NHL 2016-17 Preview: Puck Daddy picks Metro Division

The 2016-17 NHL season is finally upon us, which means it’s time to start picking, prognosticating and forecasting the standings.

We previewed the Atlantic earlier. We previewed the Pacific after that. Now, here’s how our panel of so-called experts sees the Metro Division shaking out. They sincerely hope you forget you ever saw this unless they’re right:

Greg Wyshynski, Editor: The Capitals add another banner to their collection of ones they wish instead said “conference” or “Stanley Cup,” and do it fairly easily. As of this writing, Sidney Crosby is out with a concussion, but the Penguins are the best-conditioned team in the NHL in handling the loss of key players.

The Flyers are in the upswing; the Rangers are on a downswing, but not totally out. The Islanders don’t get the goaltending they received last season and find their equilibrium’s off without Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen.

And while I might be Homer McFanboy here, I think the Devils could get very close to the playoffs provided the Taylor Hall and Adam Henrique partnership clicks and a healthy Mike Cammalleri provides additional offense.

Sean Leahy, Editor: A full season under Mike Sullivan should make the division title chase a fun battle between the Penguins and Capitals. Meanwhile, there are some up-and-comers in that division that will make future chases even tougher. The Islanders, Flyers — two playoff teams this year — should be back again next spring, while the Devils and Hurricanes are slowly moving in that direction.

Jen Neale, Editor: Beyond Washington at the top, the dogfight for a playoff spots will come from the Metro. Should Crosby not be out too long, the Penguins will be fine. I think Philly and Carolina will surprise everyone by making the playoffs as long as their goaltending is somewhat stable. The Islanders might take the biggest step backwards leading to Jack Cap to lose his job.

Josh Cooper, Editor: The Philadelphia Flyers will be a surprise top-three team in the Metropolitan Division. Shayne Gostisbehere will continue to develop into one of the top defensemen in the NHL and this will propel Philly to one of the better seasons in the Metro. The Rangers and Islanders will both take a step back after lackluster off-seasons. The Capitals will edge the Penguins for the top spot in the division.

Ryan Lambert, Columnist: It will be pretty tough for Washington to waltz to another Presidents’ Trophy, because a Mike Sullivan-coached Penguins club will be the class of the conference. Tampa won’t be far behind, as Jon Cooper and Co. whale on a trash division.

The Caps come next, then the Flyers, no surprise there.

Carolina makes a big step forward (maybe I believe in Eddie Lack more than I should). The Islanders scrape into the playoffs.

Steve Laidlaw, Fantasy Columnist: The Rangers will need continued heroics from Henrik Lundqvist but their aging defense corps is asking too much of him. You can pick just about any team from the East that you want. Most of them are flawed in a fatal way. Only Washington, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay and Florida look deep enough to truly contend.

Sam McCaig, NHL Editor: The Capitals, Lightning and Penguins are the class of the conference and should battle for first place in the East all season. John Tavares and the Islanders shouldn’t be overlooked. And we’ll take the Rangers and Flyers for the final two playoff spots.

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Greg Wyshynski is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter. His book, TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE PUCK, is available on Amazon and wherever books are sold.

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