Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are reunited in the Metropolitan Division.
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The new season finally is here. Six teams are in action tonight including new Metropolitan Division member Washington. The Capitals are back where they belong playing against old Patrick rivals the Devils, Islanders, Rangers, Flyers and Penguins. The only difference is the Blue Jackets and Hurricanes are joining them in the newly formed eight team division. It’s still going to take some time to get used to the Metro. An easier nickname for what should be a very competitive division. It’s even hard to pick who will finish last.

On paper, the Pens are the team to beat. Loaded up front with the game’s two best players Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, they’ll score plenty. Pascal Dupuis, Chris Kunitz and James Neal can all finish. Already Kris Letang is hurt which bares watching. It’s all on Marc-Andre Fleury to perform with a blood clot sidelining Tomas Vokoun. The Caps boast a solid nucleus that features Hart winner Alex Ovechkin. The most electrifying player who’ll compete with Steven Stamkos for 60 goals. Braden Holtby is the goalie. Nick Backstrom is the crafty setup man. Mike Green and John Carlson are the triggers. Troy Brouwer, Jason Chimera and Brooks Laich lead a strong supporting cast. This is a team that could challenge for the division.

The Rangers have a new coach in Alain Vigneault, who’s implementing a higher tempo system that should result in more offense. The growing concern is how will that impact Henrik Lundqvist? With Ryan Callahan and Carl Hagelin questionable for the start and a nine-game road trip, they might struggle early. Much depends on Brad Richards, who’ll start on the wing playing with Derek Stepan and Rick Nash. Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello are key pieces along with a blueline led by Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh and Marc Staal. The Devils boast a pair of 41-year old future Hall Of Famers in Marty Brodeur and Jaromir Jagr. From the looks of it, they’ll have plenty of depth with key additions Damien Brunner, Ryane Clowe and Michael Ryder looking to supply more offense. Cory Schneider gives them a potential new number one goalie. How will it all work out? Patrik Elias must be a big part of it. The injured team leader is their best scorer.

The Islanders are hoping the first round defeat to the Pens will be a springboard. Gone is Mark Streit, who now plays for the enemy Flyers. John Tavares is ready to assume the mantle as captain. Forty goals and 90 points are attainable. He leads a solid nucleus that includes Josh Bailey, Matt Moulson, Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen and Michael Grabner. Travis Hamonic is injured to start. That means a heavier workload for Lubomir Visnovsky, who supplants Streit on the offense. How much will the Isles power play miss their trigger man along with Brad Boyes, who was replaced by Pierre-Marc Bouchard? Andrew MacDonald will also get big minutes on the back end. Evgeni Nabokov remains the man in net. Will age catch up?

You have the Blue Jackets joining the Metro. A team full of ex-Rangers. Marian Gaborik is the scoring ace who must deliver. He’s had solid chemistry with Brandon Dubinsky and rookie Boone Jenner. One of two kids to watch. Ryan Murray being the other one who could impact the blueline. Artem Anisimov will be looked to for secondary scoring along with Cam Atkinson and new Jacket Nathan Horton. Horton won’t start the season but will be back. Fedor Tyutin has quietly become a team leader and James Wisniewski must be smarter. Jack Johnson plays big minutes. The pressure is on Sergei Bobrovsky to repeat the Vezina form that had Columbus take it to the final day before missing on a silly tiebreaker. If the kids play well, they could take the next step.

With the Flyers, it’s always about the goalies. This year’s no different with the combo of Ray Emery and Steve Mason replacing departed universe extraordinaire Ilya Bryzgalov. Offense shouldn’t be an issue with Claude Giroux getting Vincent Lecavalier. Scott Hartnell is healthy and motivated. Jake Voracek and Wayne Simmonds can finish in front and Matt Read will pop at least 20. If Brayden Schenn and Sean Couturier take the next step in their development, Philly will be four lines deep. They’ll want to forecheck so there’s not as much pressure on a D that leaves more questions than answers. Kimmo Timonen and Braydon Coburn are team leaders. Streit will supply offense but not much else. Luke Schenn is tough. They signed Hal Gill as an extra. Desperate times indeed.

The Hurricanes are very top heavy. A top five of Eric Staal, brother Jordan Staal, Jeff Skinner, Alex Semin and Jiri Tlusty will be counted on for the bulk of the scoring. Can youngster Elias Lindholm stick? Without Joni Pitkanen whose career might be in jeopardy which influenced the NHLPA to approve hybrid icing, there isn’t a standout on the back end. Justin Faulk is very young and already will have plenty of responsibility. They went out and signed Ron Hainsey. A solid addition along with ex-Sabre Andrej Sekera. But is it enough support for Cam Ward and Anton Khudobin? That remains to be seen.

So, how will it all shake out? Don’t hold me to this.

METRO DIVISION

+*1.Capitals

*2.Penguins

*3.Rangers

4.Devils

5.Blue Jackets

6.Flyers

7.Islanders

8.Hurricanes

+Division winner

*Playoffs

BEST PLAYER-Sidney Crosby

TOP GOALIE-Henrik Lundqvist

BEST FINISHER-Alex Ovechkin

BEST DEFENSEMAN-Ryan McDonagh

ROOKIE TO WATCH-Boone Jenner

TOP COACH-Dan Bylsma

BREAKOUT PLAYER-Kyle Okposo

ALL METRO TEAM-Ovechkin-Crosby-Malkin McDonagh-Letang Lundqvist

HONORABLE MENTIONS-Giroux, Tavares, Backstrom, Gaborik, E. Staal, Nash, Elias

M. Staal, Orpik, Carlson, Green, Girardi, Hamonic

Bobrovsky, Schneider, Holtby