Poll: Who Will Win The Metropolitan Division In 2019-20?
We’ve finally reached the end of the offseason and things kick off this week around the NHL. Exhibition games are underway in Europe and final cuts have come down all around the league. The excitement for the upcoming season is palpable, with even the most minor transactions generating plenty of interest among hockey fans.
With that in mind we’re going to ask you, the PHR reader, to give us your thoughts on the upcoming season. We started with the Atlantic Division, which seemed an easy choice for a good chunk of our community. The Tampa Bay Lightning ran away with the poll, earning a whopping 46% of all votes. With the Toronto Maple Leafs and Boston Bruins firmly in the second and third spots, it may be another difficult year for Atlantic teams trying to crack those divisional playoff spots.
We’ll now move on to the Metropolitan Division, which has been dominated by one team for the last several years. The Washington Capitals have taken home the divisional crown for the past four consecutive seasons, posting at least 104 points in each. Even after losing head coach Barry Trotz to the rival New York Islanders, Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals were able to fend off the rest of the group for the top spot. It didn’t do them much good as they ended up kicked out of the first round by the hard-charging Carolina Hurricanes, who should be in contention for the division lead after going all the way to the Eastern Conference Final.
It certainly won’t be easy to capture though, as the division had five playoff teams last season and could potentially be a battle between all eight clubs this time around. The New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils both underwent huge changes in the offseason, while the Pittsburgh Penguins are still led by the Hall of Fame duo down the middle.
Who do you think will come out on top of the Metropolitan Division in the regular season? Can the Capitals make it five in a row? Will the Islanders complete the transformation to defensive powerhouse? Will Carter Hart‘s goaltending be the missing ingredient for the Philadelphia Flyers? Cast your vote below and explain how you think the season will play out!
Who will win the Metropolitan Division?
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Washington Capitals 29% (527)
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Pittsburgh Penguins 16% (285)
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Philadelphia Flyers 13% (237)
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Carolina Hurricanes 11% (203)
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New York Islanders 10% (172)
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New York Rangers 8% (148)
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New Jersey Devils 8% (143)
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Columbus Blue Jackets 4% (72)
Total votes: 1,787
[Mobile users click here to vote!]
Training Camp Cuts: 10/01/19
Even with the season starting tomorrow, teams still have some final cuts to make today. Rosters have to be cap compliant by the end of the day. though with so much talent on waivers there might still be some last-minute moves. We’ll keep track of those right here. Keep checking back throughout the day for updates.
Arizona Coyotes (per team release)
D Ilya Lyubushkin (to Tucson, AHL)
Buffalo Sabres (per team release)
F Remi Elie (to Rochester, AHL)
F Curtis Lazar (to Rochester, AHL)
F Scott Wilson (to Rochester, AHL)
D Casey Nelson (to Rochester, AHL)
Calgary Flames (per team release)
F Alan Quine (to Stockton, AHL)
F Zac Rinaldo (to Stockton, AHL)
F Dillon Dube (to Stockton, AHL)
D Andrew MacDonald (released from PTO)
Carolina Hurricanes (per team release)
F Clark Bishop (to Charlotte, AHL)
F Julien Gauthier (to Charlotte, AHL)
F Brian Gibbons (to Charlotte, AHL)
D Gustav Forsling (to Charlotte, AHL)
D Roland McKeown (to Charlotte, AHL)
G Anton Forsberg (to Charlotte, AHL)
F Max McCormick (placed on injured/non-roster)
D Trevor van Riemsdyk (placed on injured/non-roster)
Chicago Blackhawks (per team release)
G Collin Delia (to Rockford, AHL)
F Kirby Dach (placed on injured/non-roster)
Columbus Blue Jackets (per team release)
F Marko Dano (to Cleveland, AHL)
D Andrew Peeke (to Cleveland, AHL)
F Liam Foudy (placed on injured/non-roster)
Colorado Avalanche (per team release)
F Jayson Megna (to Colorado, AHL)
D Kevin Connauton (to Colorado, AHL)
D Calle Rosen (to Colorado, AHL)
D Ian Cole (placed on injured/non-roster)
Detroit Red Wings (per team release)
D Jared McIsaac (to Halifax, QMJHL)
F Chase Pearson (placed on injured/non-roster)
Edmonton Oilers (per team release)
F Sam Gagner (to Bakersfield, AHL)
Minnesota Wild (per team release)
F J.T. Brown (to Iowa, AHL)
Montreal Canadiens (per team release)
F Ryan Poehling (to Laval, AHL)
Nashville Predators (per team release)
F Miikka Salomaki (to Milwaukee, AHL)
D Steven Santini (to Milwaukee, AHL)
New Jersey Devils (per team release)
D Matt Tennyson (to Binghamton, AHL)
D Ty Smith (to Spokane, WHL)
Pittsburgh Penguins (per team release)
D John Marino (to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL)
G Casey DeSmith (to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, AHL)
Vegas Golden Knights (per team release)
F Nicolas Roy (to Chicago, AHL)
D Nicolas Hague (to Chicago, AHL)
Washington Capitals (per team release)
F Liam O’Brien (to Hershey, AHL)
F Michael Sgarbossa (to Hershey, AHL)
D Christian Djoos (to Hershey, AHL)
D Michal Kempny (placed on injured/non-roster)
Winnipeg Jets (per team release)
D Sami Niku (to Manitoba, AHL)
Waivers: 09/30/19
Today is the last day to use waivers in order to get a roster cap compliant for the start of the regular season, so we will see a lot of players available for selection.
Anaheim Ducks
Boston Bruins
Buffalo Sabres
F Remi Elie
F Curtis Lazar
F Scott Wilson
D Casey Nelson
Calgary Flames
Carolina Hurricanes
F Clark Bishop
D Gustav Forsling
G Anton Forsberg
Chicago Blackhawks
Colorado Avalanche
Columbus Blue Jackets
Edmonton Oilers
F Sam Gagner
D Brandon Manning
Minnesota Wild
Nashville Predators
F Miikka Salomaki
D Steven Santini
New Jersey Devils
New York Islanders
F Joshua Ho-Sang
F Tanner Fritz
D Thomas Hickey
New York Rangers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Tampa Bay Lightning
Toronto Maple Leafs
F Kenny Agostino
F Nic Petan
F Garrett Wilson
D Kevin Gravel
Vancouver Canucks
F Sven Baertschi
F Nikolay Goldobin
D Alex Biega
Winnipeg Jets
F J.C. Lipon
D Nelson Nogier
G Eric Comrie
Washington Capitals
Minor Transactions: 09/28/19
As teams finish their final week of preparation before the 2019-20 season, there will likely be several transactions around the league. Alongside of NHL camp cuts, there are recalls and reassignments for preseason action, AHL camp decisions, and even some teams at both levels still looking to fill out their rosters with a signing or two. As always, we’ll keep track of all those moves right here:
- The same group of players recalled by the Nashville Predators yesterday to suit up for their preseason game have been returned: Rem Pitlick, Anthony Richard, Eeli Tolvanen, Yakov Trenin, Josh Wilkins, Alexandre Carrier, Jeremy Davies and Ken Appleby. However, the team added that Appleby has formally been released from his PTO contract. He will head to the Milwaukee Admirals with the rest of the group, but is now solely property of the AHL club.
- The St. Louis Blues are already making standard recall transactions, although it’s unclear if the move is anything more than a personnel change for the preseason finale. The Blues announced that defenseman Jake Walman has been sent down to the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage, essentially being cut from training camp, but that forward Alexey Toropchenko has been recalled in his place. The first-year pro had been previously dismissed from camp, but will get another chance to impress the St. Louis brass.
- From heir apparent to fifth string, goaltender Spencer Martin has had a tough year or so. Last off-season, the 2013 third-round pick looked like he might be in line for the backup role with the Colorado Avalanche. Instead, the Avs traded for Philipp Grubauer and signed Pavel Francouz. Martin sat behind Francouz, an AHL All-Star, all year and then was not extended a qualifying offer from Colorado. Martin signed as a UFA early this summer with the Tampa Bay Lightning, who at the time had only two goalies slotted above him on the depth chart. Since then, the Bolts have traded for Mike Condon and signed Curtis McElhinney. With Condon and Louis Domingue both established NHL veterans currently confined to the AHL, today’s move was inevitable, but still a tough blow for Martin. The 24-year-old was reassigned to the ECHL’s Orlando Solar Bears, the Syracuse Crunch announced. Another former top prospect, Zach Fucale, has also been sent down to Orlando. The duo will likely be relegated to the ECHL for much of the season, barring an injury or trade. It’s certainly not the future imagined for Martin just a few short years ago.
- The Blue Jackets have recalled winger Eric Robinson from Cleveland (AHL), reports Aaron Portzline of The Athletic. He has already been cut this preseason but is expected to suit up in their final exhibition game on Sunday before being sent back down.
- The Florida Panthers announced that they have recalled forward Anthony Greco from the Springfield Thunderbirds of the AHL. The 25-year-old was cut from the NHL camp on Thursday, but may get a chance to prove himself again. Greco scored 59 goals over the past two seasons with Springfield, but has only made one NHL appearance so far.
Snapshots: Lafleur, Snow, Dubinsky
The hockey world held its breath when news broke that Guy Lafleur was heading in for quadruple bypass heart surgery. The Montreal Canadiens were proud to report however that the procedure was a success and Lafleur is expected to make a full recovery. We here at PHR wish the entire Lafleur family the best as they work through the recovery period, and are glad everything went smoothly. The 68-year old is one of the most well-known and successful players in NHL history, scoring 1,353 points in 1,1127 games over his long career.
Here are some more notes from around the league:
- Chris Snow has been named an assistant general manager for the Calgary Flames. The 38-year old Snow has worked with the team for several years as their director of hockey analysis, running their advanced statistics department. He also previously worked for the Minnesota Wild and as a beat writer for both the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Boston Globe. Snow will join Craig Conroy and Brad Pascall as assistant general managers for the club.
- When the Columbus Blue Jackets announced that Brandon Dubinsky would be out with a wrist injury to start the year, they explained that his timetable was indefinite. That may mean long-term, according to Dubinsky’s agent Kurt Overhardt, who spoke with Aaron Portzline of The Athletic (subscription required). It is the same injury that Dubinsky dealt with last season.
Minor Transactions: 09/26/19
As teams finish their final week of preparation before the 2019-20 season, there will likely be several transactions around the league. As always, we’ll keep track of all those moves right here:
- All of the players from yesterday have cleared waivers and can be assigned to the minor leagues.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets have sent ten players back to the minor leagues, returning Paul Bittner, Zac Dalpe, Nathan Gerbe, Markus Hannikainen, Nikita Korostelev, Kole Sherwood, Kevin Stenlund, Gabriel Carlsson, Anton Karlsson and Veini Vehvilainen. All ten had previously been cut from the training camp roster but were recalled to play in a preseason game last night.
- The Arizona Coyotes have recalled Ivan Prosvetov from the AHL, giving them another goaltender in camp ahead of their final two preseason games. Prosvetov had already been cut and sent to the Tucson Roadrunners, and is an unlikely candidate for an NHL role this year.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs have returned Kasimir Kaskisuo to the AHL after he helped fill in as an extra goaltender in training camp recently. The Maple Leafs had decided to cut ties with Michal Neuvirth after he continued to be held off the ice with minor injuries, and needed the previously assigned Kaskisuo to help out. It’s unclear where his role lies with the organization at this point, given the presence of other young goaltenders in the system.
- The Calgary Flames have recalled eight players to help fill out their roster for tonight, bringing up Byron Froese, Justin Kirkland, Andrew Nielsen, Matthew Phillips, Luke Philp, Buddy Robinson, Rinat Valiev and Artyom Zagidulin. These players have already been cut from training camp, but will help finish out the preseason.
Injury Notes: Dubinsky, McCabe, Blackhawks
The Columbus Blue Jackets have already run into some injury trouble, announcing that Brandon Dubinsky will be out indefinitely with a wrist injury. Dubinsky is expected to miss the start of the regular season, though it’s obviously not clear how long this will keep him out.
This injury will open the door for another young Blue Jackets forward to see more ice, and isn’t the end of the world for Columbus given Dubinsky’s decline over recent years. Since the start of the 2017-18 campaign, the veteran forward has struggled offensively and recorded just 31 points in 139 games including just a single goal in 16 playoff contests. With Artemi Panarin gone to New York the Blue Jackets will need new faces to take on some of the offensive responsibility, and someone like Alexandre Texier will be relied on even more heavily as injuries start to pile up.
- Buffalo Sabres defenseman Jake McCabe will miss the rest of the preseason with an upper-body injury, though the team believes he will be available to start the season. The Sabres loaded blueline is starting to look thinner and thinner thanks to several injuries, and it is not clear who would take his place if McCabe is not ready to go next week. Injuries aren’t a new thing for the 25-year old, who has played just 112 games over the last two seasons combined.
- The Chicago Blackhawks were without Robin Lehner at practice today as he nurses a right hip injury, but it is not expected to keep him out long. Kirby Dach, who has been working through a concussion, will travel with the team to Europe for their Global Series matchups but isn’t expected to play in either game. The Blackhawks leave on Thursday and will play an exhibition match against Berlin in Germany before opening their regular season against the Philadelphia Flyers in Prague, Czech Republic.
Minor Transactions: 09/25/19
As teams finish their final week of preparation before the 2019-20 season, there will likely be several transactions around the league. As always, we’ll keep track of all those moves right here:
- All of the players from yesterday have cleared waivers and can be assigned to the minor leagues.
- The Columbus Blue Jackets have recalled ten players as they prepare for their game against the Buffalo Sabres tonight. Markus Hannikainen, Paul Bittner, Zac Dalpe, Nathan Gerbe, Nikita Korostelev, Kole Sherwood, Kevin Stenlund, Gabriel Carlsson, Anton Karlsson and Veini Vehvilainen had already been cut from the NHL training camp, but will be back up with the team temporarily.
- 2004 third-overall pick Cam Barker hasn’t played in the NHL since the 2012-13 season, but that doesn’t mean his professional career is over. The 33-year old defenseman has signed in the Czech league for this season after spending the last several years in the KHL, NLA and Liiga.
- The San Jose Sharks have sent all eight of the players they recalled yesterday back to the AHL, after they helped fill out a roster last night. These names have already been cut from the training camp but were just temporary fill-ins.
- After sending Derrick Pouliot to the AHL following waivers, the St. Louis Blues have recalled Mitch Reinke who will play tomorrow night against the Detroit Red Wings. The Blues will obviously be without Joel Edmundson after trading him away this week, but Reinke still looks like a long-shot to see any legitimate action at the beginning of the season, thanks to the addition of Justin Faulk.
Snapshots: Milano, Bergeron, Krejci, Officials
One way or another, Sonny Milano’s time in Columbus could be drawing to a close. The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline writes that the Blue Jackets are ready to move on from the talented, but inconsistent winger. Milano, 23, was a 2014 first-round pick who entered the pro ranks with high expectations. However, in the years since Milano has struggled to stick in Columbus. He played in just seven combined NHL games in his first two seasons and played in only eight games last year, with a 55-game 2017-18 campaign sandwiched in between. Yet, even in that season Milano had a hard time with consistency and work ethic, scoring in bunches for a total 22 points. It was a major step forward for the prospect, but wasn’t exactly a season that left the Blue Jackets with visions of grandeur. As such, his regression last season was far from a surprise. Portzline notes that while Milano has struggled, rookies Emil Bemstrom and Alexandre Texier have passed him up on the organizational depth chart. For the first time this season, Milano is no longer waiver exempt, but there doesn’t seem to be much room for him on the NHL roster. Portzline feels that on raw talent alone a team would be likely to take a chance on him via waivers. Unsurprisingly, he reports that Columbus would prefer to trade him rather than lose him on the wire. If they are successful, such a move would likely be occurring by the start of the regular season next week.
- While the Blue Jackets are anticipating the departure of Milano, the Bruins are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Patrice Bergeron. The team’s top center has been sidelined for much of training camp with a lingering groin injury, but Boston held out hope that he would be ready for the start of the regular season. After steadily increasing his participation in practice over the last week, the team announced that Bergeron is expected to see his first (and only) preseason action in Chicago on Saturday. This is very positive news for the Bruins, as many questioned whether Bergeron would even be ready to begin the real season, nevertheless healthy enough to play in an exhibition game. The timing could not be better either, as No. 2 center David Krejci suffered an injury in the team’s preseason contest on Monday night and he availability to begin the year is now in question. Head coach Bruce Cassidy does not believe the injury to be serious, but the team will take their time with Krejci. Boston is better prepared for the absence of a top-six center this year than in years past with Charlie Coyle in the fold, but it would be a tough start to the year if both Bergeron and Krejci were sidelined for the Bruins.
- After the NHL and the Officials’ Association agreed to terms on a new contract on Friday, TSN’s Pierre LeBrun reports that the officials have voted to ratify the proposed deal. The NHL owners must now do the same, although the vote is expected to be consistent. A new, four-year deal between the league and its on-ice officials will be formalized before the start of the season, avoiding any drama to take away from the beginning of a new campaign.
Waivers: 09/23/19
With AHL training camps getting underway, many players will be put on waivers over the next several days. We’ll keep track of all of them right here:
Buffalo Sabres
Calgary Flames
F Byron Froese
F Justin Kirkland
F Buddy Robinson
F Rinat Valiev
D Andrew Nielsen
Carolina Hurricanes
F Brian Gibbons
D Kyle Wood
D Alex Lintuniemi
D Roland McKeown
D Fredrik Claesson
Colorado Avalanche
Columbus Blue Jackets
F Zac Dalpe
F Markus Hannikainen
F Ryan MacInnis
D Adam Clendening
Los Angeles Kings
Minnesota Wild
F Kyle Rau
D Matt Bartkowski
F Luke Johnson
Pittsburgh Penguins
F Andrew Agozzino
F Joseph Blandisi
F Joseph Cramarossa
F Thomas Di Pauli
F Ryan Haggerty
D Kevin Czuczman
D David Warsofsky
San Jose Sharks