2019 NHL Draft Metropolitan Division Breakdown

The Blue Jackets entered the weekend with just two picks (Nos. 81 and 212), and after a trade sending the 81st overall pick to Florida for two fourth rounders (Nos. 104 and 114) it was an extremely quiet weekend for CBJ fans.
Although things were quiet in Columbus, several Metropolitan Division teams made noise at the NHL Draft in Vancouver.
The New Jersey Devils kicked off the draft with C Jack Hughes, followed by the Rangers who grabbed RW Kappo Kakko at No. 2.
New Jersey continued to grab headlines before Round 2 began when they traded with Nashville for PK Subban, adding star-power to their current roster.
The Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Islanders, Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes also went on to draft forwards in Round 1, with the Philadelphia Flyers being the only team in the division to select a defenseman on Day 1.
The Columbus Blue Jackets were the only Metro team to not have a first-round selection this year.
Here's how the NHL Draft shook out in the Metro Division in order of the final standings from 2018-19.

Washington Capitals (48-26-8, 104 Pts) - 278 GF, 249 GA (+29 GD)

Despite scoring the most goals in the division a year ago, the Capitals continued to stock up on offensive prospects, selecting two centers and a winger with three of their four total picks. Washington also appeared to be interested in size with three picks standing 6-foot-4 or taller.
CAPITALS PICKS
Round 1, Pick 25 - Connor McMichael - C
Round 2, Pick 56 - Brett Leason - RW
Round 3, Pick 91 - Aliaksei Protas - C
Round 5, Pick 153 - Martin Has - D

New York Islanders (48-27-7, 103 Pts) - 228 GF, 196 GA (+32 GD)

Anytime a team gives up less than 200 goals in a season, they are bound to win plenty of hockey games, which was exactly the case for the New York Islanders last season. Although they defended well, the Islanders netted the third fewest goals in the division with just 228. New York was determined to address the issue by selecting four forwards and just one defenseman with their five picks.
ISLANDERS PICKS
Round 1, Pick 23 - Simon Holmstrom - RW
Round 2, Pick 57 - Samuel Bolduc - D
Round 5, Pick 147 - Reece Newkirk - C
Round 6, Pick 178 - Felix Bibeau - C
Round 7, Pick 209 - Cole Coskey - RW

Pittsburgh Penguins (44-26-12, 100 Pts) - 273 GF, 241 GA (+32 GD)

Pittsburgh spent most of its draft addressing the right side of their forward depth, grabbing four straight right wingers in the first, third, fifth and seventh rounds before finishing their draft with a defenseman at pick No. 211 overall.
PENGUINS PICKS
Round 1, Pick 21 - Samuel Poulin - RW
Round 3, Pick 74 - Nathan Legare - RW
Round 5, Pick 145 - Judd Caulfield - RW
Round 7, Pick 203 - Valtteri Puustinen - RW
Round 7, Pick 211 - Santeri Airola - D

Carolina Hurricanes (46-29-7, 99 Pts) - 245 GF, 223 GA (+22 GD)

Carolina was the busiest Metropolitan Division team this weekend with 12 picks throughout the seven rounds. With those 12 picks the Hurricanes went with eight forwards, two of which were centers taken in the top-50, three defenseman taken with consecutive Carolina picks (83, 90 and 99 overall) and a goaltender taken early Saturday with pick No. 36.
CAROLINA PICKS
Round 1, Pick 28 - Ryan Suzuki - C
Round 2, Pick 36 - Pyotr Kochetkov - G
Round 2, Pick 44 - Jamieson Rees - C
Round 3, Pick 73 - Patrik Puistola - RW
Round 3, Pick 83 - Anttoni Honka - D
Round 3, Pick 90 - Domenick Fensore - D
Round 4, Pick 99 - Cade Weber - D
Round 4, Pick 121 - Tuukka Tieksola - RW
Round 5, Pick 152 - Kirill Slepets - RW
Round 6, Pick 181 - Kevin Wall - RW
Round 6, Pick 183 - Blake Murray - C
Round 7, Pick 216 - Massimo Rizzo - C

Columbus Blue Jackets (47-31-4, 98 Pts) - 258 GF, 232 GA (+26 GD)

It was a quiet weekend for the CBJ as they entered with two picks and left the draft with just three new players - two forwards and a defenseman. With the first Blue Jackets pick not coming until the fourth round at pick No. 104, it will be a few years before Blue Jackets fans see any 2019 CBJ draft pick in Columbus.
BLUE JACKETS PICKS
Round 4, Pick 104 - Eric Hjorth - D
Round 4, Pick 114 - Dmitri Voronkov - LW
Round 7, Pick 212 - Tyler Angle - C

Philadelphia Flyers (37-37-8, 82 Pts) - 244 GF, 281 GA (-37 GD)

After giving up the most goals in the division last season, the Flyers made moves to shore up the blue line with three defensemen in the first 103 picks, including highly-rated Cameron York out of the United States National Team Development Program at No. 14 overall.
FLYERS PICKS
Round 1, Pick 14 - Cameron York - D
Round 2, Pick 34 - Bobby Brink - RW
Round 3, Pick 72 - Ronald Attard - D
Round 4, Pick 103 - Mason Millman - D
Round 6, Pick 165 - Egor Serdyuk - RW
Round 6, Pick 169 - Roddy Ross - G
Round 7, Pick 196 - Bryce Brodzinski - RW

New York Rangers (32-36-14, 78 Pts) - 227 GF, 272 GA (-45 GD)

With just 78 points on the 2018-19 season, the Rangers went with a holistic approach to this year's draft taking a well-balanced five forwards and three defensemen. New York started hot with the second overall pick, taking RW Kaapo Kakko who is thought to be able to come in and have an immediate impact on the Rangers' franchise.
RANGERS PICKS
Round 1, Pick 2 - Kaapo Kakko - RW
Round 2, Pick 49 - Matthew Robertson - D
Round 2, Pick 58 - Karl Henriksson - C
Round 3, Pick 68 - Zachary Jones - D
Round 4, Pick 112 - Hunter Skinner - D
Round 5, Pick 130 - Leevi Aaltonen - RW
Round 6, Pick 161 - Adam Edstrom - C
Round 7, Pick 205 - Eric Ciccolini - RW

New Jersey Devils (31-41-10, 72 Pts) - 222 GF, 275 GA (-53 GD)

New Jersey dominated headlines all weekend with the first overall pick Friday and a blockbuster trade to start off the day Saturday. The addition of "can't-miss" prospect Jack Hughes and the acquisition of PK Subban, the Devils drastically improved their current NHL roster, as well as their prospect pool with 11 picks.
DEVILS PICKS
Round 1, Pick 1 - Jack Hughes - C
Round 2, Pick 61 - Nikita Okhotyuk - D
Round 3, Pick 70 - Daniil Misyul - D
Round 3, Pick 80 - Graeme Clarke - RW
Round 3, Pick 82 - Michael Vukojevic - D
Round 4, Pick 96 - Tyce Thompson - RW
Round 4, Pick 118 - Case Mccarthy - D
Round 5, Pick 127 - Cole Brady - G
Round 5, Pick 129 - Arseny Gritsyuk - RW
Round 6, Pick 158 - Patrick Moynihan - RW
Round 7, Pick 189 - Nikola Pasic - RW