Next spring will make it 18 years since a Canadian NHL franchise last won the Stanley Cup.
Since the Montreal Canadiens championship of 1993, the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators have advanced to the Stanley Cup Final but failed to bring the big mug back to Canada.
The Canadiens haven’t been back to the Final since ’93 while the Toronto Maple Leafs' last trip was in 1967, the last time that franchise won the Cup.
Expectations on the six Canadian teams have gone up with each passing year and while only a quarter of the current season has gone by, the odds aren’t looking that good for an end to the drought next spring.
Currently only two Canadian teams – the Canadiens and Canucks – hold down playoff berths in their respective conferences.
The Canadiens are so far the best of the six, off to a better start than most anticipated thanks to the superb goaltending of Carey Price and a solid team defense. They’re atop the Northeast Division and third overall in the Eastern Conference.
Strong goaltending and defense are essential at playoff time, but goal-scoring remains the name of the game and so far that’s been a weak point for the Habs, currently 18th overall in goals-per-game despite some offensive improvement of late.
The Canadiens have for years lacked a big, game-breaking forward who can score goals and throw his weight around. Until that need is addressed it could continue to hamper their Cup aspirations.
The Canucks entered this season considered by some a favorite to win the Cup. They’re first in the Northwest Division and third overall in the Western Conference. But given the tightly packed standings, their hold on those spots is by no means secure.
Led by the talented Sedin twins, the Canucks are one of the top scoring teams in the league but there’s concern over the play of superstar goaltender Roberto Luongo, whose numbers so far this season have been ordinary and whose recent playoff performances have been less than stellar.
Injuries have plagued their defense corps in the past and this season is no different, with Sami Salo yet to play while Dan Hamhuis and Keith Ballard have spent time on the sidelines. They’ll need a healthy blueline and Luongo at his best if they’re to be the team to end Canada’s Cup drought next spring.
The Senators (ninth overall) and Maple Leafs (12th) currently sit outside the Eastern Conference playoff standings and are actively shopping for help.
Senators general manager Bryan Murray is reportedly in the market for a physical blueliner and could also probably use another scoring forward while Leafs GM Brian Burke seeks an offensive forward, preferably a first-line center.
The problem for both, however, is finding the right deal. The salary cap has hampered significant early-season trade activity, making it very difficult for struggling teams like the Senators and Leafs to find the help they need.
It’s the same problem facing the Oilers and Flames, who are wallowing in the bottom of the Western Conference standings.
Flames GM Darryl Sutter tried shaking things up a couple of weeks ago by shipping defenseman Ian White and nephew Brett Sutter to Carolina for puck-moving blueliner Anton Babchuk and checking forward Tom Kostopoulos, but the move did nothing to halt Calgary’s slide down the standings. With limited cap space, a struggling team defense and lack of quality scoring depth, the Flames are in danger of falling out of the playoff race entirely by midseason unless they can turn things around soon.
Expectations were low for the Oilers this season. They’re in the midst of a major rebuild with young talent and weren’t considered a serious playoff contender.
It hasn’t adversely affected their fan base, however. Supporters feel a sense of hope with budding young stars like Taylor Hall and Jordan Eberle that the Oilers are on the right track back to respectability.
The performance of the six Canadian teams this season could have an impact upon league finances.
Recent reports suggest revenue could be higher than expected, resulting in a possible $2 million to $3 million increase in next season’s salary cap (currently at $59.4 million).
The money generated by the Canadian franchises, thanks to their devoted following and a strong Canadian dollar, accounts for 30-35 percent of league revenue.
Much of that revenue is already accounted for thanks to season ticket and suite sales. It’s possible, however, if four of the six Canadian teams keep struggling over the remainder of the season some fans could stay away, which could have an adverse impact upon revenue from walk-up ticket sales and concessions, in turn affecting how much the cap can increase for next season.
Of course, only about a third of the season has been played and it’s possible one or more of those struggling Canadian teams could move up into playoff contention, ensuring strong attendance up to season’s end.
The more Canadian teams that make the playoffs, the better the odds of finally bringing the Cup “home” and adding more dollars to the league coffers. But if things don’t change over the course of this season, those odds could be reduced.
