHL experience. Ersson took over as starter after Hart left but posted an .890 save percentage and 2.82 goals-against average in 51 games. The team also signed 27-year-old Ivan Fedotov, who recorded an .811 save percentage and 4.95 goals-against average in three NHL games after a .914 save percentage, 2.37 goals-against average, and four shutouts in 44 KHL games with CSKA Moskva. Philadelphia, which finished last in the NHL with a .8947 five-on-five save percentage in 2023-24, needs more reliable goaltending.
It will be crucial for captain Sean Couturier to bounce back after recording 11 goals and 38 points in 74 games, his first full season in three years after being repeatedly scratched due to a herniated disk. A return to his form from five years ago, when he scored 30 goals, 75 points, and won the Selke Trophy, would be a major boost. Though it’s understandable that Couturier would need time to regain his footing, his production dropped significantly.
Philadelphia also needs more scoring depth, as they averaged 2.82 goals per game (27th) and had the worst power-play conversion rate in the NHL (.122). While Konecny and Tippet had strong seasons, the Flyers had only four players score at least 20 goals and just three reach 50 points, with Konecny tallying at least 15 more points than any other Flyer. In addition to Couturier’s resurgence, 2017 first-round pick Morgan Frost (at least 27 assists and 41 points in each of the past two seasons) will look to step up. The arrival of right-wing Matvei Michkov, the seventh overall pick in 2023 who scored 19 goals and 41 points in 48 KHL games, should also provide a boost.
Last season, the Flyers surprised many under head coach John Tortorella, finishing just four points out of a postseason spot, boasting an .834 penalty-kill rate (fourth), and ranking seventh in five-on-five expected goals-for percentage (.5244). This came despite trading No. 1 defenseman Provorov and Kevin Hayes in June. Even with their unexpected success, the Flyers remained focused on the future, dealing shutdown defenseman Sean Walker at the trade deadline while sitting in third place in the Metropolitan Division. Though they aren’t expected to tank this season, Philadelphia is still rebuilding and lacks high-end talent, as well as having the league’s most inexperienced goaltending. While building a winning culture is important, winning more now might not align with their long-term goals.
Pittsburgh Penguins
2023-24 season result: 38-32-12 (.537 points percentage), fifth in Metropolitan Division, 10th in Eastern Conference; 1-1-0 to start 2024-25
2023-24 leaders: C Sidney Crosby (42 goals, 52 assists, 94 points), RW Bryan Rust (28 goals), C Evgeni Malkin (27 goals, 40 assists), D Erik Karlsson (45 assists, 24:16 average TOI/game), D Kris Letang (41 assists, 24:16 average TOI/game), G Tristan Jarry (19 wins), G Alex Nedeljkovic (18 wins)
Acquired: D Matt Grzelyck, C Kevin Hayes, D Sebastian Aho, C Blake Lizotte, LW Bokondji Imama, LW Anthony Beauvillier, RW Rutger McGroarty, C Cody Glass
Lost: D Pierre-Olivier Joseph, D Jack Rathbone, RW Jansen Harkins, RW Vinnie Hinostroza, LW Reilly Smith, D Xavier Ouellet, D Taylor Fedun, C Jeff Carter, G Dustin Tokarski, C Brayden Yager, G Magnus Hellberg, D John Ludvig
Injuries To Start Season: Nedeljkovic (lower-body, week-to-week from 10/2), LW Matt Nieto (MCL, month-to-month from 1/4/2024), RW Bryan Rust (lower-body, day-to-day from 10/7)
Pittsburgh entered the season with questions in goal after Jarry (.903 save percentage, 2.91 goals-against average in 51 games) and Nedeljkovic (.902, 2.97 in 38), who started the team’s final four regular-season games as the Penguins fought for a postseason spot. Nedeljkovic, who signed an extension, started 15 of Pittsburgh’s last 21 games. Just two seasons ago, Jarry ranked eighth in wins (34), tied for sixth in save percentage (.919), and sixth in goals-against average (2.42) in 58 games, but his performance has declined over the past two seasons. The Penguins need one of them to secure the starting job.
After Crosby finished last season with at least 14 more goals and 27 more points than any other Penguin, Malkin was the next closest, with 11 fewer points. The team also lost Jake Guentzel at the NHL Trade Deadline, and Pittsburgh’s 3.09 goals per game ranked 18th league-wide. They made no major offensive upgrades aside from acquiring McGroarty, who is entering his freshman season, and trading Smith. A full season from left-wing Michael Bunting, who tallied six goals and 19 points in 21 games after being acquired from Carolina in the trade that sent Guentzel to Raleigh, could provide a needed boost.
Pittsburgh could also benefit from improving their power play, which ranked 30th with a .153 efficiency. While Crosby, Malkin, Karlsson, and Letang have all proven capable, they are past their primes and may see declining production. Losing Guentzel, who was fourth in goals and fifth in points despite being limited to 50 games before his trade, will hurt, though Bunting did fit in well after his arrival.
Defensively, the Penguins, led by 37-year-old Letang and 34-year-old Karlsson, allowed 176.81 expected goals against at five-on-five (eighth-worst) and surrendered 3.02 goals per game. They need better goaltending and defensive play. The team signed Grzelcyk, but he is coming off a down season with two goals, 11 points, a +13 rating, and modest advanced stats (.4503 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .4732 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .4691 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage) while averaging 17:36 per game on a deep Boston defense. He is unlikely to make a significant impact, so Pittsburgh will need improved performances from its returning defensemen.
New York Islanders
2023-24 season result: 39-27-16 (.573 points percentage), third in Metropolitan Division, seventh in Eastern Conference; lost to Carolina in first round; 0-0-1 to start 2024-25
2023-24 leaders: C Mathew Barzal (57 assists, 80 points), C Brock Nelson (34 goals, 69 points), D Noah Dobson (60 assists, 70 points, 24:30 average TOI/game), C Bo Horvat (33 goals, 68 points), RW Kyle Palmieri (30 goals), G Ilya Sorokin (19 wins)
Acquired: Thompson, C Liam Foudy, C Fredrik Karlstrom, RW Anthony Duclair, G Marcus Hogberg
Lost: Aho, LW Matt Martin, RW Cal Clutterbuck, D Robert Bortuzzo, RW Karson Kuhlman, D Robin Salo
Injuries To Start Season: N/A
After finishing last season with the fewest wins among playoff teams, New York made minimal improvements, adding Duclair (a four-time 20-goal scorer). The Islanders secured a wild-card spot two seasons in a row but fell to Carolina each time. Despite spending first-round picks on short-term pieces like Pageau, Palmieri, and Horvat, the team has not been—and likely is not—strong enough to contend for a Stanley Cup. With teams like New Jersey and Washington improving, while New York remained stagnant, the Islanders’ direction is unclear.
New York needs a bounce-back season from Sorokin (.909 save percentage, 3.01 goals-against average in 56 games), who lost the starting job last season. Varlamov played all but 27:14 of their five-game series against Carolina. It was the first time in Sorokin’s four-year NHL career that his save percentage dropped below .918 and his goals-against average rose above 2.40. While Sorokin’s past performance in North America earns him the benefit of the doubt, he must return to being a reliable starter.
The Islanders finished last season with the NHL’s worst penalty kill (.715) and didn’t address this in the offseason. The challenge increases without Clutterbuck, who ranked second among Islanders forwards in penalty-killing time, and Bortuzzo, who averaged 1:23 per game on the unit. While Sorokin bouncing back would help, New York’s skaters need to step up as well.
A healthy Adam Pelech, the team’s best shutdown defenseman, would be a huge boost for both goaltending and the penalty kill after missing 45 games over the past two seasons. Pelech, who averaged 20:17 per game (fourth on the team) and logged 2:32 on the penalty kill, is regarded as one of the league’s best shutdown defensemen. Over the past three seasons, he recorded a .5123 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, a .5398 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and a .5315 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 195 games. The Islanders saw their penalty kill efficiency drop, goals against rise (3.15 per game, tied for 18th), and their five-on-five expected goals-against (178.72, 27th) worsen. Reestablishing the defensive identity that made them successful, with Pelech playing a key role, is crucial for this team.
Carolina Hurricanes
2023-24 season result: 52-23-7 (.677 points percentage), second in Metropolitan Division/Eastern Conference; lost to New York Rangers in second round; 0-1-0 to start 2024-25
2023-24 leaders: C Sebastian Aho (36 goals, 53 assists, 89 points), RW Seth Jarvis (33 goals, 67 points), D Brent Burns (21:30 average TOI/game), G Pytor Kochetkov (23 wins)
Acquired: LW Eric Robinson, C Josiah Slavin, C Jack Roslovic, D Riley Stillman, D Sean Walker, D Shayne Gostisbehere, C Tyson Jost, RW William Carrier, D Joakim Ryan, GM Eric Tulsky
Lost: Waddell, Pesce, Noesen, LW Maxime Comtois, LW Jake Guentzel, D Dylan Coghlan, D Brady Skjei, LW Teuvo Teravainen, D Tony DeAngelo, G Antti Raanta, C Evgeny Kuznetsov, C Max Comtois
Injuries To Start Season: RW Jesper Fast (neck, out for season)
After Carolina lost three top-six forwards from a team that finished eighth in goals-per-game (3.38) and second in power-play efficiency (.269), they signed Roslovic (9-22-31 in 59 games with Columbus and New York Rangers) and Jost (3-3-6 in 43 games with Buffalo), a former 10th overall pick. However, they will also be without Jesper Fast for the season due to a neck injury, and Martin Necas has requested a trade that has yet to be accommodated. The Hurricanes will need Jesperi Kotkaniemi (12-15-27 in 79 regular-season games; 0-1-1 in 11 postseason contests), 24, to step up as a top-six forward, especially after the team gave up first- and third-round picks to acquire him three years ago. While their top line of Aho, Jarvis, and Andrei Svechnikov (who has missed 41 games over the past two seasons) is promising, depth behind them is lacking.
Carolina’s defense has always been a strength, helping limit opponents to 2.57 goals-per-game (fourth) and earning a league-best .864 penalty-kill rate. Despite losing key blueliners Pesce and Skjei, they added two established defensemen in Gostisbehere (10-46-56, -16 rating, .4902 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .4728 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, .478 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 81 games with Detroit) and Walker (10-19-29, +10, .5384 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .545 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, .5191 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 81 games with Philadelphia and Colorado). Carolina also has Dmitry Orlov (17:19 per game – seventh among Hurricanes defensemen) and Jalen Chatfield (15:12 – eighth) ready for bigger roles this season.
In the past six postseasons, Carolina has lost to teams with elite goaltending—Shesterkin, Rask, Vasilevskiy, and Bobrovsky. Andersen, who has posted a .910 save percentage and 2.24 goals-against average in the playoffs since joining Carolina, hasn’t outperformed the opposing goalies. Though Andersen finished the regular season with a league-best 9-1-0 record, .951 save percentage, 1.30 goals-against average, and one shutout after March 7, Carolina benched him for a game in their second-round series against New York. Pyotr Kochetkov (23-13-4, .911 save percentage, 2.33 goals-against average, four shutouts in 42 games) has also played heavily but has yet to establish himself as a true starter. Carolina’s league-average .9124 five-on-five save percentage hasn’t been enough. Do they need help from outside the organization?
At last season’s trade deadline, Carolina acquired Kuznetsov and Guentzel to add pure goal scorers to a team that consistently posts strong possession metrics (.5758 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in the 2023 Eastern Conference Final, where they were swept by Florida; .5174 in the six-game second-round series last May) but struggles with poor PDO (.973 in the 2023 third round, including a .028 shooting percentage; .979 last postseason, including a .0769 shooting percentage). Both players have since left, leaving the Hurricanes without a proven scorer. Jarvis could fill that role, but he needs to take that leap forward. With a thinner lineup, it will be even harder for Carolina to capitalize on scoring chances.
New York Rangers
2023-24 season result: 55-23-4 (.695 points percentage), first in NHL; lost to Florida in Eastern Conference Final; 1-0-0 to start 2024-25
2023-24 leaders: LW Artemi Panarin (49 goals, 71 assists, 120 points), C Vincent Trocheck (25 goals, 52 assists, 77 points), D Adam Fox (23:26 TOI/game), G Igor Shesterkin (36 wins)
Acquired: Reilly Smith, C Sam Carrick, D Casey Fitzgerald
Lost: Roslovic, D Erik Gustafsson, RW Barclay Goodrow, C Alexander Wennberg, RW Blake Wheeler, C Tyler Pitlick, C Nic Petan
Injuries To Start Season: N/A
New York acquired Smith, a 12-season NHL veteran who has hit the 19-goal and 50-point marks six times in his career, though his production dropped to 13 goals and 40 points in 76 games with Pittsburgh last season. Smith fills a hole on the right wing in their top-six forward group after the losses of Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane. The Rangers will need the 33-year-old, who has been a solid complementary player alongside Jonathan Marchessault (Vegas), Aleksander Barkov (Florida), and David Krejci (Boston), to bounce back and support either Trocheck or Zibanejad. While New York tied for seventh in goals-per-game (3.39), they relied heavily on their power play (.264, third). Their 166 five-on-five goals, tied for 19th, is an area that needs improvement this season.
Right-wing Kaapo Kakko, the second overall pick in 2019, regressed last season after his best NHL campaign, finishing with just 13 goals and 19 points in 61 games. He was also quiet in the postseason, recording only one goal and one assist. Trade rumors have surrounded Kakko, as he has yet to tally more than 23 points or play more than 66 games in a single season. The Rangers need Kakko to step up and live up to his potential as a top-six forward to push the team further in the playoffs.
The Rangers’ defense ranked seventh in goals-against (2.76), with Shesterkin playing a key role. However, they allowed the 12th-most expected goals-against at five-on-five (173.93) during the regular season and posted a .437 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage in the postseason, where they were outplayed by Carolina in the second round and eliminated by Florida. Zac Jones (2-7-9, +1, .4988 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .4816 expected goals-for percentage) and Braden Schneider (5-14-19, -1, .4904 Corsi-for percentage, .4847 expected goals-for percentage) are expected to compete for larger roles on the blueline after Gustafsson’s departure and Jacob Trouba’s underwhelming postseason. The question remains whether this internal competition will improve their defense or if outside help is needed.
The Rangers should have Filip Chytil back after he was limited to just 10 regular-season games due to an upper-body injury, though he returned for six postseason games. Chytil broke out with 22 goals and 45 points in 74 games during the 2022-23 season after a strong 2022 postseason (seven goals, nine points in 20 games). Like Kakko, the Rangers have high expectations for Chytil, though he will likely play behind Zibanejad and Trocheck. His return should further boost New York’s already potent offense and power play, but the team needs him to deliver.
Washington Capitals
2023-24 season result: 38-32-12 (.537 points percentage), fifth in Metropolitan Division, 10th in Eastern Conference
2023-24 leaders: LW Alex Ovechkin (31 goals, 65 points), C Dylan Strome (27 goals, 40 assists, 67 points), D John Carlson (42 assists, 25:53 TOI/game), G Tristan Jarry (19 wins), Gs Charlie Lindgren/Logan Thompson (25 wins – Thompson with Vegas)
Acquired: G Logan Thompson, LW Andrew Mangiapane, C Pierre-Luc Dubois, RW Taylor Raddysh, LW Brandon Duhaime, D Jakob Chychrun, D Matt Roy, LW Jakub Vrana
Lost: LW Beck Malenstyn, G Darcy Kuemper, RW Nicolas Aube-Kubel, D Nick Jensen, LW Max Pacioretty, D Lucas Johansen, RW Matthew Philipps
Injuries To Start Season: RW T.J. Oshie (back, out for season), C Nicklas Backstrom (hip, out for season)
After finishing last season 27th in goals-per-game (2.63) and 18th in power-play efficiency (.206), Washington acquired Dubois, a three-time 27-goal and 60-point scorer in his seven-season NHL career, and Mangiapane, who has scored at least 17 goals and 32 points in each of his first four full seasons. Both are coming off disappointing seasons (Dubois: 16-24-40 in 82 games with Los Angeles; Mangiapane: 14-26-40 in 75 with Calgary). Washington will rely on these players, along with Carlson and Tom Wilson (18-17-35 in 74 games), who is entering the first year of a seven-year contract extension, to improve. They may also need more from Ovechkin, who is 42 goals away from tying Wayne Gretzky’s regular-season record of 894. The team also brought back 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Jakub Vrana, a two-time 24-goal scorer in Washington who has been limited to 72 games over the past three seasons, spending much of that time in the AHL.
While Washington bolstered its forward group, the team is also looking to former first-round picks Connor McMichael (career-highs: 18 goals, 15 assists, 33 points in 80 games) and Hendrix Lapierre (8-14-22 in 51 games during his first full NHL season), both of whom helped the Hershey Bears win their second consecutive Calder Cup, to secure top-six roles. McMichael was part of the Bears’ first championship. 2022 first-round pick Ivan Miroshnichenko (2-4-6 in 21 NHL games; 9-16-25 in 47 AHL games) will start the season in Hershey but will likely get an opportunity to show what he can do at some point.
The team traded Kuemper as part of the deal to acquire Dubois after Lindgren (25-16-7, .911 save percentage, 2.67 goals-against average, 6 shutouts) had a breakout season. While Lindgren helped Washington sneak into the postseason, the 30-year-old has just 110 career regular-season games and struggled in the first round, posting an .864 save percentage and 3.58 goals-against average. Washington acquired Thompson (25-14-5, .908 save percentage, 2.70 goals-against average) to form a tandem with Lindgren. Lindgren set career highs in games played in each of his two seasons in Washington (31 in 2022-23, 50 last season). Both goaltenders are set to become unrestricted free agents on July 1, and it remains to be seen if Lindgren can establish himself as an NHL starter.
Breakout Candidates
- Frost, Philadelphia
The 25-year-old has hit the 27-assist and 40-point marks in each of his first two full NHL seasons and should get more time in the Flyers’ top-six forward group with Couturier possibly getting demoted and Michkov coming over.
- McMichael, Washington
The 23-year-old took a big leap in his second full NHL campaign and should benefit from Washington’s addition of Dubois with more talent and experience surrounding him in addition to more opportunity on the power play.
- Chatfield, Carolina
The 28-year-old cemented himself as an NHL regular last season when he set career-highs in goals (eight), assists (14), and points (22) in addition to notching a +15 rating, a league-defenseman-best .6108 five-on-five Corsi-for percentage, .5955 five-on-five expected goals-for percentage, and .5963 five-on-five scoring chances-for percentage in 72 regular-season outing. Deservedly so, Chatfield will see a bigger role after Skjei and Pesce left Carolina in July.
Standings Predictions
1. x – New York Rangers
2. x – New Jersey
3. x – Washington
4. x – Carolina
5. New York Islanders
6. Philadelphia
7. Pittsburgh
8. Columbus
Other Division Previews
By Harrison Brown