2018 NHL All-Star Game Preview: Metropolitan Division
January 27, 2018
The Metropolitan Division, as always, is stacked with talent, from veterans like Crosby to new comers like Noah Hanifin. Led by Washington Capitals Head Coach, Barry Trotz, and backed up by his netminder Braden Holtby, the Metro will certainly challenge the Atlantic to see who’s the Beast of the East.
Metropolitan Division
Coach: Barry Trotz, Washington Capitals
Coach Trotz earned the right to coach the Metropolitan All-Star team while his Washington Capitals sit in first place in their respective division at a 28-15-5 record. Of course, Trotz has a couple of teammates coming along with him to Tampa. In fact, his two stars, Alex Ovechkin and Braden Holtby, will represent the Caps on the ice.
Josh Bailey, New York Islanders
In his 10th NHL season, Josh Bailey is starting to pan out to be one of the top power forwards in the game. Last season, Bailey finished with 56 points (13+43=56) in 82 games. In 45 games this season, Bailey has 54 points (12+42=54). You tell me if he is on fire or not. The former first round pick by the Islanders in 2008 is bound to reach the 70 point mark if he keeps it up, and in his first All-Star Game expect him to unload that wicked shot he has.
Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins
Surprise, surprise huh? Of course the face of the NHL has to be in the All-Star Game, and it is deservedly so as much as I hate to admit it. Crosby currently has 52 points in 50 games (17+35=52), despite rocking a dismal -11 in plus/minus. Crosby’s next goal will be his 400th of his career, and he has already exceeded the 1,000 point mark. Obviously Crosby is a Hall of Famer, being a 3 time Stanley Cup Champ and now a seventh time All-Star. Regardless, Pittsburgh has had a very disappointing season so far as they are currently out of the playoff picture, so you have to imagine that Sid will enjoy this weekend but will want to get back to Pittsburgh to push for a playoff spot.
Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers
Perhaps the most hockey name out there. Just think about it “Claude Giiiiroooo”, gotta love the name and the game Giroux plays. The Flyer captain will be making his fifth All-Star appearance in his 9th full time NHL season. Giroux currently has 56 points (14+42=56) so far this season, as he has helped his squad crawl out of the bottom of the Metro division to earn the right to hold a playoff spot. Last year, Giroux had the same amount of goals and two more assists, this season has clearly been a much better campaign and well deserved, he is one of the better passers in the league.
Taylor Hall, New Jersey Devils
In his second season in New Jersey, Hall is just five points away from his point total last year. Currently Hall has 48 points (17+31=48) in 43 games played, he is currently nursing a hand injury and could miss the All-Star Game, which would be his third straight nomination for the mid-season showdown. More news is bound to come out in the upcoming days as the weekend approaches, and if Hall can’t play it will be a loss for the fans. Hall is a true talent, hence why he went number one overall back in 2010. If Hall can indeed stay healthy he should be well on his way to putting up Hall of Fame worthy numbers, let’s hope he can in fact play on Sunday.
Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals
The Captain of the Metro and the leading goal scorer thus far (29) is of course an All-Star for the 12th time in his illustrious career. The human highlight reel has literally accomplished everything in the NHL except for the golden prize, winning the Stanley Cup, he obviously hopes this year could be the year for the first place Capitals. What else can you expect from Ovi other a ton of sick moves and nasty goals in Tampa?
John Tavares, New York Islanders
The Islander captain will join his teammate Josh Bailey in Tampa this weekend. Tavares is having a really great year with 26 goals and 31 assists in only 49 games. Tavares is making his fifth All-Star appearance and he is always a treat to watch. Despite the Islanders being in 7th place in the Metro, they are only two points behind the Blue Jackets for the wild-card spot in the ever-so-tight Metropolitan playoff race. Tavares is on pace to beat out last years numbers where he finished with 66 points (28 goals) and will reach the 600 point mark with six more points. One of the true class act guys in the NHL should have himself a night playing alongside the rest of the Metro stars.
Seth Jones, Columbus Blue Jackets
I love this kids game, he is a lethal weapon from the Blue Line with his great shot and also can throw his weight around defensively. Jones is just 23 years old and he is currently on pace to beat his numbers from last year (finishing with 12+30=42) he currently has 8 goals and 23 assists thus far in 48 games, as he aims to set some career highs. Jones is making his second straight All-Star Game in his young career and I fully expect he will make many more.
Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins
Letang has been known to be one of the top offensive defensemen in the NHL over the past 11 seasons and he eats a ton of minutes. Letang only has three goals this year so far along with 25 assists, last season he was injured for exactly half the year and finished with five goals and 29 assists, so he is producing at the rate he normally does as he tends to usually score above 10 goals a year. Look no matter what people say, the 30 year old three time Stanley Cup Champ will always be considered one of the top ten defensemen in the league and he is quite the talent when he is healthy, so look for him to dish out some apples on Sunday.
Noah Hanifin, Carolina Hurricanes
Another young stud blue liner is Noah Hanifin. He has already set a career high in goals so far with seven and is on pace to set a new career high in assists and points. The Boston native and Boston College Alum has grown into a reliable two-way defenseman, as he currently plays in his third NHL season at just 21 years old. This will be Hanifin’s first All-Star Game appearance, and because he is still under his rookie contract, he gets a little bonus pay. Well deserved Noah, show the veterans whatcha got.
Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals
Holtby gets to suit up for his coach and alongside his captain this weekend in Tampa. This will be Holtby’s third straight All-Star appearance and it is well deserved despite not being able to win much of anything when it comes down to the playoffs. Holtby is fourth in the NHL in wins with 24 and has only nine regulation losses and two overtime/shootout losses. His .916 save percentage and 2.68 doesn’t rank very high amongst his netminding counterparts and he has yet to earn a shut out, but it doesn’t matter. Holtby is a winner when it comes to the regular season, hence why his Washington Capitals are first in their division.
Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers
The lone-ranger this year is the “King” Henrik Lundqvist, making the All-Star Game for the fourth time in his career. The 35 year old has started 41 games and is sporting a 21-13-4 record for the Rangers who have been struggling to stay above water with injuries and inconsistent play most of the year. However, Hank continues to play and should reach the 800 game mark this season. Lundqvist is known to many as a genuinely nice guy and a fan favorite so good for him to make another All Star team, no one else on the Rangers deserved to be there.
This concludes the Metropolitan Division All-Star Game preview. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post when we dissect the Western Conference All Stars representing the Central Division.
Written by Nick Gendreau
