Metropolitan Division

Lore & Background

The Metropolitan Division was created in 2013 when the NHL realigned into two conferences of two divisions each. Six of its teams—the New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Washington Capitals—had previously played together in the Patrick Division from 1981 to 1993 (the Penguins joined in 1982). The Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals came from the Southeast Division, while the Columbus Blue Jackets moved from the Central Division. For the 2020–21 season, the division was not used due to COVID-19 restrictions; the league temporarily realigned into four divisions with no conferences, and the Metropolitan teams were split between the Central and East Divisions. The division was restored in 2021–22 with the same eight teams.

Reader's Guide

The Metropolitan Division holds significance as a successor to historic NHL divisions and as a home to some of the league's most intense rivalries, including Flyers–Penguins, Devils–Rangers, and Capitals–Penguins. Three of its teams are located in the New York market, the largest in the NHL, while the Flyers and Capitals are in the fifth and eighth largest U.S. markets, respectively. Games involving Metropolitan Division teams are frequently shown on U.S. national television. The division's composition has remained stable except for the temporary COVID-19 realignment in 2020–21. Its teams have won multiple division titles, and the division is the only one in the NHL without a Canadian franchise.

Did You Know?

• The Metropolitan Division is the only NHL division without a Canadian team.
• Six of its teams were previously together in the Patrick Division from 1981 to 1993.
• The division was not used for the 2020–21 season due to COVID-19 restrictions.
• Three of its teams are located in the New York City area, the league's largest market.