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Washington Capitals: Power ranking the metropolitan division

By Michael Marzzacco

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 04: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) congratulates goalie Braden Holtby (70) after the game upon winning the Metropolitan Division during the Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals NHL hockey game April 4, 2019 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 04: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) congratulates goalie Braden Holtby (70) after the game upon winning the Metropolitan Division during the Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals NHL hockey game April 4, 2019 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 04: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) hugs goalie Braden Holtby (70) after the game upon winning the Metropolitan Division during the Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals NHL hockey game April 4, 2019 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 04: Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) hugs goalie Braden Holtby (70) after the game upon winning the Metropolitan Division during the Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals NHL hockey game April 4, 2019 at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.. (Photo by Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

The Washington Capitals have won the Metropolitan Division in each of the last four seasons. Now the competition just got stiffer.

A few Metropolitan Division teams around the Washington Capitals have improved their rosters over the offseason in the hopes of dethroning the Caps. Up north in the New York area, two teams made offseason moves in both the draft and free agency while another team stood pat.

Over in Pennsylvania one team has taken a small step forward and it’s looking like another took a big step back. Of course, there’s also the Carolina Hurricanes, who made improvements and have a vision to be a force to be reckoned with. In a way, they already are and we learned that the hard way last season.

Over in Columbus, the Blue Jackets lost two superstars and are heading towards a rebuild. Or they can be a pain in the neck for other teams with John Tortorella at the helm. Maybe a little bit of A, a little bit of B.

SAN JOSE, CA – JANUARY 26: Metropolitan Division teammates Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70), from left, New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) and Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) after winning the NHL All-Star Game at SAP Center on January 26, 2019 in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SAN JOSE, CA – JANUARY 26: Metropolitan Division teammates Washington Capitals goaltender Braden Holtby (70), from left, New York Islanders center Mathew Barzal (13) and Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson (74) after winning the NHL All-Star Game at SAP Center on January 26, 2019 in San Jose, CA. (Photo by Cody Glenn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

We gathered the staff of Stars and Sticks to give you our own power rankings. The way this slideshow will work is we ordered it by last years standings and under each contributors name is the prediction of where they’ll finish in the Metropolitan Division.

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