Barn Burner: Boomer & Pinder with Rhett Warrener - Which Metro Teams Are ACTUALLY Making The Playoffs?? | BB Clips

Episode Date: September 9, 2026

Boomer, Pinder and Rhett break down the Metropolitan Division heading into the 2026-27 season and try to figure out how all eight teams stack up. The Carolina Hurricanes enter as the defending Stanley Cup champions and clear favourites in the division, but after that things get a lot more interesting. The guys go team-by-team through Carolina, Columbus, New Jersey, the Islanders, Rangers, Flyers, Penguins and Capitals, looking at the latest division odds, projected line combinations, major roster changes and the biggest questions facing each club. Which teams actually got better this offseason, who could surprise, who takes a step backwards and how many legitimate playoff teams are there in the Metro? From Carolina trying to run it back to New Jersey needing to finally prove its core can win, Washington looking to stay near the top and some major uncertainty in New York and Pittsburgh, the boys make their picks and predictions for how the Metropolitan Division will shake out this season.Video Link: https://youtu.be/5SDNQlyNZGw#nhl #nhlshorts #nhlplayoffs #nhlpredictions #nhlhockey #nhlpicks #stanleycup #stanleycupfinal CHECK OUT OUR STUFF ⬇️BARN BURNER MERCHhttps://nationgear.ca/collections/shirts/FlamesnationBARN BURNER SHORTS https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj_bcGtvvo-cW2DHEDZ6dEO5ePDmlhZc9&si=jo8iNGxT4ImhS2Y8📲 Follow us:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fnbarnburner/X (Twitter): https://x.com/barnburnerfn?lang=en🎧 Listen on:Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/be/podcast/barn-burner-boomer-pinder-with-rhett-warrener/id1648562889Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Mc6Qd5U22R2zbMlQ7RxIiProducer: Jack Haverstock Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Let's go to the Metro Division. We'll do a spin around the eastern home of the Stanley Cup champions. This is last year's results in the Metro. It was a one-horse race and a huge gap. And then some me teams that got in, sorry, Jack, the penguins, flyers, the only two other teams from the Metro that made the playoffs. Caps were on the outside looking in. Let's start with Carolina.

Can anyone name an addition the Carolina Hurricanes made? The answer is no, because they're running it back. Seth Jarvis dealing with some injury stuff, but it's the same crew. Zero significant additions are only significant subtraction. Freddie Anderson, the one I'm not hurt, I can be good, Netminder, signed in Edmonton, where he's hurt and so won't be good until he's not hurt. Yeah, I mean, I'm training camp. I don't know.

It starts with contracts. who needed to be, they had a lot of guys under contract. It was working and they re-up guys. And there's a certain way they play. And if you can fit it, they're going to try to keep you around. They swung for the fences a bunch in the last couple of years at the Ranton deal. And then the subsequent move to get Stankovin. And then they use some of the draft capital to go get Keondre Miller.

Hall's been a great fit. They got nine million bucks at cap space. And they're running back the Stanley Cup champs, basically, minus the goalie who played the first three and a half rounds. What do you think about the goal attending? Because that is, Bussie was great last year. Yeah. Yeah.

And Kachekhov's been fine. Looks like a backup in the league. And it's also Carolina. Like nobody asks their goalies to do less in this league than the Carolina hurricanes with the way they play. Because I'm inclined to think that, yes, that Bussy will be fine. He came in. Anderson was tremendous prior to leaving.

The first two rounds, he was unbelievable. What did he allow for like three goals? in the series against the Sends or something hilarious. It hasn't been that long ago, but if, I mean, if you just kind of turned off for the summer, it's easy to forget how dominant they were. Yes. Even some of the losses that they took was like, well, okay, there's a blip on the screen and they'll be back and then they, and then they were. Um, I don't know. It would they, they didn't come out of nowhere to win the cup. They were a contending team for years and years. It's, uh, it wouldn't be shocking, I guess. It's not like they had a Florida Panthers thing retro where they went to the cup. final and cup final. There's not a ton of mileage on them. There is. Yes, there is.

They lost to the Panthers and the semis. Did they not? Two years ago, yeah. Two years ago, yeah. And then. It wasn't a sweep, remember? It wasn't a sweep. Right. So it's broad bread. Yeah, but it's two years ago after going to the final last year. So it's the finals, then semi-finals.

They played a lot of hockey. I don't know that it's in the Florida, Edmonton category from the last three, four years, but it's a lot, no question. Yeah, I guess that, to be fair, I guess that's kind of all I would say. It really felt like Florida was going to have a hard time last year and they did. Carolina, you do. You feel, you feel good for that they finally got through because you would have nightmares for the rest of your life to be constantly knocking at the door. Oh, would you?

And, you know, so close, so many times. Oh. And then not getting old to hump. Just move on. 113 points last year, 108 and a half is the overrender for them. That's far and away the highest total. In fact, the only total over 100.5 in the division.

We'll continue alphabetically. Columbus. A lot of turmoil in Columbus. Werensky wants out. Just kidding, guys. I really want to stay and win in Columbus. Signed to me, Zach Wurinsky. We believe you, Zach.

That's going to be an issue. They need to get some contracts done. It sounds like Karel Morkchenko might be the next guy. They're going to have a tough time to stay. They did bring in Valnachushkin from Colorado. Colorado at a pretty reasonable price. Their departures, Mason Marchman, and former Captain Boone Jenner. Their issue right now is Adam Fantilli.

He's an RFA with out a deal. He caused some waves earlier this week when he didn't show up to the preseason golf event that they have. Well, and again, he was the Leo Carlson draft. I believe it was the surprise when Carlson went to two and not Fantilly. We were there in Nashville, Dino. At the owner's golf. course or something like that. So it was like, oh, is he really? Like I get that he doesn't have a deal, but didn't show up for this. Just give him 18. He'll show up everywhere. Leo's show up in the tournaments.

Columbus. I love, love it so much. Never even thought about leaving Columbus. I want to win here forever. I want to be a blue jacket for life. 18 million, please. So he is coming out of his entry level that paid him 950,000 per season. Do for a raise? What'd you say, Dean? Last year. So year one, 12 goals, 27 points. That was in 49 games. Then has played all 82 each of the last two seasons. Two seasons ago, 31 goals, 54 points. Last year, down to 24 goals, but a career high 59 points in 82 games. 30 goal centerman. He's, yeah, he is young. He is a centerman. 21 years of age 6, 2, 205. Logan Cooley got paid what was a 10 a year from Utah. Like, this is going to be a big number. just is.

Yeah. Doesn't even sound big now. 10. Yeah, that's fair. After 18. Like, I don't even, I don't even, I'm not,

10, 10 feels like it's a deal. Give it. What are you worried about? Do you think it's, like what would it be? Honestly, I feel like I've,

not that I've ever really had a good grasp on it, but you could kind of like, okay, you could fit the couple. You could tell me it's 14, 11. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah, I think 12 to 14 is probably a reasonable spot. I mean, he didn't have the, the Leo Carlson, a couple of years. but how cool would it be able to go to the GM's office as a i want mac david's deal yeah oh that's yeah that's not enough i'm going to need more than mac david yeah i don't care what

connor makes we're talking fat tilly we're prepared to give you the mac david deal i'm not sure that's going to cut it and i believe given his age it would be a five-year deal would walk him right to uFA that's also what leo carlson got they bought zero ufa years with that deal in anna the offer sheet. What are you going to do? Yeah, what are you going to do? Yeah. Sign it on your own for sure.

Columbus had 95 points last year, missed the playoffs. Remember we had a coach that was none too please. Yeah, we had the big heated post game and end of season chat. There was a lot of suck that went on in Columbus. Yeah. Basically, uh, questioning their character. 92 and a half points the over under this year. That's two and a half less than what they got last year.

New Jersey, lots of changes. New Jersey, including a new GM, Sonny Meta comes in, Anthony Manta comes in, Evan Rodriguez comes in, Jasper Boquist comes in, Big Save, Dave Ridditch comes in. Gone are Markstrom, Nemich, Cyplakov, Carter, amongst some others, Daddanov as well.

A lot of changes, and you can start to look at the depth chart and understand why Nemich was not a part of their long-term plans. Kovice, Pesci, and Hamilton, not to mention Luke Hughes, can all play the right side. the evangelist to trade last week, I guess it was. That was a big one.

A little surprising. So yeah, when we talked about Quinn Hughes, if the devils just add a Quinn Hughes without deleting, what does that do to this roster? Because you love to play

chess, right, Dean? Big chess guy. I am a, yeah. Not checkers. No, no. So if you're Sunny. Hey, Sunny. Sonny. What about making a trade for a guy by the name of Connor. Connor.

Hell, la, la, la, la. La, la. Yeah. So I'm not going to waste any by chips trading for another Hughes. I got enough of them, damn Hugheses. Yeah. He's coming July 1. I don't need him now.

I'll make that Connor guy who's on a hell of a deal all of a sudden. Yeah. Uh, and then July 1st. Let's see if I can. Bring you, Quinn. Entice a fine defenseman. The challenge will be. finding the money for this group.

Oh, Jesus. Caps going up exponentially. You'll reel some out in, if, I mean, again, spitball, if you're doing a hellabut deal, you'll wheel some out there. Sure, sure. Yeah, yeah. I mean, you don't need three NHO goalies. You can move.

But that's going to be the challenge, because if you're going to add, in theory, a Quinn and a hellabuck, where's the 30 million in space? It's not like we'll squeeze seven in. It's 30 probably, right? Well, what are they at? they've got less than $2 million cap space. Now there's expiring contracts next year. Brennan Dillon's up and a few other guys,

but it doesn't add up to 30, even if the cap goes up like 10. Rodriguez. But again, you're going to have to make a deal. You would have to move assets out to get hell luck anywhere. Yeah, like Rodriguez, these guys all have one more year. They would be coming off at the end of next season.

Evangelis is going to need a huge raise. He's going to raise three to nine or something like that. Oh, no, Evangelesis is the, again, you guys are playing. We're checkers right now. We've got Angelis to end because we're going to throw them. Sonny will figure it out. Yep.

Sonny's got it. 87 points last year projected for 96 and a half this year. That's a 9.5 point increase. The books have always loved the devils. They just never have delivered. Have the books ready to quit the devils? Apparently not. New GM this year.

New gust of win in the sales, I suppose. They got rid of that goalie. Marksstrom. That's stupid, stinking every other year on good, Markstrom. Yeah. See you. Islanders, very quiet off season. in Matthias Machelli.

They say goodbye to Anders Lee. Otherwise, it's the same crew after the breakout season for Matthew Schaefer, where he looked like a superstar defenseman as an 18-year-old rookie. Matthew Schaefer didn't mind MacArthur's deal either. No. He's good with life. Life's good for Matt Schaefer. Oh, man.

Didn't the islanders absolutely crater? Yeah, they had a tough finish as well. put that back up, Jack? They brought in DeBore. They gasped Patty Roy with like what? Seven games left, I want to say. Yeah, they seven. For Shen, traded for Shen, wasn't working out, fired Roy, brought in

DeBoer. Yeah. Missed. It's nicely Amel Heideman. Amel's actually carved out a career. Top line winger. He was in the San Bennett deal and then was sent to Montreal and I believe the DeFoli deal.

Yeah. And then went from there to the Islanders in a swap. He's, he's an NHLR. And this Islanders team, too, remember, because you had talked about it when they made the deal with Montreal, got a bunch of draft picks. They draft Schaefer. They drafted some young guys. They're going to be able to inject it would, you would think.

Some of those draft picks are going to work out. Yep. And this, this is going to look like a different team fairly quickly as the guys, you already saw Lee leaving, but like Pajot. some of the guys that are long in the tooth. I don't know. Do you, if you were going to power rank the next up and coming teams, like we see the sharks kind of in that vein, where do you see the Islanders? Similar, like, probably not to that extent, but.

I'd rather be them than their counterparts in New York. Yeah. Like, there's a nice young, stable players coming. Was it Kate and Aitchison and they got another guy. They had two picks in the teens last year after Schaefer, like they're. Again, fellas. What do you play? Chast or Checkers?

Jay McKee. Hamilton Hammers. Hammers. Hammers. Oh, that's great. In 91 points last year, they projected for 87 and a half, which is the lowest in the division. I would certainly bet that the Rangers would be worse.

We'll see. Speaking of the Rangers, there are next team. All kinds of changes. Remember, Pavelle Dorotheaev, the power play sniper for the Golden Knights? how about 10 sheets a year? You're coming to New York, a huge swap ahead of the draft. He, Marcus Pedersen,

Sean Dersie, Eunice Corpus Sallo, and they drafted Albert Smiths, who will be pushing for one of these six defensive spots at camp. Departures, Bill Borgon, Vinny Trocheck, and Jonathan Quick

is finally done. Yeah, I don't know what to make of this team. It's, the locker room has been a disaster for two years. Have there been enough changes that it's fine, or is everyone still wondering what the hell the GM's doing? Like that bottom six, and this is not Calgary guy taking shots, but you just look at that bottom six. Is that an agent? I would take Will Cooley.

I like two left wingers. That's what it. Yeah. Like Tark, Ticarch, I think was on waivers. Yes. Tolvinen was a waiver claim. He signed for a million and a half like last week. He had a decent little run in Seattle.

That radish is a good defense one. That's a different one. Oh. Yeah. Gavakov came over from L.A. A couple summers ago as a free agent, Fox, he will become the big question if this team continues to suck. Because he was Mr. I will only be a ranger and it has been ugly the last two and a half three years. And you'd kind of kind of stepped up in his defense, right?

Because he was taking some real, real heat. And it's like, it's not as bad as people are making it out. No, I mean, the underlying metrics are phenomenal. And the team is a disaster. Like, does he deserve to win the Norris? No. Is he still an elite defenseman? Absolutely.

You said the room was bad. Is it the room or the upper management? Well, I just don't think the room trusts upper management. If it's like, oh, Crichter, see you later. Barclay Goodroes, see a later. Like, all these guys. Well, I think that contributes to an uneasy room. That's all right.

What the hell are they doing up there? It's like, do you feel, are you safe? Hey, we won the presidents. Yeah, I don't like that. Let's go. Are you safe? Am I safe? Are you getting traded?

Are you getting, like, Not the most harmonious of atmospheres, it feels like, with Drury there. 77 points this past season. They're about projected for 88 and a half. That is the biggest jump in the division of 11.5 points. I'm not buying it. You're not buying? I'm not buying that.

I'll buy the Islanders being better than them. Next, Philadelphia Flyers last year. Surprise, 98 points. Dan Vlodar was sensational. They add wool in net, Joseph wool. they add Simone Benoit, a D-Swap they made with the Leafs. Noah Chari also comes over there. Noel on the fourth line, whatever.

The losses, Erison, who was awful, Hathaway, who was tough, and Andre, who is the guy they swapped to get the aforementioned, Timon Benoit. This team would look really good with Leo Carl. I was going to say, they're kind of missing that $18 million center, aren't they? Yeah. Like seriously. But move those center.

It looks great. Yeah. Like if DeVorix, you're 3C, how good are you? Yeah. I don't know that we can expect Dan Vlodar to repeat his career season last year, but I do expect that wool will be a lot better than Arison was, so they still might have strong goaltoning. Erison was awful last year.

How about this Mischkov character? Big year for Mishkov. Big year. I would think he needs a new deal, and he has not been eye to eye with a couple different coaches now. Last year it was Talket. Came in, maybe not in the best conditioning in the fall.

Fun one there for me to watch is that is Port-a-Martone. Remember he came in in the playoffs, and he was tremendous. He's right up there for Calder odds as well if you're hunting around Bet 365. You had that incredible debut late in the season. Yeah. Are you excited? Jack, are you excited for the Flyers?

Oh, really? No. That's trick quest. I do like Martone. He was excited to watch in the playoffs. They got a ton of cab space. Obviously needed a bunch to make that offer sheet around 14 million in cab space. 98 points last year.

Bet365 has them at 92 and a half this year. A drop of five and a half. Jack's Penguins, let's get to it. Big changes this summer. They lost Tony Tucks, Anthony Manta, Stuart Skinner walks. They trade Shea, Wetherspoon gone, Clifton gone, Achari gone.

But they do add. Under Kuzmanko, former Flam. Hughes. Oh. Nick Robertson from Toronto. Kikin Korsak, from Vegas, Trevor Van Rimsdite, Hendr Klaupier from Washington. A ton of changes here, $10 million in cap space. Walk us through that lineup, Jack.

What do you see there? Well, it's a really good first line. Ricard Raquel, Ricky Racks, Trosby Rust. Second line's much the same. Chinikov had a solid year. Novak. I don't get why Malkins listed as a winger. It's that old, man.

He's just too old to play center? Well, maybe you just leave him for a strong side draws. And then the bottom six is kind of concerning. I hope Ben Kindle takes another big step. I'd like to see that, but I don't really replicate he'll do well. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I mean, I don't have very high hopes. What about browsers?

Yeah, your boy, Brazzers, on the fourth line left way. What are you thinking? Above brothers, boys. He didn't even play in the playoffs. They hate healthy to them. Last year of Eric Carlson, that is of note with this group. And in net, they've got a couple of young

up-and-comers. Murashov and Shilovs will be splitting time. We'll see. What are the prognostic? What are the betting, like a bet three-six-five, Ryan? Do they have high hopes for the penguins this year? 90.5 points, one year after having 98.

So a 7.5 point drop. A lot went right for them last year. Rhett, what do you see? I see a midling. You know what they are? They're the Steelers. Yeah, kind of. Nine and eight. Yeah.

Is this a final year of Sydney's deal? Yeah. Is it since last year, too? I believe so. Last year of the 8.6.7. We signed that extension. Wow. 8.7.

He's 39. He was said, I'd love to keep playing if I can. You feel like he's the guy if he'll be the judge. He'll probably be a harsh critic as to whether or not he can still play. He's still playing. My question is because he makes it to the next Olympics. I'm not worried about next year with him. Like does he take 8.7 again just to have?

Why not? Chair? What a guy? Final team in the division. We have not talked about the Washington Capitals. They made a ton of changes. They won the East two years ago in the regular season last year, a step back, and they make a ton of changes.

Alex Tuck comes in from Buffalo. He'll play top line wing. They get Jordan Kairu from St. Louis. That was a big swap. They also add Jenner, Brozinski, DeHarnay, a hole on the back end. A lot of change there. They like their net mining in Thompson and Lingren.

Departures include a couple of youngsters, McMichael and LaPierre. Trevor Van Riemstike and Brennan Du Hymn all gone. This is a team that got a little bit older, but added a lot of talent as well. Tuck and Kyru really help this group

that has a bunch of good young players like Sortief, the Proto brothers, Leonard. It's a good looking mix there in my eye. Cole Hudson, look out for him. He's like his brother. This is a deep team. Very deep. Chikrin 20 plus goals.

The D man last year. He's probably the most notable team can to snub on the blue line Ian Bouchard. What were you going to say, Rhett? I like this team. I think that's, yeah. I think they're real good. Yeah. I like their size. I like their skill. I like their tenacity and I like their goal tending. The protist boys are absolute mutants. I don't know how much you've seen of Alexei and Ilya, but they're like six five and they fly. Like huge.

Kairu will be an interesting one there because it wasn't working in St. Louis at the end. He was being healthyed. He had 18 goals last year, but prior to that, 36, 31, 37. I don't think it's a problem to put him out for 30. That was, his name was in trade rumors. And it feels like, yeah, it seems like a natural on the top line there.

Even if he's a 25 goal guy. Yeah. Starved for offense, right? Like it. And Ovi's back on a one-year deal. Will this be the Swan Song? It feels like this could be the Swan Song. I,

I wonder what so I feel like some of the highlights some nights might not be the prettiest. Yeah. And I think of the OV effort away from the puck, that sort of thing. I think everyone gets it though, right? Oh yeah. Yeah. I don't think anyone's disappointed like, oh, that OV let me like it's just it is what it is. We know he's not anywhere near his prime, but he still has a knack to do the hardest thing in the sport, which is score goals. The ball talked about it last year retro. The Spencer Carberry. okay, it's Ovechkin and we all know he plays by his,

he gets to play by his own set of rules, but how do you, how do you discipline one of the greatest goals score of the games ever seen or ice time or all of that sort of, he's as sheltered as I've ever seen. Like it was wild. Every time there's an empty net, every offensive draw, no, I think he'd gone most of the year without a D zone draw. It's crazy.

929 goals. Does he get to 950? That would be 21. I think he gets 20 goals. 21 for 950. I think he can still shoot the puck. Less than 100 grand in caps base. Washington's done all their work.

95 points last year. They're projected at 100.5. That is a long wander through the metro. And those are your odds. Not unlike us. The books like Washington, probably not as much as Carolina, though. And then after that, we'll see.

I heard Jack there. You just saw 18. to one next to Pittsburgh. I know that noise. There's the rest than Columbus. I just don't get, it's always the devils that throws me off. I feel like I've seen this exact

same thing every year. Yeah, I mean, they were top three in cup odds for a few summers in a row. If Jack Hughes can keep from cutting himself with a steak knife and if the goal, they can get some saves with that bum out of there finally. That bum.