Hockey, a sport loved worldwide, originated in Canada. Historically, one might expect Canadian teams to consistently dominate the National Hockey League. However, for the past three decades, this hasn`t been the reality.
The last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup was in the 1992-93 season when the Montreal Canadiens were victorious. It`s been a long wait for Canada, a nation with seven NHL teams, to see one of their own claim hockey`s greatest prize. The Edmonton Oilers were the most recent Canadian team to come close, making it to the finals last season and battling back from a 3-0 series deficit against the Florida Panthers, but ultimately losing in Game 7.
This year marks a high point with five Canadian teams reaching the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the most since 2017.
With a strong Canadian presence in the postseason, let`s examine which teams have the best shot at winning the Stanley Cup in June.
1. Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs` struggles in recent playoffs are well known. They`ve been eliminated in the first round in seven of the last eight years, making it a significant challenge to advance further. Despite this, their offensive talent is undeniable, featuring stars like Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and John Tavares. While their five-on-five play isn`t top-tier, their power play is exceptional, converting nearly 25% of their chances, ranking ninth in the league. The Maple Leafs will face the Senators in the first round, a series they are favored to win. However, the path to the Stanley Cup Final will be tough, as the Leafs-Senators winner will then play the winner of the Lightning-Panthers series. Despite the challenges, the Maple Leafs` high-level talent gives them a real chance to win if they perform at their best.
2. Winnipeg Jets
The Jets won the Presidents` Trophy for the first time, awarded to the team with the most points in the league. Historically, this trophy can be both a positive and negative indicator for Stanley Cup hopes. Since the 2007-08 season, only two Presidents` Trophy winners have gone on to win the Stanley Cup. Adding to their challenge, the Jets are missing key forward Nikolaj Ehlers due to injury. Furthermore, while Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck is expected to win his second Vezina Trophy (for best goalie), his playoff record is less impressive. In 45 playoff games, he has a losing record and a higher goals-against average compared to the regular season. If Hellebuyck can replicate his regular season form, the Jets could contend for the Stanley Cup. However, they face a tough first-round matchup against the St. Louis Blues, one of the hottest teams in the league.
3. Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers are coming off a Stanley Cup Final appearance last year, where they narrowly lost to the Panthers in Game 7. With superstars Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, the Oilers always have the potential for a deep playoff run. However, their road is more challenging this year. Defenseman Mattias Ekholm is injured and will miss at least the first round. Draisaitl also dealt with injuries late in the season, impacting the team`s health. Losing a top defenseman like Ekholm against an offensively strong team like the Los Angeles Kings, who have been scoring over 4.5 goals per game recently, is a significant concern. While the Kings and Oilers have met in the first round in recent years, the Oilers` injuries could be a deciding factor this time.
4. Ottawa Senators
After a seven-year playoff drought, the Senators are finally seeing the results of their rebuilding process. Young stars such as Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, and Jake Sanderson have become key players, and Claude Giroux has provided valuable leadership. The addition of franchise goalie Linus Ullmark has also been crucial. While the Senators have a bright future, they may not be ready to win the Stanley Cup just yet. They face a difficult first-round series against the Maple Leafs. Despite the Maple Leafs` past playoff disappointments, they are a talented and experienced team. The Senators-Maple Leafs series should be exciting, and Ottawa could win a game or two, but it`s likely not their year to go all the way.
5. Montreal Canadiens
It`s somewhat ironic that the Canadiens, the last Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup, are considered the least likely Canadian team to win it this season. They barely made the playoffs and face a high-scoring team in the Capitals. The Canadiens struggled at five-on-five play during the regular season and were in the bottom half of the league in power play efficiency. While the Capitals` strong finish might be somewhat fortunate, the Canadiens may lack the offensive firepower to compete with a team that scored the second-most goals in the NHL.
