A flurry of activity has already been seen around the NHL this summer, but teams still have a long way to go before they’re ready to drop the puck in 2016-17. The PDL team is going to take a look around the league and examine each team to see where they’re coming from and what they need to do to take the next step.
This series continues with a look at the Metropolitan Division.
Carolina Hurricanes
What happened in 2015-16?
The Hurricanes hovered near the Wild Card the entire season but were never close enough to truly threaten. The offense was slightly below average and the goaltending didn’t do them any favors. The defense, the lone bright spot on this team, is only going to get better over time. It was a young team playing in one of the best divisions in hockey. Only way they can go is up.
How do they take the next step?
A lot of it is very small minuscule things. The defense is only going to get better with the return of James Wisniewski from injury. The offense is going to get better with Teuvo Teravainen added to the core. While Cam Ward was re-signed, Eddie Lack should take over the starting job and bring steadiness to a position that sorely needs it.
Columbus Blue Jackets
What happened in 2015-16?
Starting off the season with one of the worst records in the history of the NHL isn’t a great way to start. They fired their head coach Todd Richards and brought in John Tortorella. Shortly after that hiring the Blue Jackets traded Ryan Johansen for Seth Jones. They never ended up recovering and ended up near the bottom of the league to end the season.
How do they take the next step?
They are going to need a number one center to start. Brandon Dubinsky can fill the role for now but he won’t stick there. They need to clear themselves of multiple terrible contracts. They have a Calder Cup winning squad down in the AHL and they should start utilizing the depth they have down there.
New Jersey Devils
What happened in 2015-16?
Starting out hot with the help of Cory Schneider, the Devils looked to be a surprise playoff team to start the year. Players like Kyle Palmieri and Mike Cammalleri were prudent acquisitions and produced at a high level. As injuries began to take hold of the team, the fall down the standings happened quickly.
How do they take the next step?
They have young defensive pieces and have some young talent on offense that should be coming down the pike soon enough. The Devils and their fans need to have some patience as Ray Shero has the team on a good path but not a quick one. They are doing their rebuild the old fashioned way. They won’t see a payoff for a couple more years.
New York Islanders
What happened in 2015-16?
A strong team all season long even through injuries. It looked like the Islanders were going to finally reach their potential. The injury of Jaroslav Halak didn’t prove to be disastrous as Thomas Greiss filled in admirably. After John Tavares and a select group of forwards, the offense escaped them in the playoffs and they couldn’t recover against the Lightning.
How do they take the next step?
Internal growth. It looks like they are going to let a couple of their own players walk like Kyle Okposo and Matt Martin – players that are considered the heart and soul of the team. They have some high skill players in their system that should fill in and help the team immediately. Will these young, cost controlled players be up to the task?
New York Rangers
What happened in 2015-16?
They rode the Henrik Lundqvist train as far as it could go. A bad possession team all season long, they finally ran out of luck (or Lundqvist stopped making ridiculous saves) in the postseason. Filled with overpaid players on bloated contracts, the Rangers have a tough decision to make.
How do they take the next step?
They probably need to begin rebuilding ASAP. They have some good, young pieces but they aren’t franchise cornerstones. The mess they have on their hands is going to take some time and it will end up being a very tough few years. They may choose to delay the inevitable, where they might sneak in next year with a less than stellar squad. Tough decisions to be made in the Big Apple.
Philadelphia Flyers
What happened in 2015-16?
The City of Brotherly Love fell head over heels for Shayne Gostisbehere as his time with the Flyers lined up perfectly with the team’s ascension in the standings. No one thought they had a chance in hell to make the playoffs, yet the stars aligned and they were able to make it in the middle of their rebuild.
How do they take the next step?
They have a number one center, they have a number one winger, they may already have a number one defenseman. This team has a stacked prospect pipeline as well. Over the course of the next few years the Flyers are going to become a formidable team. As long as they don’t bet the farm on a player, they should be fine and will soon become a real contender in the East.
Pittsburgh Penguins
What happened in 2015-16?
They won the Stanley Cup. They were absolutely unbelievable after the hiring of Mike Sullivan. No team in the NHL was as good as the Penguins from that point on. They faced a very good Sharks team and demolished them in the Stanley Cup.
How do they take the next step?
They made it already. No steps to take. They may be running into a bit of a cap buzzsaw with their contracts but some maneuvering shouldn’t change much to this team. They have a real chance to repeat and win it all over again.
Washington Capitals
What happened in 2015-16?
They were one of the best teams in the league all season long and even won the Presidents’ Trophy. If they didn’t have to face the Pittsburgh Penguins, they would have likely advanced to the Final. They weren’t a bad team by any means, they just faced a team that was having its “moment”.
How do they take the next step?
They don’t really have to do anything. They already have a great set of forwards. A defense that is aging but reinforcements are on the way. The goaltending is one of the best in the league. What is there to feel bad about for Capitals fans?
