2024 NHL Eastern Conference News

Atlantic Division

Currently leading the Atlantic division, tied with 22 regulation wins, are two 2023 Stanley Cup let-downs: the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers. In the first round, the Panthers defeated the Bruins, shocking the entire NHL community as Boston had an incredible record-breaking season accumulating 135 points and 65 wins.

The Bruins broke the recent record of most accumulated wins in a season, previously held by the 1995-1996 Detroit Red Wings and 2018-2019 Tampa Bay Lightning, both with 62 wins. After the Bruins's loss in the first round of playoffs, Florida progressed to the finals, where they lost to the Vegas Golden Knights after 5 games. Looking towards the new year, the rivalry between Boston and Florida will certainly remain while they both battle for the top spot in their division.

The third and fourth rankings are currently another two cup exits from last year; Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning. The last time before 2023 that the Maple Leafs had made it past the first playoff round was in 2004, and in doing so last year, the hopes from fans for them to do it again are high. Speculations and expectations are a lot different for the Lightning as they are missing the key component to their team, Andrei Vasilevskiy, who is recovering from back surgery.

Filling in the net for Vasilevskiy are Jonas Johansson and Matt Tomkins who both neither expected to start, but in needing to hold the team together for a spot in playoffs, they step up to do so. The remaining three teams in the division all lay decently low while all trying to accumulate wins and solidly rebuild their team’s overall strength. On December 31, 2023, the Senators beat the Sabers 5-1 in a much-needed division game win to conclude the year and set the bar for future matchups.

Metropolitan Division

The New York Rangers are not only leading the Metropolitan division but were the first team to reach 50 points across the NHL this season. There is no other way to put it; the Rangers are on fire this year and currently have 25 regulation wins. After being first-round exits last year to the New Jersey Devils and acquiring new head coach Peter Laviolette, expectations were a toss-up for this season. However, the Blueshirts have shown from the start they are a team to look out for and are actively proving they have rebuilt as well as recovered from the 2022-2023 season.

It is no surprise the Carolina Hurricanes trail the Rangers with 44 points and are ranked second in the division. They are one of two teams to beat 110 points in each of the last three seasons, and no doubt, they want to build on that. The Flyers and the Islanders follow the Canes with 43 points. Both are teams that did not make playoffs last year, but as of right now, it looks like they have a very good chance of doing so this season.

The Capitols, Devils, and the Penguins are all tied for points as of January 1. After knocking off one of the original six in the first round of playoffs last year, the Devils had a lot to prove this year and, unfortunately, seem to be falling short. They are currently missing longtime defenseman Dougie Hamilton but have the powerhouse of both Luke and Jack Hughes. Things are begging to make a slight change, however, as the Devils return goalie Akira Schmid to the AHL and bring in Nico Daws.

Daws made his NHL debut against the Ottawa Senators on December 29th, 2023, allowing only 2 out of 27 shots on goal, resulting in a 6-2 win. Could Schmid being sent back to the AHL and Daw’s incredible performance mean a possible trade? It is all new changes, but it is still a toss-up with the Devils starting the new year.

Last in the division are the Blue Jackets, with 32 points and only 12 regulation wins. The Blue Jackets have not made playoffs since the 2019-2020 season and ended the 2022-2023 season last in their division. The goaltending this year has shown statistical improvement, but the play on the puck and the defense, much like many other teams in the Metro, are not where they should be two months into the season.

These eight teams are such a toss-up for this season and are likely going to change as the month progresses. Often, many of these teams, for example, the Rangers, start off strong and fall off later in the year. As standings change and games are lost, every team in this division is hungry for their spot in the playoffs and redemption once that spot is fulfilled. In February, the 2024 Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series will be held at Metlife Stadium in New Jersey where the Flyers will verse the Devils and the Rangers will verse the Islanders.