Where Rangers, Islanders sit in Eastern Conference division rankings
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Free agency has quieted down and the busy part of the NHL’s offseason is almost over.
That makes now, with two months to go before training camps kick off, as good a time as any to take stock of the league.
The Post’s Ethan Sears ranks both divisions in the Eastern Conference based on rosters as of Friday (projected wild-card teams are denoted with an asterisk).
Metropolitan Division
8. Flyers (2022-23: 31-38-13, seventh place)
The new front office has embraced rebuilding, and we can expect the Flyers to feel some pain in the short-term.
7. Blue Jackets (2022-23: 25-48-9, eighth place)
No. 3-overall pick Adam Fantilli is a future star, and the Blue Jackets can’t possibly have injury luck as bad as they had this past season. Still, they’re a step behind the rest of the Metro.
6. Penguins (2022-23: 40-31-11, fifth place)
General manager Kyle Dubas is an exciting hire, and Reilly Smith makes the second line much better. But bottom-six depth remains problematic, even with some new faces.
5. Capitals (2022-23: 35-37-10, sixth place)
Better health should get the Capitals closer to the playoffs than last season, but this is still an aging team built around aging superstar Alex Ovechkin.
4. Islanders* (2022-23: 42-31-9, fourth place, lost in first round)
The team that made the playoffs on the last day of last season brings back the same group, which looks just good enough to again spend the season fighting for a playoff spot.
3. Rangers (2022-23: 47-22-13, third place, lost in first round)
We know the deal here: Thet have the same core that lost in the first round of the playoffs last season, only with Peter Laviolette behind the bench instead of Gerard Gallant and with a few new faces down the lineup. Will that be enough to win a Stanley Cup?
2. Hurricanes (2022-23: 52-21-9, first place, lost in conference final)
After a deep playoff run, Carolina added Michael Bunting at forward and Dmitry Orlov on defense. The Hurricanes also have been linked to Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson and wing Vladimir Tarasenko. Acquiring either of them would make Carolina the favorite in the Eastern Conference.
1. Devils (2022-23: 52-22-8, second place, lost in second round)
The Devils are young and full of firepower, with the Hughes brothers, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt and Dawson Mercer all getting better. If Akira Schmid emerges as a true No. 1 goaltender or GM Tom Fitzgerald finds another way to address the position (John Gibson or Connor Hellebuyck) it would fill the only hole…
Read More: Where Rangers, Islanders sit in Eastern Conference division rankings 2023-07-15 02:43:00