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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 24: Brock McGinn #23 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates after scoring the game winning goal in the second overtime period against the Washington Capitals in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. The Hurricanes defeated the Capitals 4-3 in the second overtime period to move on to Round Two of the Stanley Cup playoffs. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 24: Brock McGinn #23 of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrates after scoring the game winning goal in the second overtime period against the Washington Capitals in Game Seven of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Capital One Arena on April 24, 2019 in Washington, DC. The Hurricanes defeated the Capitals 4-3 in the second overtime period to move on to Round Two of the Stanley Cup playoffs. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Carolina Hurricanes

Michael Marzzacco

2nd – The Carolina Hurricanes shocked the Caps, Islanders and the rest of the hockey world over the spring and expect that momentum to continue for those bunch of jerks.

Re-upping Sebastian Aho showed their commitment to a better future and they made some upgrades adding Erik Haula and Ryan Dzingel. What it’s going to come down to is their goaltending and if Petr Mrazek can improve his win total. If he does, they’re a lock for second place.

David Trice

3rd – The Carolina Hurricanes were one of the many surprises in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last year as they upset the defending Champions the Washington Capitals. They accomplished this with a young fast team known best for ripping off a number a shots and aggressive forechecking to maintain the pressure on the opposition.

With the turnover they have experienced, the greatest obstacle for their continued growth will be the emergence of Petr Mrazek as their number one goalie. And if this falters they will test the depth of their goaltending with new backups. Considering the depth the Hurricanes have as well as the talented pipeline of prospects, this team could prove to be the next rivalry to the Capitals that could compare to any other except the Penguins.

RALEIGH, NC – APRIL 15: Fans of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrate in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Washington Capitals on April 15, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – APRIL 15: Fans of the Carolina Hurricanes celebrate in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Washington Capitals on April 15, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Andrew Gillis

2nd – The Hurricanes made sure they wouldn’t be left behind this offseason and re-upped Sebastian Aho, courtesy of the Montreal Canadiens. They also added Erik Haula and Ryan Dzingel to the middle of the team’s lineup, which should bolster an already impressive forward corps.

The fast, speedy Hurricanes have leaned into that philosophy and are one of the league’s hardest teams to play against. That shouldn’t change in 2019-2020.

Carolina didn’t, however, bolster its goaltending. Petr Mrazek is back, but the question of how far the Hurricanes can go will come down to who is between the pipes.

The Hurricanes shocked the league last year with a run to the Conference Final. It’s just how they’ll perform a follow-up act that has everyone wondering.

RALEIGH, NC – MARCH 23: Trevor van Riemsdyk #57 of the Carolina Hurricanes participates in the Storm Surge after defeating the Minnesota Wild during an NHL game on March 23, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NC – MARCH 23: Trevor van Riemsdyk #57 of the Carolina Hurricanes participates in the Storm Surge after defeating the Minnesota Wild during an NHL game on March 23, 2019 at PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Gregg Forwerck/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Ben Little

2nd – This team is relentless. The way they are built and coached, they just never stop coming and that’s why they were able to defeat the defending Stanley Cup champion, Washington Capitals, in the first round of the 2019 Playoffs. With a nice run to the Eastern Conference Final under their belts, and superstar, Sebastian Aho, re-upped with the club for a nice, affordable term, they’re poised for another deep run.

They did lose valuable backup goalie, Curtis McElhinney, but were able to re-sign starting goalie, Petr Mrazek, as well as add veteran, James Reimer, so depending on how these inconsistent goalies choose to play will determine Carolina’s fate.

CJ Witt

5th – What will the Bunch of Jerks do for their encore? Was it a flash in the pan or a sign of things to come from down south?

Looking at the roster it has one of the deepest talent pools in this division. Sebastian Aho, Teuvo Teravainen, Andre Svechnikov, Nino Niederreiter, Ryan Dzingel, Erik Haula, Jordan Staal, Justin Faulk, Dougie Hamilton and Petr Mrazek. I don’t know if the majority of people know how much talent is on this team.

That being said the question needs to be asked, can they do it again? It’s happened before and will happen again in the future, a team surprises everyone, goes on a run and then regresses. It’s hard to be successful year after year. With the talent the Hurricanes have on their roster they’re set up to succeed, but will they?

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