CUP DREAMS ARE BACK IN CANADA
FORGET THE PAINFUL PLAYOFF MEMORIES OF LAST YEAR. OUR NHL TEAMS LOOK GREAT AT THE MIDPOINT, MIKE ZEISBERGER WRITES.
Lightning, they say, doesn’t strike twice. For NHL fans in the Great White North, they hope the same holds true for a spring without NHL post-season hockey played in Canada.
As documented in Postmedia’s five-part series No Canada, that was the case last April, when for the first time since 1970, the NHL playoffs did not feature a single Canadian team. But now, at the halfway point of the 2016-17 season, there is optimism for supporters in this country, with all seven Canadian teams at least within four points of a playoff spot.
“I’m mostly worried about my own team but, when I put my fan hat on, it was tough in Canadian markets last spring,” Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving said Thursday night. “But you look now and there is plenty of reason for hope in all those places given the way all of the teams are doing.”
Here’s Postmedia’s breakdown of all seven Canadian teams at the midway point of the 2016-17 campaign.
MONTREAL CANADIENS
PROGNOSIS: The Canadiens are challenging for the Atlantic Division and before Friday night’s games were just two points behind Eastern Conference-leading Columbus, thanks in large part to a healthy Carey Price between the pipes, a vital cog who was missed when he was out with a knee ailment for most of the 2015 season.
GLASS HALF- FULL: Signed to a one-year, US$5.75-million deal, forward Alex Radulov has been everything the Habs could hope for, and then some. Showing no signs of being the attimes unpredictable character on and off the ice that scared off some teams, he leads the Canadiens in assists and is on pace for a 65-75 point season. When they’re all healthy, Radulov, captain Max Pacioretty and the uber-skilled Alexander Galchenyuk provide the Canadiens with the type of explosive offence that could carry them deep into the playoffs. Shea Weber’s play and leadership have been as advertised, if not more. And the guy in the crease isn’t too bad either.
GLASS HALF- EMPTY: The injury bug has chomped particularly hard on the Habs, who were missing seven regulars during a recent road trip. Other than Price, one player they can’t afford to lose is puck-moving defenceman Andrei Markov, whose 38-year-old bones can be brittle at times.
OUTLOOK: Best shot at making a lengthy playoff run since making the conference final in 2014. OTTAWA SENATORS PROGNOSIS: A new general manager in Pierre Dorion and a new coach in Guy Boucher have the Sens right in the midst of the post-season hunt, despite periodically being without the services of No. 1 goalie Craig Anderson, whose wife Nicholle is battling cancer.
GLASS HALF- FULL: One of Boucher’s mandates was to tighten up the team’s leaky defensive play and, for the most part, he’s done that. The Sens are allowing about 2.58 goals per game, certainly a respectable amount given Anderson’s absence at times. Mike Condon has filled in admirably for Anderson, while All-World defenceman Erik Karlsson is in line for yet another 60-plus point campaign.
GLASS HALF- EMPTY: On the ice, there is no replacing Ander- son, despite the best efforts from Condon. Up front, Bobby Ryan recently was made a healthy scratch by Boucher, who is using some tough love in an attempt to kick-start the talented winger.
OUTLOOK: Boucher’s system seems to be effective, especially in the type of close games that could be the determining factor that pushes Ottawa into the post-season. Consider that the Sens are holding down a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division despite having an even goal differential.
EDMONTON OILERS
PROGNOSIS: The Oilers had what some consider a rebirth when they moved into the sparkling new Rogers Place, one of the jewels of the NHL and certainly a major one in the ever-developing core of downtown Edmonton. In truth, the franchise underwent a makeover in April 2015 when it won the lottery and the right to draft generational star Connor McDavid.
GLASS HALF- FULL: In just his second season in the NHL, McDavid celebrated his 20th birthday Friday knowing he has a legitimate shot at both the scoring title and the Hart Trophy as league MVP if his second half is as productive as the first. Former first-round pick Leon Draisaitl is having a bust-out campaign and could crack the 70-point barrier while free agent pickup Milan Lucic entered play third in team scoring. Patrick Maroon surprisingly is threatening the 20-goal mark with three months left in the season. Acquired in the Taylor Hall deal, steady defenceman Adam Larsson has been a solid contributor. As for goalie Cam Talbot, he’s already reached the 20-win mark. GLASS HALF- EMPTY: The team’s inconsistency has left head coach Todd McLellan bonkers at times. A goals-against average of almost three per game must be cut down. Backup goaltending has been a disaster, with Jonas Gustavsson recently let go. The 10-8-2 record in the new digs needs to be improved upon. OUTLOOK: These kids are still learning how to win. Nevertheless, the young captain and veteran coach should find a way to get this team into the playoffs.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS
PROGNOSIS: Still mired in a rebuild, success has come sooner than expected for the Leafs, thanks in large part to the rapid development of the team’s top draft picks in each of the past three years — William Nylander (2014), Mitch Marner (2015) and Auston Matthews (2016).
GLASS HALF- FULL: In Marner, Matthews and Nylander, the Leafs have as solid a top-end foundation of young raw talent as any in the league. Fellow rookies Nikita Zaitsev, Connor Brown and Zach Hyman haven’t missed a beat with the big club either. After a rocky start, Frederik Andersen has been the type of gamechanging goalie the Leafs have long dreamt of. On the blue-line, Jake Gardiner finally seems to be realizing his potential under the guidance of head coach Mike Babcock. The penalty kill and power play both rank in the top 10.
GLASS HALF- EMPTY: This team would be entrenched in a playoff spot if not for its disturbing penchant for blowing third-period leads, which has already happened seven times. Allowing almost three goals per game certainly doesn’t sit well with Babcock.
OUTLOOK: Playoff race or not, any kind of quick fix at the trade deadline would be shocking. That’s not how general manager Lou Lamoriello operates.
CALGARY FLAMES
PROGNOSIS: Sixteen games into the season, the Flames were five games under .500 and on the verge of panic, or at least their fans were. They now own a wild card spot in the Western Conference. Full marks to general manager Brad Treliving and first-year Flames head coach Glen Gulutzan for sticking with the plan.
GLASS HALF- FULL: Despite an unflattering goal differential of minus-4, this team continues to find ways to win. Part of the credit must go to goalie Chad Johnson, who started the season as Brian Elliott’s backup but has grabbed the No. 1 job and ran with it. Rookie Matthew Tkachuk, with his unique blend of grit and scoring touch, is the real deal. Coming off a forgettable first season as a Flame, defenceman Dougie Hamilton is on a roll and is well on his way to 50 points.
GLASS HALF- EMPTY: Young stars Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan are a combined minus-27, the types of growing pains that will give management ulcers. Elliott was acquired from St. Louis to be the starting goalie but has looked uncomfortable from the get-go.
OUTLOOK: Once Gaudreau and Monahan find their groove as expected, this roster has all the makings of a post-season team.
VANCOUVER CANUCKS
PROGNOSIS: To rebuild or not to rebuild — that is the question. Various reports suggest general manager Jim Benning would like to go completely young while ownership has its eyes on the playoffs. So far, the latter idea isn’t as far-fetched as some thought it might be early in the season.
GLASS HALF- FULL: A 15- 6-2 home record has appeased loyal Canucks supporters. Head coach Willie Desjardins deserves a lot of credit for having this team in contention despite a minus-17 goal differential. Youngster Bo Horvat is leading the team in scoring with 30 points, which bodes well for the future.
GLASS HALF- EMPTY: A 5-13-3 road mark speaks volumes as to where Vancouver’s troubles have come from. Earlier this week, they dropped a 2-1 decision to the Nashville Predators when they gave up a short-handed winning goal with less than two seconds remaining in overtime. Ouch.
OUTLOOK: A 6-3-2 run has the Canucks tied for a wild card spot. Does that mean Benning becomes a buyer instead of seller at the Feb. 28 trade deadline?
WINNIPEG JETS
PROGNOSIS: With the likes of Patrik Laine and Mark Scheifele, the Jets have one of the best caches of young talent in the league. But when they get lit up for seven goals like they did Wednesday against Montreal, head coach Paul Maurice can only shake his head at his roller-coaster team.
GLASS HALF- FULL: A recent concussion derailed what was an outstanding rookie season for Laine, who might be the best pure goal scorer to enter the league in a long time. The Jets’ patience with Scheifele has paid dividends, as the young forward looks primed to threaten the 80-point mark. With 38 points, second-year pro Nikolaj Ehlers is proving to be the real deal. GLASS HALF- EMPTY: Forward Mathieu Perreault is minus-13, which is enough to make any coach cringe. As of Thursday, the 133 goals given up by the Jets were third only to the Philadelphia Flyers and Colorado Avalanche. OUTLOOK: This team has too much talent to be this poor defensively, especially since that is supposed to be an area that Maurice stresses. The Jets have the young talent to be a playoff team for a long time. We’re just not sure if it will happen this season.