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Vinny01 · 09-20-2022, 01:53 PM

With training camp opening this week we enter another season where one of the 7 Canadian teams will try and end a drought that is turning 30 years old this year as it was 1993 the last time a Canadian team won the cup. Since then the Canucks made the final in 94, the Flames in 04, Oilers in 06, Sens in 07, Canucks in 11, Habs in 21 but none were successful in winning it all. The 7 teams in various stages of their respective builds can be broken into 3 tiers in my opinion.

Tier 1- Cup contenders. (Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto)

1) Flames - I will admit I am biased but I am a huge fan of what this team looks like on paper this year. They won the Pacific division for the second time in 3 seasons last year and are the only Canadian team to win their division multiple times since the league went from 6 divisions to 4. On paper they have the best blueline in Canada, arguably the best goaltending, and are deep at center with a superstar winger and elite coach

2) Oilers - They have 2 of the best players in the league in their prime. They have added some solid forward depth around these players in recent years and this group is now trending to be a regular playoff team going forward. They got a new goalie but not sure he is a true starter so it remains to be seen if he is an upgrade. Their blueline is still suspect and requires young players to take a step and their overpaid top guy to earn his cap hit.

3) Leafs - in a close third behind the oilers is the Leafs. They have among the most questionable goaltending in the league which is why they are third on this list. I like their overall forward group and blueline better than Edmonton’s so wouldn’t have a problem flipping them but I feel like they have a tougher division. Matthews and Nylander have 2 years left on their deals so now is the time to do something. No playoff series wins in the cap era for this franchise. They need to do something this year or big changes could come

Tier 2 - Bubble teams (Sens, Canucks, Jets)

4) Senators- I went with Ottawa here because they had the best summer of any team in the league. I think the Flames had an epic summer but lost 2 cornerstone players and were able to make arguably the best pivot of any NHL team in the cap era. Ottawa simply went out and added some key pieces and locked up others. They may have overpaid for Norris or Stutzle but those deals could turn into bargains as well. Getting Debrincat in trade for picks and Giroux in free agency are big name adds to a team that is full of young players who may breakout. This could be a year too early for Ottawa but I think this team is ready to take a step

5) Canucks- Vancouver was horrendous last year until they finally pulled the pin on the Dim Jim era and gutted their coaching and management staff and then it was all Bruce there it is. Boudreau has a proven track record of getting a lot out of teams early in his time there. Canucks are a team that can argue with the Flames who has the best goalie. Vancouver has a solid set of forwards with guys who can still take a step. The most optimistic Canucks fans see them competing with the Alberts teams for tops in the Pacific but I don’t see it with that blueline

6) Jets- this team is barely hanging on the bubble in my opinion and teetering on the verge of needing to blow it all up. They bring in Bowness who may be able to implement a boring style that will possibly get results. The Jets are the other Canadian team who will argue they have the best goalie and maybe in the low event style Bowness coaches Hellybuck does have the best year in the net for Canadian teams? They stripped their captain of the C and trade rumors have followed key pieces like Wheeler, Schiefele, and Dubois. Connor is an absolute stud so if this Jets team bounces back they may finish 4th in these rankings but from an outsider perspective it feels like we could be watching the last seasons in Winnipeg for the 3 forwards mentioned in trade rumors. I think Winnipeg blows it up and enters a rebuild starting next summer

Tier 3- Rebuild - Habs
7) Habs are in year 2 of a rebuild that started last year when their 2 best players that carried them to the finals broke down. Montreal has some decent young pieces and several picks upcoming so a tank season is exactly what they want. They have some interesting forwards as trade options but have a brutal back end and average goalie. I think this team has some players who could bounce back and push this team out of the absolute basement but unless guys have career years they are destined to pick in the top 10 this year.

09-20-2022, 01:53 PM	#1
Vinny01 Franchise Player Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: CGY Exp:	Rank the Canadian teams 22/23 With training camp opening this week we enter another season where one of the 7 Canadian teams will try and end a drought that is turning 30 years old this year as it was 1993 the last time a Canadian team won the cup. Since then the Canucks made the final in 94, the Flames in 04, Oilers in 06, Sens in 07, Canucks in 11, Habs in 21 but none were successful in winning it all. The 7 teams in various stages of their respective builds can be broken into 3 tiers in my opinion. Tier 1- Cup contenders. (Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto) 1) Flames - I will admit I am biased but I am a huge fan of what this team looks like on paper this year. They won the Pacific division for the second time in 3 seasons last year and are the only Canadian team to win their division multiple times since the league went from 6 divisions to 4. On paper they have the best blueline in Canada, arguably the best goaltending, and are deep at center with a superstar winger and elite coach 2) Oilers - They have 2 of the best players in the league in their prime. They have added some solid forward depth around these players in recent years and this group is now trending to be a regular playoff team going forward. They got a new goalie but not sure he is a true starter so it remains to be seen if he is an upgrade. Their blueline is still suspect and requires young players to take a step and their overpaid top guy to earn his cap hit. 3) Leafs - in a close third behind the oilers is the Leafs. They have among the most questionable goaltending in the league which is why they are third on this list. I like their overall forward group and blueline better than Edmonton’s so wouldn’t have a problem flipping them but I feel like they have a tougher division. Matthews and Nylander have 2 years left on their deals so now is the time to do something. No playoff series wins in the cap era for this franchise. They need to do something this year or big changes could come Tier 2 - Bubble teams (Sens, Canucks, Jets) 4) Senators- I went with Ottawa here because they had the best summer of any team in the league. I think the Flames had an epic summer but lost 2 cornerstone players and were able to make arguably the best pivot of any NHL team in the cap era. Ottawa simply went out and added some key pieces and locked up others. They may have overpaid for Norris or Stutzle but those deals could turn into bargains as well. Getting Debrincat in trade for picks and Giroux in free agency are big name adds to a team that is full of young players who may breakout. This could be a year too early for Ottawa but I think this team is ready to take a step 5) Canucks- Vancouver was horrendous last year until they finally pulled the pin on the Dim Jim era and gutted their coaching and management staff and then it was all Bruce there it is. Boudreau has a proven track record of getting a lot out of teams early in his time there. Canucks are a team that can argue with the Flames who has the best goalie. Vancouver has a solid set of forwards with guys who can still take a step. The most optimistic Canucks fans see them competing with the Alberts teams for tops in the Pacific but I don’t see it with that blueline 6) Jets- this team is barely hanging on the bubble in my opinion and teetering on the verge of needing to blow it all up. They bring in Bowness who may be able to implement a boring style that will possibly get results. The Jets are the other Canadian team who will argue they have the best goalie and maybe in the low event style Bowness coaches Hellybuck does have the best year in the net for Canadian teams? They stripped their captain of the C and trade rumors have followed key pieces like Wheeler, Schiefele, and Dubois. Connor is an absolute stud so if this Jets team bounces back they may finish 4th in these rankings but from an outsider perspective it feels like we could be watching the last seasons in Winnipeg for the 3 forwards mentioned in trade rumors. I think Winnipeg blows it up and enters a rebuild starting next summer Tier 3- Rebuild - Habs 7) Habs are in year 2 of a rebuild that started last year when their 2 best players that carried them to the finals broke down. Montreal has some decent young pieces and several picks upcoming so a tank season is exactly what they want. They have some interesting forwards as trade options but have a brutal back end and average goalie. I think this team has some players who could bounce back and push this team out of the absolute basement but unless guys have career years they are destined to pick in the top 10 this year.