We continue to project each NHL team’s depth chart in five seasons. The depth chart will be framed from the perspective of a contending team, so higher standards will be used, for example, to determine a first-line center, a top pair defenseman or a No. 1 goaltender. The basic rule of this exercise was that all players are presumed to re-sign with their NHL team, though we presume any player who will be age 35 or older in five seasons will not be on the roster. No future draft picks are allowed to be projected onto a roster.

In the Metropolitan Division, we see a clear split between the teams built to win going forward and those who may go the other way soon. The Rangers, Devils and Hurricanes look to still be deep, strong teams over the next several years. That’s not really a controversial take based on their current play. What’s interesting is I think the Blue Jackets have a path to being a strong team consistently, something we’ve never been able to say about that franchise. On the other side, we see the possible devastation coming to Pittsburgh and Washington when they are eventually forced to turn the page. In the middle is a franchise like Philadelphia, where they have strong components to their rebuild but you see the work that remains to be done.

Carolina Hurricanes

L1 Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, Martin Necas
L2 Teuvo Teravainen, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Seth Jarvis
L3 X, X, Bradly Nadeau
L4 X, X, Noel Gunler

D1 Alexander Nikishin, Jaccob Slavin
D2 Brady Skjei, Brett Pesce
D3 X, Scott Morrow

G1 X
G2 Pyotr Kochetkov

Carolina is in a good position to win now and in the future. The Hurricanes’ forward group is young and talented. The blue line is where the most intrigue is. In this projection they keep all of Slavin, Pesce and Skjei, but realistically one or more of those players are probably not with the Hurricanes in their mid-30s. With Nikishin coming in, if they can find a way to make the dollars work with those names they can be set on defense for several years. If not, depth at that position may be challenged. There is no clear goalie of the future in Carolina either unless Pyotr Kochetkov becomes more consistent.

Columbus Blue Jackets

L1 Johnny Gaudreau, Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson
L2 Patrik Laine, Boone Jenner, Kirill Marchenko
L3 Yegor Chinakhov, Cole Sillinger, Gavin Brindley
L4 Kirill Dolzhenkov, Jack Roslovic

D1 Zach Werenski, David Jiricek
D2 X, Damon Severson
D3 Denton Mateychuk, Stanislav Svozil

G1 X
G2 X

The Blue Jackets have done an excellent job of accumulating young forward talent. Depending on whether they retain Laine or not, this has the potential to be a formidable top six in a few years that can score a lot of goals. Sillinger took a step back last season, but if he or Jenner are your 2/3C it’s a good spot to be in. On defense, this can be a good combination of veterans and younger defenders, especially given the progress of Svozil into a legit top prospect. They don’t have much of an answer for a goalie of the future, though.

New Jersey Devils

L1 Jesper Bratt, Jack Hughes, Timo Meier
L2 X, Nico Hischier, Dawson Mercer
L3 Josh Filmon, X, Alexander Holtz
L4 Nolan Foote, X, X

D1 Luke Hughes, Dougie Hamilton
D2 Jonas Siegenthaler, Simon Nemec
D3 Kevin Bahl, John Marino

G1 X
G2 Akira Schmid

New Jersey is built for the present and future. They have a good and relatively young core group of skaters led by star centers Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. Their blue line is arguably just as exciting though as top-five picks Simon Nemec and Luke Hughes have a chance to provide them with great quality depth on defense for a long time alongside some veterans.

New York Islanders

L1 X, Bo Hovat, Mathew Barzal
L2 X, X, X
L3 Danny Nelson, Jean-Gabriel Pageau, X
L4 X, X, X

D1 X, Noah Dobson
D2 Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock
D3 Alexander Romanov, Samuel Bolduc

G1 Ilya Sorokin
G2 X

The Islanders have been aggressive in recent years in attempts to win now and bolster the current roster. The blue line is still reasonably young and that group of players has a chance to be productive for them for quite some time. Sorokin is a great No. 1 goalie as well. The questions are up front. Horvat and Barzal can be pillars to build around, but there’s a lot more they will need around them and it’s unclear where that talent is coming from.

New York Rangers

L1 Alexis Lafrenière, Mika Zibanejad, Kaapo Kakko
L2 Gabriel Perreault, Vincent Trocheck, Brennan Othmann
L3 Will Cuylle, Filip Chytil, X
L4 X, X, Jaroslav Chmelar

D1 K’Andre Miller, Adam Fox
D2 Ryan Lindgren, Jacob Trouba
D3 X, Braden Schneider

G1 Igor Shesterkin
G2 X

The blue line of the Rangers’ future looks a lot like the current group; same goes for the goaltending. They are set up for long-term success on both fronts. The biggest key for the Rangers will be their recent No. 1 and No. 2 picks, respectively, Alexis Lafrenière and Kaapo Kakko. When veterans like Artemi Panarin eventually move on, they need those guys to evolve into legit top-line players. This forward group has talent and depth, but it’s unclear if it will be good enough to take them to the promised land unless those two wingers take their games to the next level.

Philadelphia Flyers

L1 Matvei Michkov, X, Travis Konecny
L2 Joel Farabee, Cutter Gauthier, Owen Tippett
L3 Scott Laughton, Noah Cates, X
L4 X, X, Tyson Foerster

D1 X, X
D2 Cam York, Oliver Bonk
D3 X, X

G1 X
G2 Carter Hart

This depth chart shows that the Flyers are making steady progress in their rebuild. There are potential core young forwards in the organization right now such as Michkov, Farabee and Tippett. I’m sure some will argue Gauthier can be a 1C but that’s not my lean right now. This also shows the work to be done, especially on the blue line. York and Bonk are very good players, but the Flyers desperately need some premium young talent on defense.

Pittsburgh Penguins

L1 X, X, X
L2 X, Brayden Yager, Rickard Rakell
L3 X, X, X
L4 X, X, X

D1 X, X
D2 Ryan Graves, Owen Pickering
D3 Marcus Pettersson, X

G1 X
G2 Tristan Jarry

This depth chart reflects the harsh reality of what’s likely coming in Pittsburgh. There are a few more years left to win after acquiring Erik Karlsson, and then it may become pretty bleak 3-5 years down the line once Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin hang up their skates. Yager and Pickering are promising young players, but it’s tough to build a pipeline one draft pick at a time given how many of them the Penguins have moved in recent years.

Washington Capitals

L1 X, X, X
L2 Ryan Leonard, Dylan Strome, Tom Wilson
L3 Connor McMichael, X, Ivan Miroshnichenko
L4 X, X, X

D1 X, X
D2 Martin Fehervary, Vincent Iorio
D3 Rasmus Sandin, X

G1 X
G2 X

The Capitals have contended for a long time, but as we look to the next era of their team after Alex Ovechkin, Nicklas Backstrom and John Carlson, there is a lot of work to do. They have good middle-of-the-lineup types of talents, but there will be a pressing need for premier talent at the important positions that could require them bottoming out for a few years.

(Illustration: Sean Reilly / The Athletic. Photos: Elsa, Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire, Josh Lavallee / NHLI via Getty Images)