The Metropolitan division is now arguably the best division in hockey because of all the new talent that has come into the division. Let's take a look at some of the best trades and free agent signings that has happened within the division so far.
Brandon Saad, Columbus Blue Jackets
Right before free agency started, a shocking trade went down with the Chicago Blackhawks shipping Brandon Saad to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Chicago couldn't offer Saad what he wanted in a new deal because it was in salary cap trouble so the team shipped him out and got what it could for him in Artem Anisimov and Marko Dano. Saad makes the Blue Jackets top-six this coming season scary good, and most definitely have the look of a playoff team.
T.J. Oshie, Washington Capitals
It wasn't surprising that the Capitals traded Oshie. He was rumored to be on the trading block right after the playoffs ended. They wanted to change up their core a little bit after failing to make it past the first round again this past year. The Capitals got a very good player in Oshie to play in the top six with Alex Ovechkin and newly signed Justin Williams, who I will touch on later. Oshie has never scored 20 goals in a season but he should be able to this coming season if he plays with Backstrom and Ovechkin.
Eric Fehr/Nick Bonino, Pittsburgh Penguins
I paired these two up because they both happened at the exact same time. The Penguins badly needed a new third line center as Brandon Sutter just wasn't cutting it for them. On top of that, he was also entering the final year of his contract and Pittsburgh didn't want to lose him for nothing when the season ended. They ended up acquiring Nick Bonino from Vancouver for Sutter and signed another center in Eric Fehr. They both could replace Sutter at third line center since they both can play center. They also can play wing, so I imagine Bonino will be the center for this season and Fehr to be on the wing when he comes back from his elbow injury that will sideline him for a month or two during the season.
Justin Williams, Washington Capitals
This was a great signing for the Washington Capitals. Williams is chasing another Stanley Cup after winning a couple with the Kings and is a type of guy the Capitals badly needed in the playoffs. He can come up huge for them and score clutch goals in the playoffs which is something he did a lot with the Kings. That's why he won the Con Smythe when the Kings won the cup in 2014. Williams may be in his 30's but he can still help a team out substantially.
Phil Kessel, Pittsburgh Penguins
This was arguably the best acquistion of the entire summer around the NHL. The Penguins got Phil Kessel from the Toronto Maple Leafs without giving up their two best young defensemen in Olli Maatta and Derrick Pouliot. Kessel makes the Penguins a much better team going into this season and Sidney Crosby will now have the best winger he's ever played with in Kessel.
Honorable Mentions
Matt Cullen, Pittsburgh Penguins: A fourth-line center that the Penguins needed going into next season. He can actually score some goals and get some assists which is something the Penguins haven't had from a fourth-line center in recent seasons.
Thomas Greiss, New York Islanders: The Islanders needed a better backup goaltender for Jaroslav Halak this season and they got exactly that in Greiss. Greiss backed up Fleury in Pittsburgh last year and wasn't bad at all. Expect him to get at least 20 starts backing up Halak.
Viktor Stalberg, New York Rangers: A good bottom six addition for the Rangers after Carl Hagelin was traded to the Ducks. Will most likely play on the third line this coming season for them.
Sam Gagner, Philadelphia Flyers: In an attempt to shed some salary, the Flyers traded away Nicklas Grossman to the Phoenix Coyotes for Sam Gagner. Gagner still has a lot of hockey left in him and it will be interesting to see if he can put up some good numbers this year with Giroux and Voracek.
Adam Clendenning, Pittsburgh Penguins: Prospect that was acquired in the Brandon Sutter trade from Vancouver. He was considered Vancouver's best prospect and will be developed a lot more by the Penguins in the coming years. Expect him to start the season in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre with new head coach Mike Sullivan.