Metro Division: It’s arms race, for sure

The Metropolitan Division already was the deepest and most competitive in the NHL. Now, the race to the finish is getting juiced up.

Nearly every Metro contender made a move ahead of or at the Monday trade deadline to gear up for the playoff push. The first-place Washington Capitals got it started by acquiring Ilya Kovalchuk, the Penguins answered by getting fellow veteran winger Patrick Marleau from San Jose and the New York Islanders got a major reinforcement in the form of center Jean-Gabriel Pageau, who they signed to a $30 million, six-year extension.

Furthermore, Carolina got immediate help by trading for forward Vincent Trocheck and defensemen Brady Skjei and Sami Vatanen; Philadelphia made two depth forward moves by getting Derek Grant and Nate Thompson.

Even the New York Rangers, whose recent hot streak put them within striking distance of a playoff position — only seven points separate the third-place Flyers and seventh-place Rangers — kept forward Chris Kreider with a seven-year extension.

“Metro was pretty active,” Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said. “It is a tough division. Each team could beat the other team on any given night, you know, given good goaltending, and I think every one of these teams thinks that they have a chance to come out of the Metro, which I believe they do.”

At the moment, seven teams in contention for four or five playoff spots.

“I thought we were all pretty close going into it and now I think we’re all still close, only better teams,” MacLellan said. “I think everybody did a good job in our division, and it’s going to be hard to get out of it.”

The Islanders traded conditional first- and thirdround picks and a second to Ottawa for Pageau, who will add offense. The Islanders rank 22nd in the league in goals per game.

Carolina paid the price of two roster players and two prospects for Trocheck, who has two more years left on his contract. Then, the Hurricanes strengthened their defense amid injuries to Dougie Hamilton and Brett Pesce by getting Skjei and Vatanen.