All-Division Teams Part One: Eastern Conference

Last week I made my selections for the All-NHL Teams of the year looking at how players preformed over the course of the entire 82 game season. This week I am breaking down my selections into the best of the best from each division to create a First and Second All-Division Team. For the sake of space and time only the Eastern Conference Divisions, the Atlantic and Metropolitan, are covered in this first part. Next week it is on to the Western Conference, but let's find out who the made cut from the Eastern Divisions.

Atlantic Division

Division Winner: Montreal Canadiens (110 Points)

Number of Playoff Teams: 4 (MON, TAM, DET, OTT)

Points Leader: Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning (72)

Goals Leader: Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning (43)

Assist Leader: Henrik Zetterberg, Detroit Red Wings (49)

Highest Scoring Defensemen: Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators (66)

Highest Scoring Rookie: Mark Stone, Ottawa Senators (64)

Goalie Wins: Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens (44)

Best Save-Percentage: Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens (.933)

Best Goals-Against Average: Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens (1.96)

First Team All-Atlantic Division

Pacioretty-Stamkos-Stone

Karlsson-Subban

Price

Left Wing: Max Pacioretty, Montreal Canadiens (37G-30A-67P in 80GP)

Center: Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning (43G-29A-72P in 82GP)

Right Wing: Mark Stone, Ottawa Senators (26G-38A-64P in 80GP)

Defensemen: Erik Karlsson, Ottawa Senators (21G-45A-66P in 82GP)

Defensemen: P.K. Subban, Montreal Canadiens (15G-45A-60P in 82GP)

Goaltender: Carey Price, Montreal Canadiens 44-16-6 .933 SV% 1.96GAA 9 Shutouts

Reasoning: Pacioretty and Stamkos at LW and C were pretty much locks as the two leading goal scorers in the division. The RW spot was the toughest to decide but ultimately the way Stone finished the year really pushed him over the edge and his importance to Ottawa getting into the playoffs. Don't worry Lightning fans, I know just be patient. The defense and goaltending weren't much of a question either. Subban and Karlsson should be up for the Norris and Price may well win the Vezina and the Hart Trophies. Biggest question for this team is can Subban and Stone play nice. That slash looked painful.

Second Team All-Atlantic Division

Tatar-Datsyuk-Kucherov

Krug-Ekblad

Rask

Left Wing: Tomas Tatar, Detroit Red Wings (29G-27A-56P in 82GP)

Center: Pavel Datsyuk, Detroit Red Wings (26G-39A-65P in 63GP)

Right Wing: Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning (29G-36A-65P in 82GP)

Defensemen: Aaron Ekblad, Florida Panthers (12G-27A-39P in 81GP)

Defensemen: Torey Krug, Boston Bruins (12G-27A-39P in 78GP)

Goaltender: Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins 34-21-13 2.30 GAA .922 SV% 3 Shutouts

Reasoning: So I'm not making friends with Lightning fans right now and I'm sorry. Toughest decision was Tatar over Ondrej Palat. I know Palat had more points in fewer games but Tatar nearly doubled his goal total. Tough call, could've gone either way but I gave the edge to Tatar sauce. At center Datysuk is a no-brainer. If he plays a full 82 games or at least close he has a real case to be the 1st team center. Kucherov gets the RW spot without much question. On defense the rookie Ekblad was an easy choice. The kid had an unbelievable first season in the NHL. For his partner I went with Torey Krug who was really good for the B's this season. He finished just shy of 40 points, was a +13, and huge on the power play. Rask's numbers really make it hard to believe that Boston didn't make the playoffs this year.

Metropolitan Division

Division Winner: New York Rangers (113 Points)

Number of Playoff Teams: 4 (NYR, WSH, NYI, PIT)

Points Leader: John Tavares, New York Islanders (86)

Goals Leader: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals (53)

Assists Leader: Niklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals (60)

Highest Scoring Defensemen: John Carlson, Washington Capitals (55)

Highest Scoring Rookie: Kevin Hayes, New York Rangers (45)

Goalie Wins: Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals (41)

Best Save-Percentage: Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals (.922)

Best Goals-Against Average: Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals (2.22)

*For Goalie Stats Cam Talbot was not considered due to games played

First Team All-Metropolitan Division

Ovechkin-Tavares-Voracek

Carlson-Letang

Holtby

LW: Alex Ovechkin, Washington Capitals (53G-28A-81P in 81GP)

C: John Tavares, New York Islanders (38G-48A-86P in 82GP)

RW: Jakub Voracek, Philadelphia Flyers (22G-59A-81P in 82GP)

D: John Carlson, Washington Capitals (12G-43A-55P in 82GP)

D: Kris Letang, Pittsburgh Penguins (11G-43A-54P in 69GP)

G: Braden Holtby, Washington Capitals 41-20-10 2.22 GAA .922 SV% 9 Shutouts

Reasoning: Not an argument to be made at any of the forward spots in my opinion. Ovechkin led the league with 53 goals, Tavares was not far behind with 38 goals and 86 points in 82 games, and Voracek was just off a point per-game pace with 81 points in 82 games. On defense John Carlson doesn't get talked about enough for the Norris. He does it all for the Caps. Really, really too bad what has happened to Kris Letang the past few seasons. He is such a dynamic defensemen and would've given Karlsson a run for his money for the top scoring defensemen this year if not for injuries. Braden Holtby will and should be a Vezina finalist. Fantastic year for him that has been overshadowed by ridiculous seasons from Price and Dubnyk.

Second Team All-Metropolitan Division

Nash-Crosby-Hornqvist

Boychuk-McDonagh

Fluery

LW: Rick Nash, New York Rangers (42G-27A-69P in 79GP)

C: Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins (28G-56A-84P in 77GP)

RW: Patric Hornqvist, Pittsburgh Penguins (25G-26A-51P in 64GP)

D: Ryan McDonagh, New York Rangers (8G-25A-33P in 71GP)

D: Johnny Boychuk, New York Islanders (9G-26A-35P in 72GP)

G: Marc-Andre Fluery, Pittsburgh Penguins 32-20-9 2.32 GAA .920 SV% 10 Shutouts

Reasoning: Rick Nash was a goalscoring machine for the Rangers this season and hit 40 goals for the first time since 2008-2009. Yes, he was still a Blue Jacket then. I have to hand it to Crosby, with all the adversity the Pens dealt with this year, he had a great season and showed a lot of leadership. Patric Hornqvist was a very underrated acquisition for Pittsburgh. He can score goals and would've hit 30 if not for injuries. Ryan McDonagh is just so, so good. The Islanders may have the three most underrated defensemen in the league between Boychuk, Hamonic, and Leddy. Any one of those three could've gone here, but Boychuk breaking out with a career year offensively and earning that big contract nets him this spot. Fluery also deserves a ton of credit for Pittsburgh not falling apart this year with arguably his best NHL season statistically.

There you have it. The All-Division teams from the Eastern Conference. Vote in the poll below for who you think has the stronger division and keep an eye out for part 2 when I reveal my selections for the All-Division teams from the Western Conference. As always leave a comment with your thoughts below and thanks for reading.