1 player to watch from Rangers, each Metropolitan Division rival in 2024-25 season

NHL: Edmonton Oilers at New York Rangers
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With the start of the new season, the New York Rangers find themselves looking to repeat as Metropolitan Division champion, after edging the Carolina Hurricanes by three points in 2023-24. With the New Jersey Devils and Washington Capitals much improved, at least on paper, that battle for the top spot in the division this season should be a good one.

Last season, four teams from the Metropolitan Division made the playoffs- the Rangers, Hurricanes, New York Islanders and Capitals. It’s fair to say that each of those teams, plus the Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers, will be in the playoff hunt this season. Only the Columbus Blue Jackets, following the tragic death of star forward Johnny Gaudreau, appear to be out of that mix.

All in all, the Rangers find themselves in an exciting division, full of elite competition and dynamic players, once again in 2024-25.

Related: What’s next for Rangers, Igor Shesterkin after Jeremy Swayman ends holdout with Bruins

Key players to watch from Rangers and their Metro Division rivals

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Here’s a look at one key player from each team in the division who’s set to be a difference-maker this season.

New York Rangers: Adam Fox

The Rangers defense has been a flurry of experimental pairings to start the season, in the wake of Ryan Lindgren sustaining an upper-body injury in the second preseason match. The emergence of prospect Victor Mancini has given the Rangers some interesting decisions to make about the makeup of their defense pairs with Lindgren out.

One thing is certain though, Adam Fox remains New York’s No. 1 defenseman and, arguably, their most important all-around player. So, the Rangers must get it right with his partner, what with Lindgren injured. It appears K’Andre Miller will slide up to play alongside Fox on opening night Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins. That could be an electrifying pair.

After scoring an NHL career-high 17 goals and finishing with 73 points in 72 games last season, it feels like Fox could explode offensively this season. Remaining healthy is key, though. He missed 10 games with a knee injury in 2023-24. We all saw how adversely the Rangers are affected when Fox isn’t 100 percent healthy, like in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last spring.

If Fox stays healthy and averages his typical 24 minutes per game in ice time, he could be in line for a massive season and, perhaps, another Norris Trophy. No matter the final point totals, Fox is the linchpin to all the Rangers do, 5v5 and on the power play.

Fox is undoubtedly a leader on the ice, as well. His example is a guide for the 22-year-old Mancini and can inspire players like Braden Schneider and Zac Jones to unlock another level in their game.

The Rangers are known for their dynamic offense and the spectacular goaltending of Igor Shesterkin, but this season, Fox can set the tone for how impactful the Rangers’ defense can become.

Carolina Hurricanes: Seth Jarvis

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The Hurricanes had a busy offseason with the departure of several key players, like Brady Skjei, Jake Guentzel, and Brett Pesce, and new additions, like Shayne Gostisbehere and William Carrier. Despite the changes, the Hurricanes expect to be a serious contender again this season, after seven straight seasons making the playoffs.

Seth Jarvis is a big reason for optimism in Carolina. The 22-year-old forward broke out with 33 goals and 67 points last season, then signed a robust eight-year, $59.36 million contract this past summer.

The Hurricanes hope the arc continues up for Jarvis, whose production jumped dramatically last season after two very solid 40- and 39-point season his first two years.

Should Jarvis become even more of a contributor on the score sheet, he will be a pivotal difference-maker for his team. He has already demonstrated a high defensive intelligence and seems to improve his two-way play each season. His versatility can help the Hurricanes maintain the high level of play they’ve now become accustomed to.

Columbus Blue Jackets: Adam Fantilli

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The Blue Jackets finished at the bottom of the division again last season and they continue to be in rebuilding mode. The devastating loss of Gaudreau this offseason was another deeply impactful blow to an already struggling team. They also traded talented wing Patrik Laine to the Montreal Canadiens, per his request.

There are several intriguing young talents whose development can turn help things around here.

One of Columbus’ most exciting young players to watch is Adam Fantilli. Drafted third overall in 2023 out of the University of Michigan, Fantilli had already garnered several awards and accolades as a junior and college player. The anticipation for his NHL career was high, but his rookie season didn’t go quite as planned last season. The 19-year-old forward got off to a slow start and sustained a season-ending leg injury in January. In his limited ice time, he accumulated 27 points (12 goals, 15 assists) in 49 games.

This season, Fantilli will be looking to build off of the initial experience he gained and become a regular contributor for a team that desperately needs offense. He has a defensive side to his game as well and has maintained his ability to be a two-way player as he’s developed.

His preseason showing has been mostly positive, with six points (four goals, two assists) in six games. Fantilli admitted missing so much time last season required him to get his timing back and get used to the speed of the game again. In his second preseason outing, he netted a hat trick against the Capitals, a positive sign for sure. If Fantilli finds his timing and stays healthy this season, he should quickly develop into a major offensive weapon for the Blue Jackets.

New Jersey Devils: Jacob Markstrom

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The Devils notably have offensive power in Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Timo Meier. They have solid veteran and young defensive standouts in Dougie Hamilton, Luke Hughes, and Simon Nemec. What they have lacked in the recent past is stable goaltending.

Last year saw the team perform under expectations and miss the playoffs. They allowed 3.43 goals per game, fifth worst in the NHL, while suiting up various goalies, including Nico Daws, Vitek Vanecek, and Kaapo Kahkonen among others.

This offseason, the team made a splash by trading for Jacob Markstrom. The 34-year-old goaltender brings experience from multiple hockey markets and previous playoff runs. His game may not be at the level it was a few years ago, but he’s a massive upgrade over what the Devils had last season in goal. Within the division, you can argue Markstrom is right behind Shesterkin and Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin as best in the Metro.

Markstrom made a strong case for himself with his Devils debut at the 2024 NHL Global Series against the Buffalo Sabres in Prague last week. In the season opener, Markstrom masterfully controlled rebounds, stopped 30 of 31 shots and led the Devils to a win.

He is hugely important to New Jersey’s hopes to bounce back this season.

New York Islanders: Mat Barzal

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The Islanders squeaked into the playoffs last season and didn’t do much to improve the roster during the offseason. It’ll be a plus to have Patrick Roy behind the bench the entire season, but the Islanders still face a lot of questions in 2024-25.

Their goaltender, Sorokin is looking to have a comeback season after disappointing in 2023-24. They’ve modified their forwards with some new additions like Anthony Duclair and Maxim Tsyplakov.

But one of the most intriguing storylines for the Islanders will be how effective Mat Barzal can be this season.

Barzal burst onto the NHL scene with a Calder Trophy-winning rookie year that culminated in 85 points in 2017-18. Since then, Barzal has yet to be able to replicate that dominance, although last season showed some promising upside. Barzal was an NHL All-Star last season, scored a career-high 23 goals and finished with 80 points.

This season, Barzal will be paired with a new linemate in Duclair, be continuing to adapt to Roy’s high-accountability coaching style, and looking to break out and reach his full offensive potential at age 27. Barzal has at times been hesitant to shoot the puck and hasn’t always displayed defensive follow-through. Roy has challenged all his players to be responsible on both sides of the puck, and Barzal should be able to develop his two-way game.

He also seems to have found more offensive confidence and will benefit from Bo Horvat and Duclair as linemates. Barzal’s breakout rookie year was exciting to watch, and no doubt a breakout year as a more experienced and developed player would be beneficial for the Islanders.

Philadelphia Flyers: Matvei Michkov

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The Flyers exceeded most expectations by being in the playoff hunt last season. They just missed qualifying after a late season swoon, but still proved to be scrappy and resilient. This season, the Flyers want to build on what went right for them last season and see more consistent success.

The Flyers weren’t afraid to take shots on net last year, but struggled to capitalize on many, scoring in just 8.5 percent of their attempts. Their power play was also mess, last in the League at 12.2 percent.

This season the Flyers have an exciting new offensive weapon that could help turn things in the right direction.

Matvei Michkov, the Russian phenom from SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL, is a dynamic player, who is among the preseason favorites to win the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year.

In training camp and preseason, the 19-year-old lived up to the hype, displaying high offensive intelligence and instinct, high energy, and scoring capabilities. Michkov had seven points (three goals, four assists) to lead the Flyers in preseason scoring.

The Flyers have had an identity as a tough, check-heavy team, but Michkov’s slick-offensive-minded style of play provides a new level of depth to their game. The forward has already delivered what the organization was expecting to see from him with smart passing, dynamic skating, and ability to finish. His rookie season should be special to watch.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Erik Karlsson

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The Penguins found themselves out of the playoff picture for the second season in a row in 2023-24. But they’re sticking to a veteran core after signing Sidney Crosby to a contract extension this offseason. So the Penguins will run it back with Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson.

A key here is Karlsson, the 2022-23 Norris Trophy winner as the League’s top defenseman. He should be healthy and ready for the season opener after dealing with an injury during training camp and preseason. That is excellent news for a Penguins team that’s dealing with injuries to forwards Bryan Rust and Blake Lizotte and goalie Alex Nedeljkovic.

Karlsson was a hue acquisition by the Penguins during the 2023 offseason. He accumulated 101 points with the San Jose Sharks in 2022-23, but in Pittsburgh, Karlsson couldn’t quite replicate those numbers with 11 goals and 56 total points in 82 games. The Penguins and Karlsson had an up-and-down year and couldn’t seem to find consistency.

This season, Karlsson must step up his point production and be a difference maker. He’ll be able to quarterback a power play that will be improved from last season with both structural and personnel changes brought in by new assistant coach David Quinn, whom Karlsson played for in San Jose. Among many big names. Karlsson’s turnaround might just be the most important for the Penguins this season.

Washington Capitals: Alex Ovechkin

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The Capitals made the playoffs last season despite struggling offensively and having an aging core on their roster. They was swept by the Rangers in the first round, but the season provided hope that they could still be competitive in a tough division.

This season, the Capitals have added some new important new players to the mix, like forwards Pierre-Luc Dubois and Andrew Mangiapane, defensemen Jakob Chychrun and Matt Roy, and goalie Logan Thompson.

But when you talk about the Capitals, you still talk about superstar forward Alex Ovechkin. Washington’s captain is entering his 20th season in the League and remains the centerpiece to its fortunes.

Last season, however, Ovechkin struggled to be his usual self and had only eight goals through the first 43 games of the season. He finished with 31 goals and sits 41 goals behind Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring record. Ovechkin should net more than 31 this season, but he’ll be under a ton of scrutiny the closer he gets to Gretzky’s record.

Ovechkin has personal accolades on the line this year, but he also has the opportunity to give himself another shot at a playoff run. Ovechkin has long been an elite forward in the League, and he still has the skill and talent to be a difference maker for the Capitals.

Madison Hutchinson is an avid sports fan with experience as an editor, writer, and editorial manager in digital and ... More about Madison Hutchinson
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