​The Metropolitan Division went through a substantial overhaul this offseason. I’m not pretending to reveal any groundbreaking news—this site and many others have already mapped out the changes in the Metro since the end of last season. And since change is almost a constant in the NHL, it would be odd if any division didn’t look notably different from one year to the next. Still, just because certain moves have been documented and the general expectation is for adjustments doesn’t mean they aren’t worth a deeper dive. That’s exactly what we’re going to do today. Every team in the Metropolitan Division enters 2026-27 with a altered look. Some franchises made bigger swings than others, some improved on paper, and some took a step back. Let’s walk through the Devils’ divisional foes and assess where they stand after the bulk of the offseason work is behind us. Then we’ll circle back to New Jersey and try to gauge where they fit within the division’s pecking order.
(All cap space numbers come from the invaluable PuckPedia.)
2025-26 Season Results: 53-22-7, 113 points; Won Stanley Cup
Notable Additions: none
Notable Subtractions: Frederik Andersen
Current Cap Space: $9.9M
Starting with the reigning champions. The Carolina Hurricanes finally climbed over the mountain and captured the Stanley Cup in the Rod Brind’Amour era. It’s easy to feel like their victory was almost inevitable given a favorable field and a strong regular season, yet there’s no denying they were among the league’s best teams, capable of winning it all even against stiffer competition. Flags fly forever, and the Hurricanes are the champions.
The Devils have faced Carolina as a thorn in their side for several seasons, and now they’ll watch the Cup celebration emanate from Raleigh with that familiar foe proudly hoisting the trophy.
From an offseason perspective, Carolina’s activity has been notably quiet in Raleigh. Several factors contribute to that: a relatively weak free-agent class, a comfortable cap situation that isn’t begging for drastic changes, and a roster that already looks solid heading into next season. They didn’t make any headline acquisitions, aside from minor moves like signing Juuso Valimaki or re-signing Nic Deslauriers. They also didn’t add any roster players through the draft who are expected to step in immediately this season. Conversely, they didn’t lose anyone of consequence—save for Frederik Andersen. The veteran goaltender performed exceptionally in the playoffs for the Hurricanes until the Stanley Cup Final, where after Game Two he was supplanted by Brandon Bussi, who carried them the rest of the way. Andersen signed with Edmonton, so the Hurricanes’ crease will be shared between Bussi and Pyotr Kochetkov.
There’s one more potential subtraction to monitor: Alexander Nikishin. The Russian defenseman’s status could tilt the balance of how Carolina upgrades or adjusts its blue line, depending on how negotiations and decisions play out.