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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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UNIONDALE, NY – MARCH 09: Joe Finley #52 of the New York Islanders wears the Islanders St. Patrick’s Day jersey during warmups prior to the game against the Washington Capitals at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on March 9, 2013 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Capitals 5-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NY – MARCH 09: Joe Finley #52 of the New York Islanders wears the Islanders St. Patrick’s Day jersey during warmups prior to the game against the Washington Capitals at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on March 9, 2013 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Capitals 5-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

New York Islanders

Michael Marzzacco

7th – There was a lot of turnover in this division but the New York Islanders were the one team that stood pat. While they were one of the Cinderellas of last season it’ll be much harder to replicate that performance this season. Don’t get me wrong though, Barry Trotz will still have them playing competitive hockey and they could be one of those pests.

It’ll be interesting to see if Semyon Varlamov can level up under the leadership of goaltending coach Mitch Korn but I wouldn’t call him an upgrade over Robin Lehner. They also re-signed their team captain Anders Lee, avoiding another dreadful scenario of losing another star to free agency after John Tavares one year ago. However, losing out on the Artemi Panarin sweepstakes to their New York counterparts will set them back.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 26: Fans arrive for the game between the New York Islanders and the Carolina Hurricanes in Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Barclays Center on April 26, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 26: Fans arrive for the game between the New York Islanders and the Carolina Hurricanes in Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Barclays Center on April 26, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

David Trice

2nd –  Islanders underwent the least amount of change of any team in the Metropolitan Division. But one of those changes was between the pipes and will dictate how much improvement the team will overall.

With the coaching hierarchy for goaltending the Islanders employ there should be improved production from Varlamov compared to his time in Colorado. Additionally, another year in the Barry Trotz system should help solidify the Islanders as solid contenders for the division for the foreseeable future.

UNIONDALE, NY – APRIL 12: New York Islanders fans are energetic after the go-ahead goal during game 2 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the New York Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 14, 2019 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, NY. (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NY – APRIL 12: New York Islanders fans are energetic after the go-ahead goal during game 2 of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between the New York Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 14, 2019 at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, NY. (Photo by John McCreary/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Andrew Gillis

7th – The Islanders made it a point to let everyone know they’d heard how bad they were projected to be. And with a trip to the second round, there’s no doubt the good feelings have continued. Just don’t expect them to last very long.

New York rode an incredibly high PDO last season, led by Robin Lehner, and lost him in free agency. The Isles replaced him with an older, more expensive, oft-injured Semyon Varlamov.

The Islanders avoided losing their captain to free agency for the second year in a row, but with not much else added to an aging roster without much firepower, there’s not a ton of reason to be excited in New York.

Coach Barry Trotz will have the team playing good, fundamental defense, but it would be a tall ask to repeat the events of 2018-19.

Ben Little

7th – I think last year was a bit of a fluke. The New York Islanders stunned everyone by being as good as they were and most of that surprise came with the renaissance season of goaltender, Robin Lehner, whom they let walk and replaced him with Semyon Varlamov.

Us Washington Capitals fans know that although Varlamov is a decent enough goalie, he is no superstar. They missed the big fish in free agency in Artemi Panarin and had to spend their money on re-signing captain, Anders Lee, for probably more money than he’s worth. The way I see it, the Islanders will not be the team they were last season.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 26: Head Coach of the New York Islanders Barry Trotz looks on from behind the bench during Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Barclays Center on April 26, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – APRIL 26: Head Coach of the New York Islanders Barry Trotz looks on from behind the bench during Game One of the Eastern Conference Second Round against the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Barclays Center on April 26, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images) /

CJ Witt

7th – Teams around them have gotten better and this team hasn’t done enough in my eyes to warrant a higher ranking.

Honestly the only reason I have them here is Barry Trotz who, for my money, is the best coach in hockey. We’ve seen Trotz do great things with average teams and he did just that last season.

On top of not really adding much this off-season they lost their Vezina trophy finalist Robin Lehner who now calls Chicago home. The Isles did sign Semyon Varlamov but he’s struggled the past few seasons, both on the ice and with injuries. It wouldn’t be shocking to see a goalie post great stats under Trotz and goalie coach Mitch Korn and to have much of a chance they will probably need just that.

You shouldn’t count out a Barry Trotz coached team, but just like last year it’s going to be a big uphill climb for the Islanders.

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