A recent win over the New Jersey Devils shows us that the NY Rangers aren’t finished yet, so you don’t need to worry about counting them out if you’re among the Blueshirts faithful.
That doesn’t mean the Rangers still don’t have their issues, given their uncharacteristic collapse late in the 2024 calendar year. There are plenty of things this team still needs to change and get better at before they become a serious contender again. That said, I’m not considering them to be anywhere near the worst team in the Metro Division these days.
So, how highly do they deserve to be ranked after finally showing some life? Let’s just say that if a few more division rivals falter and the Rangers can get points in two of every three games they play, they’ll climb a little higher.
8 - Philadelphia Flyers
It looks like the Flyers are falling back to reality quicker in 2025 than they did in 2024. Losers of their last four, don’t be surprised if this team ultimately starts contending for a top-three spot in the draft lottery.
7 - New York Islanders
The New York Islanders don’t look like they’re going on any miracle run this season as 2025 has reached double-digits in days. The Isles have yet to figure out that the object of winning a hockey game is to put a puck into the back of an opponent’s net and until they figure that out, they’re going nowhere.
6 - New York Rangers
The Rangers finally look like they’re showing more life, so rest assured, they don’t belong in the basement any longer. But a few surprise teams have yet to cool down, so until that happens, it’ll be tough to put the Blueshirts any higher. Who are those 2024-25 surprises anyway you might ask.
5 - Pittsburgh Penguins
It wouldn’t have surprised (wow, I’ve been using that word a lot) me one bit if the Penguins finished at the bottom of the Metro Division when the 2024-25 season kicked off. Yeah, they’re overachieving now, but with a minus-26 goal differential as of Friday, forgive me when I say I’m not convinced.
4 - Columbus Blue Jackets
Nobody faced more adversity heading into 2024-25 than the Columbus Blue Jackets, and you can’t help but respect the way they’ve responded. We’ll see if their 2024-25 campaign continues, and if it does, we might just see a surprise team snag a wild card spot. But they need to figure out how to win on the road.
3 - New Jersey Devils
This one was a toss-up between two teams, but the Devils are taking the ‘L’ here, given their more inconsistent play recently. That said, they’re just four points from taking first place in the actual standings, so take this third-place ranking lightly.
2 - Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes have been a little more consistent than New Jersey, so it earned them the No. 2 spot. If there’s been one problem facing the ‘Canes so far in 2024-25, it’s like the Blue Jackets, their track record on the road. And that could ultimately haunt them should those struggles continue.
1 - Washington Capitals
After losing a shocker to the Buffalo Sabres, the Caps have since bounced back and played some good hockey. Still, they’re an incredible 6-2-2 in their last 10 games, and they have yet to show any signs of slowing down.