It has been greater than 30 years since a Canadian NHL franchise has lifted the Stanley Cup, a drought that continues to irk hockey followers north of the border.
But when that drought goes to return to an finish anytime quickly, the 2023-24 season could be their finest probability for it.
Not solely are 4 of the league’s seven Canadian franchises able to make the playoffs — Vancouver, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Toronto — they’re all among the many league’s finest groups.
Coming into play on Tuesday the Canucks, Jets and Oilers ranked first, fourth and seventh within the league standings by factors share, whereas the Maple Leafs ranked simply outdoors the top-10 within the eleventh spot.
All of them have sturdy rosters that ought to put them within the Stanley Cup dialogue.
The Oilers entered play on Tuesday driving a 16-game profitable streak that was only one wanting matching the NHL file set by the 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins. They boast two of the perfect offensive gamers within the league in forwards Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl and a doubtlessly deadly energy play.
Their large query mark will probably be whether or not or not their goaltending will probably be constant sufficient come playoff time.
The Canucks could be essentially the most shocking group within the league as a result of they’ve the NHL’s finest file after lacking the playoffs solely a 12 months in the past. They’ve famous person expertise on the high of their roster, together with defenseman Quinn Hughes who’s the mid-season favourite to win the Norris Trophy because the NHL’s finest all-around defenseman.
Together with having the league’s finest file, they’re additionally one of the thrilling groups within the league and are averaging a league-best 3.78 objectives per recreation. They’re additionally permitting the second-fewest objectives per recreation at simply 2.54 per recreation.
Winnipeg has one of many NHL’s finest goalies in Connor Hellebuyck and are the one group within the NHL permitting fewer objectives per recreation than the Canucks.
The Jets and Canucks additionally each made vital in-season commerce additions over the previous week with the Jets getting heart Sean Monahan from Montreal and the Canucks getting Elias Lindholm from Calgary.
Then we’ve got Toronto. The Maple Leafs have been a constant postseason disappointment lately, profitable only one playoff collection up to now seven seasons regardless of having an especially costly core led by Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander.
Matthews is the perfect goal-scorer within the league proper now and all 4 of their core forwards are enjoying nice hockey. However they should positive up their protection and goaltending to make a critical run on the Cup.
The very fact the Canucks, Jets and Oilers all play within the Western Convention definitely will increase the chances that one in all them can get by means of to the Stanley Cup Remaining.
The Montreal Canadiens (1993) had been the latest Canadian group to win the Stanley Cup.
Vancouver (1994), Calgary (2004), Edmonton (2006), Ottawa (2007), Vancouver (2011) and Montreal (2021) have all reached the Stanley Cup Remaining and misplaced since then.
Winnipeg and Toronto are the one two Canadian franchises that haven’t reached the Stanley Cup Remaining throughout that stretch.