How Have Canada's Teams Performed in the NHL So Far This Season?
The 2023-24 NHL season has been a rollercoaster for every team, but now, the league is reaching its apex. The Stanley Cup playoffs got underway at the end of April and there are plenty of stories unfolding all across North America. Just as they were last term, the Boston Bruins are one of the teams to beat.
The TD Garden side won the President's Trophy in record-breaking fashion last term, and they have been in scintillating form once again this term. However, last season, they were stunned by an upstart Florida Panthers side in the first round of the playoffs, who ruthlessly eliminated them. This term, the Floridians have taken their exploits to a new level, topping the Eastern Conference by finishing five wins clear of the Bruins. That has prompted online Stanley Cup odds providers to install them as a +700 contender to lift the giant trophy for the first time in franchise history, with their Massachusetts rivals priced behind them at +1100.
Neither of them are the favourites for the crown though. In fact, for the first time in an eternity, there isn't one outright favourite to romp to the trophy this term and instead, we have a three-way tie at the top of the betting list. The Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, and Canada's own Edmonton Oilers have all been listed at +650, and each of them has had a stellar campaign, picking up a mighty 150 wins between them against just 74 losses.
It's clear to see then why they would be considered the frontrunners. But what of Canada's seven franchises? How have they performed this term and do any of them - except the in-form Oilers of course - have Stanley Cup aspirations of their own?
Edmonton Oilers
It has been 31 years since a Canadian team lifted the Stanley Cup, and this season, the hopes of the Great White North rest on the shoulders of the Oilers. This term, they have continued to impress, and they have taken their improvement over the last few years to another level, finally looking like genuine championship material. Their forward group is led by none other than Connor McDavid - the best player in the world, and he has been for some time - and, unsurprisingly, they're considered one of the best in the league.
Their captain and talisman’s sensational play, alongside the impressive form of Leon Draisaitl, has kept the Alberta side in the spotlight as they hope to make a deep playoff push. They will face off against either the reigning champion Vegas Golden Knights or the Los Angeles Kings in the opening round of the postseason, and they will be aiming to make it past them on toward the Conference Finals, just as they did two years ago.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have been a powerhouse in the league this season, bolstered by the stellar performances of Auston Matthews. Their lynchpin has been crucial to their success this term, racking up a whopping 107 points, the sixth-highest in the entire league. Their forward corps includes the likes of Mitch Marner and John Tavares, and just like the aforementioned, they have been in menacing form.
They too should be considered contenders and they have championship-winning prowess, of course, being the second most successful team in NHL history. However, they are on a 57-year barren spell, and it remains to be seen whether they can end their jinx in the coming weeks.
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks have emerged as one of the surprise packages of the season. With a record of 50-22-9, they've secured their place in the playoffs as the Pacific Division's top seeds, ahead of McDavid and his heavyweight Oilers. The team has been buoyed by elite talents such as their top center J.T. Miller and a Norris-level defenseman in Quinn Hughes, paired with a top-5 goaltender Thatcher Demko. This combination has made them a formidable force and sparked conversations about ending the Canadian Stanley Cup drought.
Winnipeg Jets
The Jets have also put forth an impressive campaign, with a notable record, including 51 wins, that places them among the best in the league. Their performances saw them finish the regular season in second place in the Central Division, behind the Dallas Stars. In Josh Morrissey, they have one of the best defenders in the league and his team will be leaning on him heavily once the playoffs get underway.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens have had a tumultuous season, with moments of brilliance overshadowed by stretches of underperformance. Despite this, they remain a team with a rich history and a passionate fanbase eager for success, but unfortunately for them, that won't come this season. They finished bottom of the Atlantic Division for the third straight season and a massive rebuild is on the cards this summer.
Ottawa Senators
The Senators have shown signs of growth this season, with a young and exciting roster beginning to gel. Unfortunately for them, however, this season is still too early for them to have any real aspirations and they duly finished second bottom of their division, seven wins ahead of their rivals from Montreal. Next season will mark eight years since they last reached the playoffs.
Calgary Flames
The Flames have faced challenges this season, struggling to find the form that has made them competitive in past campaigns. Despite having a talented defence containing the likes of MacKenzie Weegar and Rasmus Andersson, it was in attack that they struggled. Nazem Kadri was their top scorer with just 75 points but despite them being goal-shy, they still finished just six wins away from a spot in the postseason.
