Canada’s big hope: who could become Stanley Cup champion this year? | OneFootball

The last time that a Canadian franchise won the Stanley Cup was way back in 1993, when the Montreal Canadiens took the Los Angeles Kings apart 4-1 in the Finals. Ever since then, a handful of teams have been able to make it back to the big dance, but they haven’t quite been able to get over the finish line.

In fact, in the last two years, the Edmonton Oilers made it to back-to-back Finals – only to lose on both occasions to the Florida Panthers. Some believe there’s a curse in place, whereas others feel as if the Canadian representatives simply aren’t doing enough to maximise their chances.

Regardless of what you believe, it certainly seems like they face an uphill battle. Right now, the Oilers are the favourites from the Great White North with odds of 10/1, and if you fancy backing that, you can see how much you stand to earn with this free bet calculator. Today, however, we want to check out how all of Canada’s finest are getting on so far this season.

Canadian Stanley Cup Contenders: Mid-Season Assessment

Montreal Canadiens – strong possibility

The Canadiens are absolutely flying as one of the leading candidates to take the Atlantic, and while the Tampa Bay Lightning are at the helm right now, it feels like Montreal have the ability to usurp them if they play their cards right.

Ottawa Senators – quite unlikely

Ottawa have been lingering in the bottom half of the Atlantic all season long and even though they have been on the rise in recent weeks, it seems like it’s going to be an uphill battle for them to really contend.

Toronto Maple Leafs – very unlikely

One year, the Maple Leafs look like real contenders, and then the next, they falter – such is the life of being a sports fan in Toronto. At this point, simply getting a positive points differential would be a nice season for them.

Winnipeg Jets – almost impossible

The Jets can never seem to get out of their own way and although it’s not exactly easy being part of the stacked Central Division, they have failed to really make the most of being in the league ever since they were rebranded in Winnipeg.

Edmonton Oilers – strong possibility

Trying to get to the Stanley Cup Finals for a third year in a row is a difficult task for anyone, but the Edmonton Oilers are making it look easier than most. Still, they have the Golden Knights ahead of them in the Pacific, and they won’t go down without a fight.

Calgary Flames – almost impossible

Calgary fans are as passionate as they come but when you are swimming with a lot of teams around and above your skill level in a division like the Pacific, it’s going to be hard to make waves – and they need another year or two of rebuilding before finding their way.

Vancouver Canucks – almost impossible

The Vancouver Canucks are the worst team in the NHL right now and given how tumultuous things have been in that organization in recent years, we can’t picture that changing anytime soon.