Metropolitan Division

The National Hockey League's Metropolitan Division (often referred to simply as the "Metro Division") was formed in 2013 as one of the two divisions in the Eastern Conference as part of a league realignment.^[1] It is also a successor of the original Atlantic Division and one of the two successors to the Southeast Division. Six of its teams were previously together in the Patrick Division from 1981 to 1993 (one joined in 1982). It is the only NHL division without a Canadian team, with five of the division's clubs located in either the New York City area or in Pennsylvania and the other three in North Carolina, Ohio, and Washington, D.C.

The Metropolitan Division contains some of the most historic and intense rivalries in the NHL, including Flyers–Penguins, Devils–Rangers, Capitals–Penguins, Islanders–Rangers, Capitals–Rangers, Capitals–Islanders, Flyers–Rangers, Capitals–Flyers, and Devils–Flyers. Three of its teams (Rangers, Islanders, and Devils) are within the league's largest market (New York), the Flyers are in the fourth largest market (Philadelphia), and the Capitals are in the seventh largest (Washington, D.C.). Games involving Metropolitan Division teams are frequently shown on U.S. national television.

Hurricanes

Blue Jackets

Devils

Islanders

Rangers

Flyers

Penguins

Capitals

2013–2020 Metropolitan Division Teams

• Carolina Hurricanes
• Columbus Blue Jackets
• New Jersey Devils
• New York Islanders
• New York Rangers
• Philadelphia Flyers
• Pittsburgh Penguins
• Washington Capitals

• The Metropolitan Division is formed due to NHL realignment
• The Northeast and Southeast Divisions are dissolved due to NHL realignment
• The New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins come from the original Atlantic Division
• The Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals come from the Southeast Division
• The Columbus Blue Jackets come from the Central Division

• Division not used for the 2020–21 NHL season

• Due to COVID-19 restrictions the NHL realigned into four divisions with no conferences for the 2020–21 season
• The Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets move to the Central Division
• The New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals move to the East Division

Hurricanes

Blue Jackets

Devils

Islanders

Rangers

Flyers

Penguins

Capitals

2021–present Metropolitan Division Teams

• Carolina Hurricanes
• Columbus Blue Jackets
• New Jersey Devils
• New York Islanders
• New York Rangers
• Philadelphia Flyers
• Pittsburgh Penguins
• Washington Capitals

• The league returned to using a four division and two conference alignment
• The Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets come from the Central Division
• The New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals come from the East Division

• 2014 – Pittsburgh Penguins (51–24–7, 109 pts)
• 2015 – New York Rangers (53–22–7, 113 pts)
• 2016 – Washington Capitals (56–18–8, 120 pts)
• 2017 – Washington Capitals (55–19–8, 118 pts)
• 2018 – Washington Capitals (49–26–7, 105 pts)
• 2019 – Washington Capitals (48–26–8, 104 pts)
• 2020 – Washington Capitals (41–20–8, 90 pts)
• 2021 – Division suspended for season
• 2022 – Carolina Hurricanes (54–20–8, 116 pts)
• 2023 – Carolina Hurricanes (52–21–9, 113 pts)
• 2024 – New York Rangers (55–23–4, 114 pts)

Notes

• ^a The 2019–20 NHL season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the imbalance in the number of games played among teams, the regular season standings were determined by points percentage.

• 2016 – Pittsburgh Penguins
• 2017 – Pittsburgh Penguins
• 2018 – Washington Capitals

• 2015 – New York Rangers
• 2016 – Washington Capitals
• 2017 – Washington Capitals
• 2024 – New York Rangers

Teams in bold are currently in the division.

• NHL History