Welcome to Puck Drop Preview 2014-15, where our hockey department gives you a detailed look at each team from around the NHL leading to the start of this hockey season and offers our insight and analysis. Makes sure to stick around until the end of the series, where we’ll offer our full predictions for the standings in each division, and eventually our collective LWOS 2014-15 Stanley Cup pick. You can check out all our articles on our Puck Drop Page. Today is the 2014-15 Metropolitan Division.

Last year, the Pittsburgh Penguins took top honors in the Metropolitan Division after they finished the season with a 51-24-7 record, earning them 109 points. The difference between first and the last place New York Islanders was an astonishing 30 points. The Islanders went through a tough season plagued with injuries to quality players in John Tavares, Kyle Okposo, Lubomir Visnovsky, and Evgeni Nabokov. The Washington Capitals rid themselves of yet another coach and this time hope for some consistency by bringing in veteran head coach Barry Trotz. After losing out in the Stanley Cup finals, the Rangers will once again rely on stellar goaltending and a suffocating defense to win hockey games, while the Philadelphia Flyers will take another gamble on a surging offense with questionable defense as well as a goaltender who has something to prove. Lastly, there’s the lackluster Carolina Hurricanes.

Some of the finest from Last Word On Sports’ hockey department will be discussing the Metropolitan Division: Ben Kerr, Shawn Wilken, Dom Simonetta, Nick Di Giovanni, Markus Meyer, and Robbie Jefferson. The results are in and here’s where our panel stands when it comes to how the division will pan out.

Puck Drop Preview: 2014-15 Metropolitan Division

1. Pittsburgh Penguins (average rating – 1.5)

Robbie, Ben, Dom & Shawn– 1st

Markus – 2nd

Nick – 3rd

THOUGHTS by Dom Simonetta: Pittsburgh has undeniably gotten worse over the course of this offseason. They’ve lost a number of key players such as James Neal, Jussi Jokinen, Matt Niskanen, and Brooks Orpik just to name a few. However, with a talent-filled roster still featuring Crosby, Kunitz, Malkin, and the additions of both Hornqvist and Ehrhoff, the Penguins continue to be the favorites to take the Metropolitan Division crown until another team proves otherwise. Although, it will be interesting to see which Marc-Andre Fleury shows up once playoff time rolls around.

2. Columbus Blue Jackets (average rating – 2.3)

Markus – 1st

Nick, Dom & Shawn – 2nd

Robbie – 3rd

Ben – 4th

THOUGHTS by Ben Kerr: The big thing here will be the re-signing of Ryan Johansen who was the Jackets’ best forward last season and is only getting better. He must be under contract and with the club for them to make the playoffs, but it’s safe to say I think he will be. The Jackets also get better returns from Nathan Horton this year as he will be ready to go from game one. Add in a young and improving defence corps, the very effective, gritty style the Jackets play, and the always-solid goaltending of Sergei Bobrovsky, and you have another playoff appearance in Columbus.

3. New York Rangers (average rating – 2.8)

Nick – 1st

Robbie – 2nd

Ben & Shawn – 3rd

Markus & Dom – 4th

THOUGHTS by Shawn Wilken: I don’t believe the Rangers are as good over the course of an 82-game season as what we saw from them during their playoff run. While that doesn’t mean they’ll miss the playoffs, it also doesn’t mean they’re good enough to be in the top two spots of the Metropolitan Division. With a world-class goaltender backed by a solid top-four on defense, the Rangers are poised to keep pucks out of the net. The question remains; will they be able to keep putting pucks into opposing nets? Martin St. Louis will help by being with the team from the start of the season, but how much offense can he really provide this year?

4. New Jersey Devils (average rating – 4.8)

Ben – 2nd

Markus – 3rd

Robbie – 5th

Nick & Dom – 6th

Shawn – 7th

THOUGHTS by Markus Meyer: Yes, you read that correctly. I believe the New Jersey Devils will finish third in their division. Mike Cammalleri should improve the power play as well as the offense in general, and a Martin Havlat resurgence doesn’t seem out of the question at this point. Cory Schneider will have full control of the net now, so look for him to run with it. You have to remember that if the Devils were a bit better in the shootout they would have been a playoff team last campaign. Look for them to return to the postseason this year.

5. Washington Capitals (average rating – 5.1)

Dom – 3rd

Nick & Ben – 5th

Markus, Robbie & Shawn – 6th

THOUGHTS by Nick Di Giovanni: The Capitals vastly improved over the offseason with the additions of Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik on the once-weak blue line, but like the Penguins, this isn’t 2010, and the Caps aren’t as intimidating as they used to be. Alex Ovechkin will need to score 60 goals or more, something we know won’t happen, to give his team a fighting chance at the playoffs. They will come close, but no cigar for the team from D.C.

HOWEVER, Dom Simonetta thinks: With 15-year bench boss Barry Trotz at the helm of Washington’s new-breed philosophy, the entire team will have to buy in completely to what he is preaching if the Capitals are to have any form of success during this upcoming season. Alex Ovechkin will need to work harder than he ever has before to make sure he’s playing to the best of his ability shift in and shift out for the city that worships him. With Nicklas Backstrom and rookie Evgeny Kuznetsov providing offensive assistance behind him, this team should have no problem whatsoever putting the puck in the back of their opponent’s net.

The additions of both Matt Niskanen and Brooks Orpik on the back end have undoubtedly strengthened the Caps’ defensive core, regardless of whether or not their respective contracts were mistakes. As Braden Holtby finally gets his chance to step into the spotlight without anyone else trying to steal it away, it will be imperative that he steps up to the plate and provides his team with a chance to win on any given night. If everything comes together like their new coaching staff hopes it will, the Capitals will return to the Stanley Cup playoffs after missing it last season for the first time in seven years

6. Philadelphia Flyers (average rating – 5.3)

Nick & Shawn – 4th

Markus & Dom – 5th

Robbie & Ben – 7th

THOUGHTS by Robbie Jefferson: Everyone else has improved (or at least tried to), but the Flyers simply couldn’t because of former general manager Paul Holmgren. It’s not going to be a good year for Philly.

HOWEVER, Nick Di Giovanni thinks: The Philadelphia Flyers are as up and down as the weather over the course of a single day. We sort of expect what the inevitable result will be, but in reality, anything can happen. It’s the same situation with the Flyers. We can never tell exactly how they will do, maybe first, maybe last, but most likely fifth. New GM Ron Hextall will hope to not make the same mistakes as his predecessor Paul Holmgren. Hextall has undoubtedly made too many mistakes in his life. He should hope to lead his new team to a consistent level of playing hockey.

7. New York Islanders (average rating – 6)

Robbie – 4th

Shawn – 5th

Ben – 6th

Markus, Nick & Dom – 7th

THOUGHTS by Dom Simonetta: With a healthy John Tavares anchoring their top line in addition to free agent acquisitions Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin, the Islanders should be set when it comes to scoring goals. The problem this season will be trying to keep pucks out of their own net in the process. With a thin defensive core and an unproven Jaroslav Halak in the blue paint, it’s unclear whether or not New York will be a contending team.

8. Carolina Hurricanes (average rating – 8)

Markus, Nick, Robbie, Ben, Dom & Shawn – 8th

THOUGHTS by Ben Kerr: They are going to be bad. This team has a serious lack of defence, and while guys like Jeff Skinner and Eric Staal are good up front, there is a noticeable lack of depth. Jordan Staal is not the second-line centre they thought they were getting. Alex Semin has reverted to the player who is very inconsistent, and Elias Lindholm is talented but not ready to lead a scoring line quite yet. The defence overall is weak, and there are question marks in goal where Anton Khudobin has outplayed the big money goalie Cam Ward as of late. The biggest excitement for the Hurricanes this year might just be next summer’s draft lottery.

Ben Kerr has also provided the following:

Leading Scorer of the Division: Sidney Crosby

A no-brainer pick here.

Leading Scorer of the Division (Defence): Kris Letang

Bounces back from the stroke-affected season and gets back to racking up the points by leading one of the most talented power play units in hockey.

Best goalie in the Division: King Henrik

Another no-brainer.

Breakout Performer: Boone Jenner, Columbus

Becomes a legitimate #2 centre. His time is now.

Best Rookie: Evgeny Kuznetsov

Takes over as the second-line centre position in Washington and proves the wait was worth it.

Most Likely to Win a Major Award: Sidney Crosby, Art Ross and Hart

He hasn’t won this (or the Hart) as many times as you’d expect, but as long as he stays healthy, they are his.

The 2014-15 season kicks off on October 8th but the first match-up between two Metropolitan teams takes place on October 9th when the New Jersey Devils visit the Philadelphia Flyers.

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