Make way for Canada’s NHL clubs
Unlike a year ago, when no one made the playoffs, nation’s teams looking solid at midway point
Lightning, they say, doesn’t strike twice. And for NHL fans in the Great White North, they hope the same holds true for a spring without NHL playoff hockey in Canadian markets.
As documented in Postmedia’s five-part series No Canada, that was the case in April 2016 when the NHL post-season, for the first time since 1970, did not feature a single Canadian team in the Stanley Cup dance.
But now, at the halfway point of the 2016-17 season, there is optimism for supporters in this country with all seven Canadian teams either in a playoff spot or within two points of one as of Wednesday.
“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.”
As such, here is 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 title and, in fact, entered play Thursday just two points behind Eastern Conference-leading Columbus thanks in large part to a healthy Carey Price between the pipes, a vital cog they missed while he was out with a knee ailment for most of the 2015-16 season.
Glass half-full: Signed to a oneyear, $5.75-million deal, forward Alex Radulov has been everything the Habs could have hoped for and then some. Showing no signs of being the enigmatic and at-times unpredictable character on and off the ice that scared off some teams, he leads the Canadiens in assists and is on pace for a 64-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. Entering play Thursday, the Sens were allowing 2.59 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 Anderson, 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 as of Thursday, the Sens were holding down a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division despite having a goal differential of minus-3.
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 right to draft generational star Connor McDavid.
Glass half-full: In just his second season in the NHL, McDavid will celebrate 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 break-out campaign and could crack the 70-point barrier, while free-agent pickup Milan Lucic entered play Thursday third in team scoring. Patrick Maroon surprisingly is threatening the 20-goal mark with three months left in the season. Acquired in the controversial Taylor Hall deal, steady defenceman Adam Larsson has been a plus-player. As for goalie Cam Talbot, he’s already reached the 20-win mark.
Glass half-empty: The team’s inconsistency has left coach Todd McLellan bonkers at times. A goalsagainst average of 2.67 per game must be cut down. Backup goaltending has been a disaster with Jonas Gustavsson recently let go. And an average record of 9-8-2 in the new digs entering play Thursday needs to be improved upon.
Outlook: These kids are still learning how to win. Nevertheless, it says here the young captain and veteran coach will 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 team 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 game-changing goalie the Leafs have for years been thirsting for. On the blue-line, Jake Gardiner finally seems to be realizing his potential under the guidance of 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 of blowing third-period leads, which already has happened seven times. Allowing 2.85 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 GM 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. Today, they solidly own a wild-card spot in the Western Conference. Full marks to GM Brad Treliving and first-year Flames 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 GM Jim Benning would like to go completely young, while ownership is said to have its eyes on the playoffs. So far,
the latter concept 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 left the loyal Canucks supporters pleasantly appeased. Coach Willie Desjardins deserves a lot of credit for having this team in contention despite a minus-17 goal differential. Youngster Bo Horvat entered play Thursday leading the team in scoring with 29 points, which bodes well for the future.
Glass half empty: A 5-13-2 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, game-winning goal with less than two seconds remaining in overtime. Ouch. Former Panthers blue-liner Erik Gudbranson is a poor minus-14.
Outlook: A 6-3-1 run had the Canucks tied for a wild-card spot entering play Thursday. Does that mean Benning becomes a buyer instead of seller at the 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, coach Paul Maurice can only shake his head at his roller-coaster team.
Glass half-full: A recent concussion derailed what has been 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, no team had allowed more goals than the 132 given up by the Jets.
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.