With the NHL season in full swing, one division stands out for its early balance and competitiveness. In the Metropolitan Division, seven of the eight teams boast a .500 record or better, and four have already reached double digit points.
With two weeks of the 82-game slate already done, here’s how all eight teams have fared so far.
Carolina Hurricanes (5-1-0)
The Hurricanes opened the year red-hot with five straight wins to seize the top spot in the division. A 4-1 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights snapped their winning streak, but Carolina has made it clear that they’re chasing hardware. Center Seth Jarvis has been electric, with six goals in as many games, including two overtime winners, while Sebastian Aho has tallied two goals and six assists. Averaging 4.0 goals per game, Rod Brind’Amour’s squad looks every bit like a Stanley Cup contender.
New Jersey Devils (5-1-0)
After a 6-3 season opener loss to Carolina, the Devils have thrived ever since. Now that the team is mostly healthy after injuries derailed the squad’s past few seasons, New Jersey has shown what they can do at full strength, with star center Jack Hughes leading the charge. After a slow start, Hughes has scored six goals in three games, including a hat trick in Toronto on Tuesday. Alongside him is captain Nico Hischier, coming off a 35-goal season, and dangerous wingers Jesper Brett and Timo Meier. The team’s biggest question mark comes in goal, with starter Jacob Markstrom struggling before going on the IR and veteran Jake Allen filling in. With potentially one of the most lethal offenses in the game, the Devils could emerge as a true contender if they can stay healthy.
Pittsburgh Penguins (5-2-0)
38-year-old Sidney Crosby continues to defy time, powering a surprisingly strong start for a Pittsburgh team that’s supposed to be rebuilding. The captain’s four goals and four assists have anchored a rejuvenated offense. Right wing Justin Brazeau has emerged as a breakout scorer with five goals; nearly half his total last year. If the Penguins can sustain this early chemistry, perhaps a return to the playoffs is closer than expected.
Washington Capitals (5-2-0)
Last year’s division champions are back in the mix in 2025 with a strong 5-2-0 start. They’ve allowed just 1.9 goals per game, the best in the NHL, and have been one of the most disciplined teams with just 2.9 penalties per game. The offense has looked impressive as well, led by right wing Tom Wilson’s four goals and six assists, and center Dylan Strome’s two goals and seven assists. Now the all-time leading goal scorer, Alex Ovechkin has indicated he has no plans to retire and will look to pick it up with just one goal so far. Their experience and well-rounded roster should lead Washington to another strong season after just barely missing the president’s trophy last year.
New York Rangers (3-4-1)
The Rangers’ start to the year has been puzzling. Hoping to rebound from a dismal 2024-25 campaign, their struggles seem to continue with a four-game home losing streak, scoring just one goal at Madison Square Garden. Star center Vincent Trochek’s stint on the injured reserve hurts, but an experienced core with Artemi Panarin, J.T. Miller and Mika Zibanejad should be dangerous on its own, Igor Shesterkin remains elite in goal. Now the Rangers need to rediscover their scoring ability, and they could quickly climb back into contention.
Philadelphia Flyers (3-2-1)
After a division-worst 76 points last season, new head coach Rick Tocchet hopes to see improvement in a squad with few preseason expectations. A winning record through six games is a welcome sight, especially after dropping the first two games of the season. They may just be punching above their weight, but it’s been a promising start for Philadelphia. Their first win of the year came in a surprising 5-2 victory over the defending champion Florida Panthers, with two goals from defenseman Sean Couturier fueling the offensive explosion. Still, with a shaky goalie situation and no clear top-end contributors, it’s hard to see this success continue long term, but early signs point to the team finally trending upwards.
Columbus Blue Jackets (3-3-0)
The Blue Jackets narrowly missed out on the playoffs last season and will look to change that in 2026. Young contributors Kirill Marchenko, Dmitri Voronkov and Adam Fantilli have stepped up to lead the team’s scoring, while rookie Denton Mateychuk has brought stability on the blue line with defenseman Zach Werenski. Rough defense was their achilles heel last season, so if they can move past that, they have a shot at making it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
New York Islanders (3-3-0)
No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer’s transition to the NHL has looked seamless, already contributing with two goals and five assists. The Islanders’ start to the year looked grim after dropping their first three games, but they have since bounced back to a 3-3 record. Despite losing veteran Brock Nelson, the Islanders’ offense has been effective early on, with center Bo Horvat boasting five goals and two assists. Concern remains on the defensive end, where struggles have persisted from last year, allowing 3.7 goals per game, among the worst in the Eastern Conference. Cleaning that up will be key if the Islanders hope to compete in a stacked Metro Division.