Part of this remarkable run for the Canadian teams has to be attributed to the 2016 draft when no Canadian teams made the playoffs. 4 teams picked up franchise altering players or made moves to aquire another franchise player.
Toronto = Matthews
Winnipeg = Laine
Calgary = Tkachuk
Montreal = Sergachev (Drouin)
The 3 other Canadian teams haven’t seen as much success with their 2016 selections.
It really speaks to the cyclical nature of this sport.
The Canadian teams have been bad for a lot of the last decade to it makes sense that most of them would eventually stock the cupboard with quality prospects. The problem decades before is that outside of the Oilers few of the Canadian organizations were bad enough to draft top 5 over a stretch of rebuilding years.
Hah... waited until Calgary was no longer 8-1-1 and Winnipeg was the best. Makes you wonder.
I didn't think of that until i saw the poster
I can't say I get super excited for other teams to do well,
Vancouver? Nope.. I will forever cherish June 2011
Toronto? Nope,They could lose every game for a whole season and Mark Masters would still lead off every Sportscentre.
Montreal? Meh.
Ottawa? Less winning more Uber/Hoffman/Karlsson drama
Edmonton? McDavid and a band of steaming pile of crap. E=NG
Calgary? Soft spot for them since they kept me engaged as a hockey fan for all the years the Jets were gone, but now I would love for Jay Feaster to return.
__________________
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to PegCityFlamesFan For This Useful Post:
In 1990 Nordiques won 12 games for the whole season, Canucks were last in the Conference.
Pretty well always had a Canadian team rebuilding.
Between the Oilers Jets, Flames and Leafs there were not a lot of playoff teams over the last decade.
You've picked out a 10 game span. Isn't what you are saying is "have Canadian teams ever had such a good 3 weeks"? In which case I say, "probably".
If it's for the season, let's stipulate that at least one of Edmonton and Vancouver, along with Ottawa and probably Montreal, are going to be out of the POs this year. That's the same as (at best) or worse than even 2016-17, when only 2 Canadian teams were out.
Considering 2/7 are not in playoff spots (and likely will not be at the end of the year) and another 2/7 are clinging tenuously to the last wildcard spots, I wouldn't say it's overly impressive.
Considering 2/7 are not in playoff spots (and likely will not be at the end of the year) and another 2/7 are clinging tenuously to the last wildcard spots, I wouldn't say it's overly impressive.
yeah the truth is probably somewhere in between
as a group they are 22 games over .500 (for this exercise counting OTL and L as L's so what some would call 'real' .500), which is pretty good
3 of the 4 best goal differential teams are in Canada
so top end is doing great. all teams are at least competitive , none are lousy (although a few might still end up there by year's end especially if selling and or tanking factors in)
The Following User Says Thank You to looooob For This Useful Post:
Part of this remarkable run for the Canadian teams has to be attributed to the 2016 draft when no Canadian teams made the playoffs. 4 teams picked up franchise altering players or made moves to aquire another franchise player.
Toronto = Matthews
Winnipeg = Laine
Calgary = Tkachuk
Montreal = Sergachev (Drouin)
The 3 other Canadian teams haven’t seen as much success with their 2016 selections.
It really speaks to the cyclical nature of this sport.
If we're going to play that game, look at all of the young talent that that Canadian teams have managed to accumulate in the past 5 years. I think it would be awesome if we did a 25 and under World Cup but instead of nationality it was Canadian NHL teams versus US NHL teams. I don't think it would be close...
I only want the Flames to do well. The rest can lose every night.
Yeah that's boring. I loved cheering against the Canucks against LA or Chicago every year, and that long run raised the stakes and made the Bruins win incredible. I like it when the other Canadian teams are good. Who doesn't want to see Oilers Flames round 1, as an example?
Yeah that's boring. I loved cheering against the Canucks against LA or Chicago every year, and that long run raised the stakes and made the Bruins win incredible. I like it when the other Canadian teams are good. Who doesn't want to see Oilers Flames round 1, as an example?
I don't. The Flames typically lose in the first round. I would much rather that happen to a California team than a Canadian one. 2nd round would be better.
The Following User Says Thank You to Erick Estrada For This Useful Post:
Slightly off topic, but fits here as well as anywhere.
I was browsing the NHL power rankings. I know they have always been a joke, but they seem particularly clueless of late.
I don't. The Flames typically lose in the first round. I would much rather that happen to a California team than a Canadian one. 2nd round would be better.
The best time for a Flames fan since 2004 was beating Vancouver in the first round
The 3 teams in the top 5 currently all drafted franchise players in 2016 (where Canadian teams drafted 5 of the first 6 picks).
The Jets drafted in the top 10 in 11, 12, 14, 16 and hit on every pick (while also hitting on Morrissey and Connor with mid 1sts)
The Leafs drafted in the top 10 in 09, 12, 14, 15, 16 and have hit on all of those picks.
The Flames drafted top 6 in 13, 14, 16 and this summer added an additional players picked 5th overall in 13, and 15. While Bennett hasn’t been the offensive force I would still say the Flames hitmon all 5 of those players (in addition to the steal of 2011 with Gaudreau).
These are just 3 rebuilds that appear to be on the right track. The Oilers have not had the same success but still possess the best player in the league which makes them relevant. The Canucks are a couple years behind but appear to be on the right track. The Hans and Sens have some pieces but neither team appears to have a clear path right now.
Have the Canadian teams ever been this good?
