The Metro has a few good contenders, but there seems to 3 different groups.  You have Blueball's Islanders, clearly at the top, Jesse's BJs who has a very good team, but just aren't the Islanders and then the rest that includes Tony's Flyers and only partially into it, Rich's Canes.  There shouldn't be a whole lot of mystery how this will play out.  BJs will beat the Flyers, Rich will probably get swept, and the Isles will make it to the Conference Finals.

Either way, let's see how each team did at the dealine.

New York Islanders - 48 - 11 - 6 (1st in Metropolitan) GF: 3.68 (3rd)  GA: 2.38 (6th)

In - Anton Stralman, Zach Parise, Mark Giordano

Out - 2023 NYI 3,4,7, 2023 Dal 5, $4m Bux

GM Blueballs is always satisfied with making small tweaks, but who can blame him when he made it to the finals in the last few years and the team basically intact?  He is 3rd in scoring and 6th in goals against, so not much room to improve.  Now that the Bruins decided to go through a soft rebuild, there's only one other team he needs to worry about.  He adds Parise with decent 3rd line rates and added 94df and 82df via Stralman and Gio.  We know that this team is going to compete with the studs already on it, but let's see if he can go through Detroit and make it back to the finals.

Columbus Blue Jackets - 44 - 16 - 4 (2nd in Metropolitan) GF: 3.2 (8th) GA: 2.25 (3rd)

In - Jared Spurgeon, Garnet Hathaway

Out - 2023 OTT 4, CLB 6, DET 7

GM Jesse didn't do a whole lot to make his team any better.  Columbus has a decent roster already, so he would have to move a large piece to make any big improvements.  Jesse did add Spurgeon who does have a 87ph-70pa-58sc-80df rate line for depth.  Since he uses 11F and 7D, he can use him for PP.  We will see how he uses the 7D to his advantage down the stretch.  Either way, they are doing something right, as they have 92 points and are 3rd in the entire East.  Let's see if he has done enough to get through the Islanders and Red Wings, we've seen crazier things happen.

Philadelphia Flyers - 35 - 21 - 7 (3rd in Metropolitan) GF: 2.73 (18th) GA: 2.49 (8th)

In - Jack Campbell, Artemi Panarin, Brandon Tanev, Robert Hagg, William Karlsson, Paul Statsny, 2023 BOS 4, NAS 5, MON 5, TOR 7, BOS 7

Out - James Reimer, Trevor Moore, Riley Sheahan, Dylan Strome, Filip Hronek, Tom Wilson, Kirill Marchenko, 2023 Dal 3, BOS 4, PHI 4

Flyers and GM Tony made several moves, including a giant one that brought in the stud of the trade deadline, Artemi Panarin.    Panarin has not disappointed and has been putting up points, but the Flyers are still far back behind the top three in the East.  That trade also landed him lots of PA, SC, and DF, but this has not translated into wins.  The team has gone 2-3-2 against other cup contenders since the Panarin trade.  That trade was a pretty good one for the Flyers for the upcoming years, as well, since Statsny is the only UFA after this season.  I do like Tony's big Dick moves, unlike the other 2 above.

Carolina Hurricanes - 35 - 21 - 5 (4th in Metropolitan) GF: 2.82 (16th) GA: 2.77 (18th)

In - Max Domi, Andreas Athanasiou, Phillip Danault, Shayne Gostisbehere, 2023 PIT 6

Out - Andrew Copp, Nino Niederreiter, Christian Fischer, Marco Scandella, Josh Bloom, 2023 MIN 2, TOR 4, WAS 6, 2024 COL 2, EDM 2, PIT 4

Well, well, well...Rich is finally throwing in the towel for once.  This is very different, as we always expect him to trade all the picks from 5 years down the line to add players with a couple years left.  The Ghost and Danault move is a great acquisition, but moving Niederreiter to get them is a wash with Danault.  Here is the head scratcher to me.  He trades Copp.  His rates are awesome as he's an 80 in pa, sc, and df.  He could have used the rates this year and still got a similar return in a sign & trade.  Domi is a move for next year, as his rerate is very good, but only has a 79pa for this year.  It's good to see that dad has no issue robbing his own kid in an imaginary game...how low can he go???  AA has almost a 90 scoring, but is garbage next year.  In the end, the Canes added a dman and a little scoring to help improve a team that is behind some tankers in goals for and goals against.  This isn't going to get it done for a run, but I don't blame Rich for throwing in the towel for once.  This is a shame as he was just in the Cup Finals last season.  Rich's trade all future picks for several years of players has finally caught up to him.

New Jersey Devils - 30 - 27 - 5 (5th in Metropolitan) GF: 2.52 (24th) GA: 2.65 (12th)

In - Jakob Pelletier, Chad Ruhwedel, James Reimer, Jake Neighbours, Mike Hoffman, 2023 MIN 2, NAS 3, ANA 4, NJD 6

Out - Reilly Smith, Kyle Okposo, Ville Husso, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Duncan Keith

The Neighbours trade for Okposo and Husso was a decent move and was a no brainer for GM Ken, as he gets a 2-way dman that could potentially put up nice offensive numbers in the future.  Husso and Okposo don't have much value beyond this year, so perfect sell high candidates.  Horrible trade Sheds.  Ken's other large deal got him Pelletier for Bjorkstrand.  The Jersey GM was able to unload a guy who has turned into a pumpkin ever since he has joined the Kraken.  Dr Leon needs the rates for this year, but possibly gave up a decent player to get a rates for this year and .5 point per game player in the future.  Bjorkstrand should bounce back, as he is a very good shooter, but he definitely paid as if he will.  If he doesn't this could be a huge win for GM Ken.  The Devils also traded away Reilly Smith to the Sharks at about the right price.  Sharks giving up future assets to get minimally better sounds about right.  What a bum.

Washington Capitals - 27 - 33 - 4 (6th in Metropolitan) GF: 2.5 (25th) GA: 2.84 (20th)

In - Seth Jarvis, Brett Berard, Dylan Garand, Robert Thomas, Sammy Blais, Sam Lafferty, 2023 Dal 3, Bos 4, VAN 4, 2024 PHI 4, DAL 5, BOS 6, NAS 6, WIN 7, $4.1m Bux

Out - Charlie Coyle, Mika Zibanejad, Jack Campbell, Fabian Zutterland, Alex Tuch, Nick Jensen, Zach Parise, Brock McGinn, 2023 PHI 3, CAR 5

GM Larry with a lot of moves!  Too bad he was selling instead of buying.  The Capitals gave up a lot of great rates in the next 3 years to get much younger.  I am not sure what he is doing, as most of his players and good rates will be in the next 5 years.  Robert Thomas still helps, as his rates are very good, but he gave up better rates to get 4 extra years.  Jarvis hasn't taken a step forward in his sophmore year and better live up to the hype, as he was traded for 2 1/2 years of stud Zibby.  Linke then gives up a decent young spec in Zetterlund, just to acquire two Rags specs...in typical Larry fashion.  If the Caps were going to sell off, he should have gone full balls out.  Larry at this point is just showing a few pubes.  Maybe he's ready to take his pants all the way down this offseason.  He's got a bunch of 26+ year olds, like Verhaeghe, Dvorak, Buchnevich, Vatrano, Blais (oh wait he just acquired him...*sigh*), Trouba, and DeAngelo, that he can turn into young Rags specs.  For a guy who wants complete realism, he has an unrealistic approach to making a team.  I wish there really was DC media all over him about the directionless moves he makes.

New York Rangers - 16 - 38 - 9 (7th in Metropolitan) GF: 2.29 (28th) GA: 3.63 (30th)

In - Nothing

Out - Nothing

The ghost of the Big Apple hasn't made a move since July of 2022.  He does have one player with value in Josh NORRISey.  He has meh rates this year, but will rerate a stud.  I am sure GM PJ will be able to get some good value, most likely from Dan with retention, in return.  Besides that his entire team is very young and he doesn't make trades, just to make trades.  Snore...

Pittsburgh Penguins -  - 47 - 6 (8th in Metropolitan) GF: 2.11 (29th) GA: 3.85 (32nd)

In - Kevin Bahl, Declan McDonnell, Mack Guzda, Ozzy Wiesblatt, 2023 PIT 4, WAS 6, 2024 EDM 2, 2025 DET 5

Out - Max Domi, Jakub Vrana, Mark Pysyk

Well, getting bent over by your dad must suck.  Domi and his almost point per game production and resigning ability make this trade a horrible one for Toby.  I would say we should vet all Cordell, Hansford, and Shuck trades within the family, but if you are willing to screw family, then who are we to say anything.  I for sure would have at least given him my 2025 1st+, but my last name isn't Cordell.  As for the other trade, Toby gets a few decent pieces for Pysyk's df and Vrana's sc.  I think that's a lot to gamble from Sober's side.  Who knows if Vrana ever kicks the habit and comes back to play good hockey.  Either way Toby will be doen there for a while, until his kids start playing good hockey.